Elden Ring Review: A Masterpiece That Will Be Remembered

Do you want to start playing Elden Ring, but are unsure whether to commit? You may wonder: "Is Elden Ring good?" "How to play Elden Ring?". Regardless of what everyone has told you, one thing is for sure—this is a long journey that will push your limits to the extreme. You can read about all the rest in our Elden Ring review.

What Is Elden Ring?

For the uninitiated fans of video games and those attracted to this art form's epic magnetism, Elden Ring is a 2022 action and fantasy RPG (role-playing) game developed by FromSoftware. It comes from a line of impressive titles, including Sekiro, BloodBorne, and Dark Souls.

Elden Ring was created by the incredible artist Hidetaka Miyazaki and written by one of the most beloved fantasy authors of our time—A Song of Ice and Fire's own G. R. R. Martin. As expected, it's a world full of enchanted objects, spells, non-deads, and ghostly creatures.

The most notable characteristic of Elden Ring is its dizzying scale. The world of this game is so vast and unpredictable that the real story begins days after you commence on a journey. If you enjoy taking your time with a game, you'll need some 140 hours to complete it.

Elden Ring can be played on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. There's also an online multiplayer mode with co-op and PVP combat. This guide covers the review on Elden Ring Xbox One, PS 4, Windows PC and other devices mentioned here.

Game's Lore of Elden Ring

Somewhat formulaically, Elden Ring takes place in the ashes of a dark fantasy world called the Lands Between. Once upon a time, this world was ruled by Queen Marika and bound together by a ring of power. At the beginning of the game, both the queen and the ring are gone.

Players start their journey as the exiled undead called the Tarnished. The mission is clear—the one who finds all the pieces of the shattered ring and rebuilds it will become the new Elden Lord. That takes the player on a dangerous quest filled with evil ghouls and monsters.

Is there any good left in the Lands Between? All along the way, you will meet charming and mystical NPCs that will tell you bits of lore and help you return to your quest.

Elden Ring: Adventure & Open World

Everything you've heard is true: Elden Ring is HUGE. As far as we know, FromSoftware's original idea was to create a game that would feel like Dark Souls but be infinitely big. The result is an open-world behemoth that keeps expanding and sprawling across an entire continent.

You won't get the feeling of how exactly vast this world is until you start to progress. There is a spirit horse you can summon that can help you get around and out of trouble.

But it's not only the sheer size of this world that makes Elden Ring such a memorable masterpiece. The amount of things to do and see is mind-boggling, too. Players can explore and roam aimlessly, following their quests independently from a particular storyline.

You can let this world consume you and take your time with everything it has to offer. You can slay dragons, invade castles, and help maidens in distress. They will offer you a tragic story in exchange for a favor or adventurous quest.

Difficulty & Challenging Nature of Elden Ring

One of the questions on everyone's mind is—is Elden Ring difficult to play? Sorry to disappoint you, but there's no straightforward answer to this. Yes, the gameplay will punish you for bad timing or a wrong move. It will be frustrating, but you'll love it every step of the way.

At times, this game can be ridiculously challenging. And we're not only talking about the combat mechanics and big boss battles. If you're a Dark Souls veteran and you've mastered precision, you might even think that fighting monsters in Elden Ring is easy in comparison.

We say that because, as opposed to other FromSoftware games, Elden Ring gives players a lot of checkpoints and ample health positions every time you get slayed mid-battle.

FromSoftware is known for its crazy combat difficulty, and this game is no exception. But there's another aspect of Elden Ring that's challenging even for experienced players - problem-solving. So, don't be surprised if you spend hours solving a mystery involving a talking tree.

Elden Ring: Tense & Rewarding Combat

You'll encounter all kinds of enemies in Elden Ring, each befitting of the game's weird and massive world. You'll fight giant crabs that get progressively stronger. You'll cross swords with a disfigured swordsman and his scorpion-like tail. You'll be attacked by lots of skeletons.

If you enjoy an epic boss fight, this game will not disappoint you. Killing a big boss, especially at the end of a story dungeon, feels as satisfying as it is terrifying. The bosses are impressive in scale and uniquely designed, while fights are unnerving and monumental.

If you have them, your Dark Souls skills will definitely come in handy. Elden Ring requires copious amounts of dodging, blocking, and swinging. In case this is your first FromSoftware game, don't worry. Their games are very good at helping players develop the necessary skills.

As a little treat for Dark Souls fans, the developer has created additional combat moves to spice things up. For example, Ashes of War are special new moves that can be used with existing weapons to amplify their impact, make your strike bloodier, and cause more damage.

And it's so insanely rewarding! Another FromSoftware trademark is that players are rewarded for their struggles and achievements, so the more combats you win, the more weapons you get. Other rewards include armor, talismans, and access to locked areas on the map.

Does Elden Ring Have Any Replay Value?

Elden Ring doesn't have a quest log because the developer didn't want to restrict players' freedom with a list of tasks. And that was the right decision—the last thing you want is to rush through this game. You want to be able to enjoy every side story and random encounter.

At the same time, the infinite world of Elden Ring gives this game an enormous replay value. If you're impatient to see how it ends, you can focus on your main mission and then start again from scratch. Or you can always save progress and return to a specific point in your journey.

We know some players who've had the terrible misfortune of losing save files. We wouldn't wish it on our worst enemies. But just in case that ever happens to you, here's a quick tip.

You can recover deleted or lost save files from a PC with a tool like Wondershare Recoverit.

It's a simple and very successful process, so there's no need to panic:

1. Download Wondershare Recoverit and install it on your PC.
2. Select the location where you keep your Elden Ring save files.

   

3. Recoverit will initiate a comprehensive scan of this location.

   

4. Use filters or keyword search to find your Elden Ring save files.

   

5. Select the files you want to keep and click the Recover button.
6. Choose a safe location to store them and hit Recover again.

   

Recoverit has a 98% recovery rate, so it should locate and retrieve your save files with ease. It's also one of the rare professional recovery tools that supports game save files.

Most Notable Elden Ring Ratings and Reviews

Elden Ring has been called a "masterpiece" by both players and critics. Forbes has called it the "game of the generation," while Game Informer has described it as an "absolutely astonishing adventure." The game has garnered raving reviews, with occasional criticism.

Not many titles get 10/10 ratings from both IGN and GameSpot, but Elden Ring is not just any game. Another 10-star rating comes from Xbox Tavern, with Push Square and XboxEra giving it 9 out of 10 stars. GamesRadar+ has also awarded it with the highest grade (5/5 stars).

Now, have a look at what some of the players had to say about Elden Ring:

Despite all its qualities, some players have found Elden Ring to be a letdown:

Final Verdict: Is Elden Ring Good

Elden Ring is every bit as good as people say it is. It has all the elements of a masterful game—the thrills and excitement of epic combats, mystical lore that becomes deeper and more immersive as you progress through the story, and a world that will keep you busy for days.

Whether you're in it for the blood or the story, Elden Ring is set to make your heart pound and your palms sweat. It's a one-of-a-kind adventure that seems to never end and keeps on giving, unlike any other you've ever experienced. Cherish it while it lasts, and then play it again. And if you lose your progress and can't find the save files, Recoverit can help you get them back.