Elden Ring Review: The Next Open-World RPG Masterpiece

Elden Ring is an action RPG and a natural evolution of the Dark Souls series, earning the nickname “Dark Souls 4.” If you’ve played any Souls game before, you’ll instantly feel at home. However, Elden Ring introduces bold changes, shifting from a semi-open environment to a fully open-world experience. You have the freedom to start where you want and progress how you like, without the game holding your hand. Let’s dive into the review, starting with the game’s classes, the first thing you’ll encounter.

Classes and Attributes

The game offers several classes, differentiated by the distribution of eight attributes:

• Vigor: Affects health points.
• Mind: Affects magic points (FP).
• Endurance: Affects stamina.
• Strength: Required for heavy weapons.
• Dexterity: Required for certain weapons.
• Intelligence: Focuses on magic use.
• Faith: Supports magical spells.
• Arcane: Affects luck, reduces fatal hits, and increases rare item drops.

Your playstyle will determine which attributes to focus on. For melee combat, prioritize Strength and Dexterity. For magic users, focus on Intelligence and Faith. Arcane is useful for survivability and loot.

Open World and Exploration

Elden Ring is FromSoftware’s first attempt at a fully open world, and it’s a game-changer. The world is meticulously crafted, filled with hidden items, enemies, puzzles, and NPCs offering quests. The level design is brilliant, with shortcuts and dynamic changes, such as unique bosses appearing only at night. Exploring caves, castles, and underground areas keeps the game engaging for up to 100 hours or more.

Combat and Gameplay

The combat remains the series’ strong point, with addictive animations, dodges, and parries. Every enemy has unique behavior, requiring players to study their movements and find weaknesses. New mechanics like Spirits, Ashes of War, and Great Runes make gameplay more accessible without losing its challenge:

• Spirits: Summonable allies that distract enemies.
• Ashes of War: Weapon and shield skills for powerful attacks.
• Great Runes: Obtained from story bosses, granting unique abilities when activated.

Story and Worldbuilding

The story is set in The Lands Between, ruled by Queen Marika and her six demigod children. After the Elden Ring shatters, chaos spreads across the land, transforming its rulers into monstrous beings. You play as a Tarnished, tasked with restoring order and becoming the Elden Lord. The narrative unfolds gradually through exploration and NPC interactions.

Online Features

The game includes PvP and co-op modes. Players can summon others for help using Furcalling Finger Remedy, or challenge others in PvP using Duelist’s Furled Finger. The multiplayer system is more user-friendly than previous FromSoftware titles.

Graphics and Technical Performance

The graphics may not be cutting-edge, but the art design is stunning, with vibrant colors, detailed environments, and atmospheric music. Performance on older consoles like Xbox One is stable, though minor frame drops occur during intense battles.

Final Verdict

Rating: 9.5/10

Elden Ring is undoubtedly one of the best games of the year and a contender for the best RPGs of this generation. However, it doesn’t dethrone Skyrim as the ultimate open-world RPG. Despite minor flaws, Elden Ring is a masterpiece worth experiencing.

Note: The game does not support Arabic as of this review’s publication. Purchase it from Gamezawy.