FromSoftware and Bandai Namco are finally showing off what the long-awaited Elden Ring looks like in action, and it’s safe to say the hype is reaching critical mass.
You can check out the ongoing gameplay presentation below, the long and short of it is that Elden Ring looks like a fully open-world Dark Souls. Characters, weapons, and mighty bosses all have that unmistakable sense of ancient creeping decay that we’ve come to expect from the Souls games, but the environments we get to explore this time around look truly massive - far bigger than anything we’ve ever seen in a FromSoftware game before.
Take a look below!
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What's immediately striking about seeing Elden Ring in action is how much it resembles Dark Souls - at least on the surface. However, it's not long before the game opens up and really starts to reveal just how different it is. Players can travel freely across a huge open world, exploring and fighting enemies at their own pace.
There's clearly a much greater sense of movement and freedom, too. Players can climb aboard their very own spectral steed to speed across the land. One moment early on in the gamplay video shows a large dragon swoop down from the sky before the player - much more agile than any Souls game would allow - ducks and weaves to evade attacks before pulling off an impressive finishing move.
Larger environments also mean players have more choice in how to approach situations. Spaces can be used to tackle enemies via stealth or with range - and of course, it's still entirely possible to jump in and get your hands dirty with classic melee attacks.
While the open world is clearly a major departure, Souls veterans will be glad to know that a more classic Dark Souls-style of exploration and navigation is present in the game's many labyrinthian dungeons. Here you'll find vast mazes filled with bosses, enemies, and plenty of treasure. And in typical Dark Souls fashion, there'll be more than a few bullshit traps and enemies hiding round corners ready to jump out and murder you.
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Elden Ring releases February 25, 2022. Find out how you can get involved with the upcoming network test here.
Topics: Elden Ring