The long wait forElden Ringis nearly over. FromSoftware’s latest RPG will be arriving on PC and consoles this Friday, February 25, nearly three years after its announcement. FromSoftware fans, and curious gamers outside the community, won’t have to wait until Friday for initial impressions ofElden Ring, however. The review embargo ended Wednesday morning. Needless to say, the wait appears to have been well worth it.Elden Ring’s early review scores rank it among the best games ever released.
Elden Ringis proving to be rare, even among incredibly well-reviewed games. That’s becauseElden Ringhas been extremely hyped not just by the FromSoftware fanbase, but across the industry. It’s been a major focus at events including The Game Awards, winning both 2020 and 2021’s Most Anticipated Game awards. It has trended on Twitter enough times that it’s difficult to keep count. Even amid launches includingPokemon Legends: ArceusandHorizon Forbidden West,Elden Ringhas kept the spotlight. And deservedly so, as it joins a prestigious group of games that have delivered on that hype.
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Just over a year after the launch ofCyberpunk 2077, fans are understandably wary of putting their trust in a major game release as hyped asElden Ringis. It’s an unfortunate cycle, with many rememberingnot justCyberpunk 2077, butAnthem,Fallout 76,Battlefront 2,Mass Effect: Andromeda,No Man’s Sky, and others.Elden Ringappears to be joining a different group of games, however. A group including 2018’sGod of War,The Witcher 3,Red Dead Redemption 2, andThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.Elden Ring’s reviews and review scores show it’s perhaps one of the best games ever made – said with a notable caveat.
Where Elden Ring Shines
InGameRant’s review ofElden Ring, Pam K. Ferdinand describes the RPG as, “a phenomenal game that will disappoint very few. It has most of the components that fans of the genre seek: a wondrous aesthetic, a feeling of mystery that invites exploration, skillfully designed and intimidating adversaries, and rich gameplay with a lot of replayability thanks to the various classes and builds. In the end,Elden Ringis more than just an open-worldDark Souls. It is strong in its own right, with tweaks to the classic Souls blueprint that create a refreshing new experience that still feels familiar.“Elden Ring’s visuals, gameplay, replayability, and unique approach to open-world genre expectations all stand out as strengths. But a common sentiment beyond that isElden Ring’s familiarity, as it embraces FromSoftware’s beloved traditions and enhances the overall experience from there.
Lore, in particular, is something FromSoftware is well known for, yetElden Ringis unique even in that regard. FromSoftware partnered withA Song and Ice and Firescribe George R.R. MartinforElden Ring, trusting the writer to help create a world both larger than what’s come from the developer before while still adhering to its values. Ferdinand says that the FromSoftware and Martin collaboration worked out swimmingly, asElden Ring’s, “often tragic stories build a multi-layered world whose mysteries will drive many to continue playing even when the eviscerating difficulty makes them want to quit.”
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Those curious whether FromSoftware has sacrificed its dedication to difficulty in the process of delivering a game with such widespread acclaim may be wary at first. Ferdinand says thatElden Ring’s combat remains, “nearly as unforgiving as previous FromSoftware titles,” and that it, “will satisfy enthusiasts of the genre who enjoy the unrelenting challenge.” However,Elden Ringisn’t as focused on difficulty asprior FromSoftware games, though that may be entirely unintentional.Elden Ringis, “also more accessible to casual players,” due to a wave of options laid out before the player to conquer or evade any given encounter. “Minor gameplay adjustments make Elden Ring easier and thus diminish the constant feeling of unease that many players appreciate.” Frequent healing flask refills, stealth, spirit summoning, and mounted traversal are some such examples.
GameRant’s review ofElden Ringawards the new FromSoftware game five out of five stars.
Elden Ring’s Legacy
Elden Ring’s critical success goes beyond GameRant’s own review, of course.What makesElden Ringstand outas potentially one of the highest-rated games ever released is its ranking within meta-review websites, specifically Metacritic and OpenCritic. On both platforms,Elden Ringcurrently ranks among the best games ever released. That’s subject to change, and audience review scores may not agree, but at this moment it’s an astonishing accomplishment.
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On Metacritic,Elden Ringcurrently sits at a score of 97, but only for reviews done on PlayStation 5. PC and Xbox Series X review aggregates both sit two points lower, at 95. The 97 marksElden Ringas one of the review aggregator’s best games ever released. Right now, it currently sits at the rank of the 15th best game ever released, just belowThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildand just aboveTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, which each have a score of 97, as well.
OpenCritic holdsElden Ringin even higher regard, in part due to the platform’s lack of review aggregates for many older games and games with relatively few reviews.Elden Ringis the top-ranked PC game on the website with a score of 97, just aboveRed Dead Redemption 2andGrand Theft Auto 5at 96. It’s also the top-ranked game across all other supported platforms, which includes PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. If that wasn’t enough,Elden Ringis currently listed as the platform’s best game ever released, just aboveSuper Mario Odyssey, which also has a 97. It’s a stunning achievement, to say the least.
Elden Ring’s Curse
Elden Ring, despite its incredibly positive reviews, is not a perfect game. Its currentreview aggregatesare also not infallible. Looking at launch,Elden Ringhas perhaps a more dangerous path to retaining its place as one of the best games ever released than most – and for good reasons, too.
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There are two key points worth bringing up, the biggest of which is thatElden Ringis a very large game. It’s so large, in fact, that most reviewers did not “finish” the game before publishing their reviews or scores. While those who have awarded a score already are unlikely to change it, barring any launch-day issues, there are many reviews currently listed as incomplete or in-progress. Those reviews will trickle into aggregators over the next several days or weeks and could dramatically alterElden Ring’s placement.
Point number two is a familiar curse for FromSoftware fans. The RPG developer is notorious for having poorly-optimized PC ports for its games, and early indications are thatElden Ringsuffers the same fate. PC reviews ofElden Ringmention performance issues quite frequently. However, it’s being reported that Bandai Namco asked reviewers not to evaluate PC performance prior to the delivery ofElden Ring’sDay One patch. That patch could lead toElden Ring’s PC reviews improving, or it could lead to a wave of negative reviews as reviewers make their voices heard.
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It’s both true thatElden Ringis currently rated as one of the best games ever made and also that its position is entirely precarious.
What’s Next For Elden Ring
It bears repeating that this conversation aboutElden Ringis happening before FromSoftware’s new RPG has launched. As From Software fans know, a video game’s reviews don’t always match up with the broader audience’s attitude towards it. There’s always a chance that FromSoftware fans may not enjoyElden Ring’s open structure as much as they didDark SoulsorSekiro’s labyrinthine paths. It’s also possible that those new to FromSoftware’s games may findElden Ring’s efforts toward welcoming in a new audience lacking.
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One thing that can’t be denied, regardless ofElden Ring’s place among the best games ever released, the potential for its scores to rise or drop, or the audience’s looming criticism, is that this is a very exciting moment.
It’s also worth commending FromSoftware.Demon’s Souls, theDark Soulstrilogy,Bloodborne, andSekiroare all beloved in their own rights and have been reviewed positively, if not exceptionally, too.Elden Ringis a breakthrough moment for FromSoftware, though. It’s an acknowledgment of the work FromSoftware’s done, as well as its continued embrace of innovation and creativity. This is a moment to celebrate for FromSoftware, as well as its fans.
Elden Ringreleases February 25 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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