Since its release, Elden Ring has emerged as a monumental title for the PlayStation 5, garnering critical acclaim and captivating millions of players worldwide. Developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, Elden Ring merges the studio’s hallmark challenging gameplay with an expansive open world, creating an unparalleled experience. This article explores why Elden Ring stands out as the PlayStation 5’s best game, delving into its history, development, and how Bandai Namco and FromSoftware leveraged lessons from previous titles to shape this masterpiece.
Elden Ring was officially announced at E3 2019, immediately generating excitement and curiosity within the gaming community. What set this game apart from the beginning was the collaboration between FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki and renowned fantasy author George R.R. Martin, best known for his “A Song of Ice and Fire” series. This partnership promised a rich narrative and intricate world-building, combining Miyazaki’s expertise in creating dark, atmospheric worlds with Martin’s talent for storytelling.
The development of Elden Ring, like many projects during the COVID-19 pandemic, faced numerous challenges, including delays and logistical hurdles. Despite these obstacles, FromSoftware remained dedicated to delivering a polished and expansive experience. The game’s eventual release in February 2022 was met with widespread anticipation and enthusiasm, proving that the wait was worthwhile.
The Dark Souls series, which began with “Demon’s Souls” and continued with three mainline Dark Souls games, laid the foundation for Elden Ring. These games are renowned for their punishing difficulty, intricate level design, and deep lore, all of which are evident in Elden Ring. The interconnected world of Dark Souls, where players can find shortcuts and hidden paths, inspired the seamless and expansive world of Elden Ring.
Bloodborne, another FromSoftware title, introduced a faster-paced combat system and a more aggressive playstyle compared to Dark Souls. Elden Ring incorporates elements of Bloodborne’s combat, encouraging players to adopt a more dynamic approach to battles. The gothic horror aesthetic and atmospheric storytelling of Bloodborne also influenced the design and tone of Elden Ring’s world.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, released in 2019, brought significant innovations to FromSoftware’s formula. Its focus on precise combat, parrying mechanics, and vertical exploration added new dimensions to gameplay. Elden Ring benefits from Sekiro’s advancements, offering a refined combat system that rewards skill and timing, as well as enhanced mobility and traversal options.
One of Elden Ring’s most defining features is its vast open world. Unlike previous FromSoftware games, which were more linear or semi-open, Elden Ring offers a sprawling landscape known as the Lands Between. This world is filled with diverse environments, from dense forests and towering mountains to eerie swamps and ancient ruins. Players are free to explore at their own pace, discovering hidden secrets, challenging bosses, and unique lore scattered throughout the land.
Elden Ring’s world-building is a testament to the collaboration between Miyazaki and Martin. The lore and history of the Lands Between are rich and multifaceted, with each area telling its own story through environmental design, item descriptions, and NPC interactions. This narrative depth creates an immersive experience, encouraging players to piece together the history of this enigmatic world.
True to FromSoftware’s legacy, Elden Ring offers challenging gameplay that demands precision, strategy, and perseverance. The combat system is a refined amalgamation of the best elements from Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro, providing players with a wide array of weapons, spells, and abilities to master. Boss battles are particularly noteworthy, featuring imaginative designs and complex attack patterns that require careful observation and quick reflexes.
Elden Ring provides extensive customization options, allowing players to tailor their character’s appearance, abilities, and playstyle. The game’s leveling system, reminiscent of Dark Souls, lets players allocate points to various attributes, shaping their character’s strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, the crafting system allows for the creation of unique items and enhancements, further enhancing the depth of customization.
Elden Ring expands on the multiplayer elements seen in previous FromSoftware games. Players can summon allies to assist with difficult areas or bosses, engage in cooperative exploration, or invade other players’ worlds for competitive PvP encounters. This blend of cooperative and competitive multiplayer adds an extra layer of excitement and replayability to the game.
FromSoftware has a long history of developing critically acclaimed titles, and each game has contributed to refining their design philosophy. By analyzing player feedback and observing how players interact with their games, FromSoftware has been able to iterate on their core mechanics and improve the overall experience. Elden Ring benefits from this iterative design process, incorporating lessons learned from previous titles to create a more polished and engaging game.
The community surrounding FromSoftware games is passionate and dedicated, often uncovering hidden secrets and sharing strategies. Bandai Namco and FromSoftware have embraced this community, listening to their feedback and making adjustments based on their insights. This open line of communication has helped shape Elden Ring into a game that meets the expectations of its dedicated fanbase while attracting new players.
While FromSoftware has a distinct style, they are not afraid to innovate and take risks. Each of their games introduces new mechanics and ideas that push the boundaries of what is expected from a Souls-like game. Elden Ring is no exception, with its expansive open world, dynamic weather systems, and day-night cycle adding new dimensions to the gameplay. This willingness to innovate keeps the experience fresh and exciting, ensuring that players remain engaged.
Elden Ring has set a new standard for open-world games, demonstrating that vast, explorable landscapes can be both challenging and rewarding. The game’s success has inspired other developers to rethink their approach to open-world design, emphasizing the importance of meaningful exploration and player agency.
The innovations and successes of Elden Ring will undoubtedly influence future FromSoftware titles. The lessons learned from its development and the feedback from players will help shape the studio’s future projects, ensuring that they continue to evolve and improve.
Elden Ring’s success has reinforced the PlayStation 5’s status as a premier gaming platform. The game’s stunning visuals, seamless performance, and engaging gameplay showcase the capabilities of the console, attracting more players to the platform and solidifying its reputation. Now with the recent DLC Shadow of the Erdtree, it has now set the bar even higher on the platform.
Elden Ring stands as a testament to the dedication, creativity, and expertise of FromSoftware and Bandai Namco Entertainment. By learning from their previous titles and embracing innovation, they have created a game that is both familiar and groundbreaking. The expansive open world, dynamic world-building, challenging gameplay, and extensive customization options make Elden Ring an unparalleled experience on the PlayStation 5. As players continue to explore the Lands Between and uncover its secrets, Elden Ring’s legacy as the console’s best game will endure, setting new standards for the industry and inspiring future generations of developers and players alike.