Earlier this week, FromSoftware finally showcased Elden Ring with a full gameplay overview trailer, and boy was it worth the wait. The developer’s latest game totally blew us away and seems on track not only as one of 2022’s best games but perhaps its crowning achievement so far — which is a bold statement considering the pedigree of its iconic Darks Souls series. Here we’re highlighting six features of Elden Ring that really stood out to us from the trailer.
Elden Ring is Absolutely Open World Dark Souls
Back in 2016, FromSoftware designer Hidetaka Miyazaki explained that he felt Dark Souls was finished as of The Ringed City DLC for Dark Souls 3, leading many to wonder whether FromSoftware would move on entirely from dark fantasy RPGs within the same blueprint as the beloved series. And following the launch of Sekiro Shadows Die Twice, it nearly seemed as though that might even be the case. After the most recent presentation of Elden Ring, however, it’s clear that Dark Souls is still very much the template on which FromSoftware is basing its latest epic.
And I say epic because that’s exactly what Elden Ring looks like — a sprawling, enormous dark fantasy open world that is absolutely Dark Souls on an epic scale. Make no mistake about it: FromSoftware’s latest game is very familiar territory for the developer, and I think it’s not only going to look similar for Dark Souls fans but play in a very kindred fashion. The physics, the pace of its combat, the UI, and the strong focus on a very similar-looking progression and checkpoint system all appear signature of the Dark Souls series.
Of course, there are some key differences, too, but they’re more iterations on established Souls design, as opposed to all-new territory for FromSoftware. None of this comes as a disappointment to me, and I can’t wait to see how the Souls blueprint is expanded and made better with open-world exploration and crafting mechanics.
