Soulslikes traditionally want to be crammed like a final exam. Very difficult to get into, even harder to master. The newest representative of the genre also wants the latter Elden Ring make no exception. But unlike Dark Souls and Co., From Software sees more opportunities in the open world for casual players and Souls newcomers to gain a foothold in the game.
As company boss Hidetaka Miyazaki said in an advertising interview in PlayStation-Blog explained, Elden Ring should be much more accessible than other games from the Japanese studio, without losing the core difficulty. How does that work?
Open World als Chance
Unlike previous From Software titles, Elden Ring relies on an open game world that invites free exploration. According to Miyazaki, players no longer need theirs bang your head against the wall
to advance. Rather, they can simply turn around and level up a little elsewhere to become stronger and better.
With Elden Ring, we didn’t intentionally try to lower the difficulty of the game, but I think more players will finish it this time. As I mentioned earlier, the freedom for the player to progress through the world or return to a challenge later is an element that I think will help players play through at a more leisurely pace.
Hidetaka Miyazaki, From Software
Since Dark Souls and Sekiro have a more stringent level design, at certain points the only way forward is by defeating a boss. Those who get stuck here look down the drain and are forced to try again and again. This is intended to be very different in Elden Ring, as players should be able to just turn around and come back later.
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Elden Ring – Conclusion video after 15 hours of gameplay
Together to success
The multiplayer component of Elden Ring should also help to better manage the level of difficulty. Miyazaki explained that players bounce through fewer hoops
need to play with friends. In co-op mode, or with the Spirit Bodies
(AI helpers), the fights should be easier to create.
Also, the focus isn’t on the pure action. The player has more options to determine his approach, e.g. B. against the field bosses in the overworld, and how he uses the stealth in different situations. We even reduced the number of obstacles you have to overcome to enjoy the game in multiplayer. So we hope players embrace the idea of getting help from others. And we have a feeling the playthrough rate will increase this time around because of those things.
Hidetaka Miyazaki, From Software
Nevertheless, Elden Ring should remain a crisp Soulslike from the From Software brand, not least because of the notorious boss fights, which require a lot of skill and an understanding of the opponent’s behavior patterns.
Elden Ring preview
Open world as an ordeal
In our preview you can find out what editor Elena thinks of the Elden Ring after 15 hours of play. Small spoiler: The open world will be the big sticking point.
