Publicized by the specialized press and millions of seasoned players impressed by the Dark Souls saga, the Japanese studio FromSoftware is preparing to operate a new coup in February with Elden Ring. A particularly anticipated dark fantasy title that CNEWS was able to take in hand in preview.
During a game session, spent in the company of publisher Bandai Namco, we were able to explore the kingdoms of Between Earth. And if this approach is not a final test of this role-playing game, the first elements of gameplay and the artistic direction that we were able to perceive gave us many interesting clues. All give hope for the arrival of a new mythical title from Hidetaka Miyazaki and his troops, after the transcendent BloodBorne (2015) and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019).
An open world that reinforces immersion
Scheduled for February 25, 2022 on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, Xbox One and PC, Elden Ring is in line with the Dark Souls. Critically acclaimed, these demanding RPGs for hardcore gamers have demonstrated that the difficulty of a game does not put off gamers, when a rich universe and all the art of gratification are developed there. With more than 27 million copies of the trilogy sold, sales figures have propelled the Dark Souls formula into the top of the most profitable projects in video game history. The reputation of FromSoftware in this area is therefore well established. Still, Elden Ring needed an idea to renew the gameplay and transfigure a universe that anyone could associate with a Dark Souls IV that would not speak its name.
From Software therefore looked into the case of open world gaming. While Nintendo had clearly drawn some inspiration from Dark Souls for its masterpiece Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it is here the latter but also another reference, The Witcher 3, which has rubbed off on Elden Ring. An interesting choice on the part of the developers since the player here benefits from an impressive world that one feels strewn with legends and treasures to be discovered in order to become its master. With the joystick in hand, the player walks through the underground. A kingdom of medieval-fantasy whose gigantism of buildings seems to bear witness to several thousand years of legends, where magic and the art of war come to fuel discussions by the fireside.
Hidetaka Miyazaki and George RR Martin at work
If JRR Tolkien’s The Silmarillion will whisper in the ears of gamers who will venture into Elden Ring, it is also to two big names in fantasy that this game owes a lot: Hidetaka Miyazaki and George RR Martin. Become a superstar in his field, the author of Game of Thrones indeed took part in the creation of the game, more particularly to describe the bases of his universe and his characters, while he had a look on the artistic direction creatures in particular, he explained in an interview available below.
George RR Martin talks Elden Ring in new interview:
-His work on the game was done many years ago
-He wrote the worldbuilding & characters
-From would periodically show him enemy & graphic designs
-He is excited for the final game 🙂 pic.twitter.com/y5gUDvo2Hd
– Mordecai (@EldenRingUpdate) June 17, 2021
On December 18, on his official blog, George RR Martin published his latest impressions of the game: “Miyazaki and his FromSoftware team were doing revolutionary things with magnificent graphics, and what they expected of me, c It was a bit of world-building: a deep, dark, resonant world that would serve as the basis for the game they planned to create. And I happen to love making worlds and writing fantasy stories. So I did my part, then I passed the baton. And the years have passed. Video games are as important as movies these days (bigger, actually) … and take just as long to create. But Elden Ring day has finally arrived. And I have to say he looks amazing. “
A collaboration that has undoubtedly helped Hidetaka Miyazaki, creator of Dark Souls, to rethink his artistic vision. The man, who has never hidden his love for the famous “Books of which you are the hero”, has built up over the years a fascinating expertise in the development of fantasy universes, pushing the concept of role playing on consoles to join the foundations of Dungeons & Dragons. A board game where each player risks the life of his character by undertaking a duel or a quest with sometimes a trip of no return possible. While Miyazaki magnified the idea for a gamer to surpass himself and really gain experience for a boss to triumph over it.
Elden Ring takes up the broad outlines, but the idea of ​​the open world mentioned above turns out to be smarter since if the path chosen by a player proves to be insurmountable, it is undoubtedly that another path could prove beneficial for gain experience and / or obtain the right equipment, weapon or magic to return later to defeat the enemy that was initially problematic.
More “affordable” gameplay
During our gaming session, Elden Ring gave us a sense of richness in the depth of his gameplay. The player embodies a Sans-Sclat. A fallen warrior from an ancient time, he now returns to claim the title of Lord of Elden. An odyssey that will confront him with giants and demigods. In this preview version, we were able to choose from five classes of fighters to define our character: warrior, enchanted knight, prophet, champion and bloody wolf. But other classes should be offered when it launches, like any good role-playing game. Each one having capacities to develop, different affinities with brute force, speed or magic in particular. Our journey began with the Enchanted Knight, a dull-faced looking as comfortable with weapons as they were with spells. Very quickly, the player obtains a mount which can be summoned at will to traverse the Underground more quickly.
While the Dark Souls imposed a certain timing to move and operate sequences of attacks, defense and dodging, Elden Ring seemed slightly more flexible in his gameplay, allowing a little more freedom in the gestures. Still, the Sans-Eclat will have to fight hard to emerge victorious from his meetings. Learning and the ability to surpass oneself remain key elements. While it is still too early to comment on the punitive aspect of this title, there are many places where it can resuscitate, or even resume quickly, as close as possible to the action. A detail that often proves to be saving and more permissive. What no doubt seduce a greater number of players, sometimes intimidated by the reputation of insurmountable challenge decked out in Dark Souls. Verdict on February 25th.
Elden Ring, Bandai Namco, February 25, 2022 on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, and PC.