Dark Souls 3 in an empty, boring "open world"

[Nonomori]

Part 2 of the thread here: https://steamcommunity.com/app/1245620/discussions/0/3183486955455159256/?ctp=25#c3183487594849638596

So, how do you enjoy playing the same old DS3 but on an unnecessarily stretched, vast AND absolutely boring map where you spend more time contemplating on landscapes instead of, well, fighting? Seriously, even freaking Genshin Impact did a MUCH better job on it's open world, hell, even Assassin's Creed latest installments are better than this sorry attempt at open world. No activities whatsoever, no random encounters, just the same looking fields and debris that are scattered across the vast space. It's literally one NPC per 10 sq kilometers, rest of it are architecture, debris and fields. And you run from one NPC to another, killing occasional monsters and if you are lucky you stumble upon a dungeon. Like, even radio towers that you can climb and activate would be a nice touch at this point lmao. It reminds me of Fallout 76 on release, they literally left it for you to find your own adventure and trials, they just provide you with sandbox area and some monsters here n there.

I mean, dungeons are nice and it's the only enjoyable thing in ER but... isn't it what we all seen already in DS3? Where is "completely new era of Soulsborne" they are promised us? Where is next gen gameplay?

EDIT: The thing with DS system is that I am convinced that open world DOES NOT work with it well. Tell me, what is the main thing that everybody liked about DS in first place? Aside from its unusual storytelling and narrative, the main thing about it was Its battle system and constant concentration. Something new awaited you behind every corner, you were super focused and prepared for a new challenge at any second. But this vibe only worked in a linear, crammed DS perspective.

On the other hand here they throw you into this large sandbox area where you need to actually search for the challenge and adventure yourself. I didn't progress as far as others yeah but in those starting areas, each part of the map I’ve explored seems to have the same three enemy types, in groups, behaving in the same predictable pattern as the other similar groups. There’s nothing in the open world, the nonboss enemies make me think of a N64/PS2 type enemies, there’s no randomness to it, no one to talk to. The world doesn’t even look that good. Outside the battles it’s a lackluster dull world to me, I really wish it wasn’t. I’m going to give it more time, and try to push harder, but damn it’s not drawing me in.

[C.D.J. Grazza]

I read. It's a subjective opinion and not to be devalued, but don't have to agree.

Elden Ring for me is a masterpiece.

It's optimisation on PC for all paying customers is a disgrace.

Fix the optimisation and no one (or very few) will say anything other than "Elden Ring is, imho, one of the greatest games in history." (but if devs don't fix play-ability, then it's just meh, or broken.)

[smammered]

I problem here stems from DS players getting a taste of something slight more than just linear hallways -> bossfight. To them, this open world is a heavenly masterpeice. But players with a deep background in RPG's, Open world games, etc see how breathtakingly lacking this game is when comparatively observed to the "latest industry standard". The game for everyone not a multi-year DS loyal fan is incredible. For everyone else in the world, its subpar. There will be no meeting-of-the-minds beyond that point. What baffles me is when people are hella disconnected from reality- saying objectively rancid things like "the open world is incredible" or "100% game of the year". Thats super-fan talk, not at all related to any form of objective or comparative analysis for the standards the contemporary gaming industry has already set.

[C.D.J. Grazza]

Originally posted by smammered:

I problem here stems from DS players getting a taste of something slight more than just linear hallways -> bossfight. To them, this open world is a heavenly masterpeice. But players with a deep background in RPG's, Open world games, etc see how breathtakingly lacking this game is when comparatively observed to the "latest industry standard". The game for everyone not a multi-year DS loyal fan is incredibly. For everyone else in the world, its subpar. There will be no meeting-of-the-minds beyond that point.

Eh, I disagree. (about the meeting of the minds) I think there is always a potential meeting of the minds because in real life, I found that your observations are valid and logical to me, so I'm shifting my perspective to a middle ground. It's maybe not a masterpiece, not AC level, (or good enough to display a "deep background in RPG's quality game" but I'm gonna say tis a good game. (Yet somewhat broken on PC where the game won't start it's not even pong or space invaders - And with play testing pre release it's not up to industry standards for modern games that should be being properly tested on a variety of gaming rigs, for sure.)

That's my middle ground. Thanks for your thoughts.
Alright? Before your post - "Elden Ring IS A Masterpiece."
After your post - "Elden Ring is good for me a souls devotee, but NOT a masterpiece."

See. Shifted my view a bit. XD

PS. You just wrote honestly and clearly without hyperbole. So, it's interesting view, imho.

[Nonomori]

Originally posted by Casual Dojo GGs. (Good games):

Originally posted by smammered:

I problem here stems from DS players getting a taste of something slight more than just linear hallways -> bossfight. To them, this open world is a heavenly masterpeice. But players with a deep background in RPG's, Open world games, etc see how breathtakingly lacking this game is when comparatively observed to the "latest industry standard". The game for everyone not a multi-year DS loyal fan is incredibly. For everyone else in the world, its subpar. There will be no meeting-of-the-minds beyond that point.

Eh, I disagree. (about the meeting of the minds) I think there is always a potential meeting of the minds because in real life, I found that your observations are valid and logical to me, so I'm shifting my perspective to a middle ground. It's maybe not a masterpiece, not AC level, (or good enough to display a "deep background in RPG's quality game" but I'm gonna say tis a good game. (Yet somewhat broken on PC where the game won't start it's not even pong or space invaders - And with play testing pre release it's not up to industry standards for modern games that should be being properly tested on a variety of gaming rigs, for sure.)

That's my middle ground. Thanks for your thoughts.
Alright? Before your post - "Elden Ring IS A Masterpiece."
After your post - "Elden Ring is good for me a souls devotee, but NOT a masterpiece."

See. Shifted my view a bit. XD

PS. You just wrote honestly and clearly without hyperbole. So, it's interesting view, imho.

Oh my, am I really seeing it? Someone admitted they changed their mind after an internet dispute. What a sight to behold x)

[C.D.J. Grazza]

Originally posted by Nonomori:

Originally posted by Casual Dojo GGs. (Good games):

Eh, I disagree. (about the meeting of the minds) I think there is always a potential meeting of the minds because in real life, I found that your observations are valid and logical to me, so I'm shifting my perspective to a middle ground. It's maybe not a masterpiece, not AC level, (or good enough to display a "deep background in RPG's quality game" but I'm gonna say tis a good game. (Yet somewhat broken on PC where the game won't start it's not even pong or space invaders - And with play testing pre release it's not up to industry standards for modern games that should be being properly tested on a variety of gaming rigs, for sure.)

That's my middle ground. Thanks for your thoughts.
Alright? Before your post - "Elden Ring IS A Masterpiece."
After your post - "Elden Ring is good for me a souls devotee, but NOT a masterpiece."

See. Shifted my view a bit. XD

PS. You just wrote honestly and clearly without hyperbole. So, it's interesting view, imho.

Oh my, am I really seeing it? Someone admitted they changed their mind after an internet dispute. What a sight to behold x)

Lmao - hey, true but... shifted a bit....not a total change. he he - shifted.

But yes, we can learn, we humans all of us, even me a stubborn one.

GGs XD - nice post again thanks.

[Skaegget]

Originally posted by smammered:

I problem here stems from DS players getting a taste of something slight more than just linear hallways -> bossfight. To them, this open world is a heavenly masterpeice. But players with a deep background in RPG's, Open world games, etc see how breathtakingly lacking this game is when comparatively observed to the "latest industry standard". The game for everyone not a multi-year DS loyal fan is incredible. For everyone else in the world, its subpar. There will be no meeting-of-the-minds beyond that point. What baffles me is when people are hella disconnected from reality- saying objectively rancid things like "the open world is incredible" or "100% game of the year". Thats super-fan talk, not at all related to any form of objective or comparative analysis for the standards the contemporary gaming industry has already set.

This is my first souls game, but i have played every AC game, all Rockstar games and Witcher 3 is one my favourite games ever. I love them but i still prefer the open world of Elden Ring. I LOVE that we dont just run around from exclamation mark to exclamation mark. I love that when we explore in this game we can find entire zones that we could otherwise miss, full of cool bosses and unique loot. This game does a much better job of giving us an adventure and not just a story. It is absolutely my game of the year so far, we will see if God of war: Ragnarok will be able to top it.

Those statements are not objectively rancid, you are trying to pass of YOUR opinion as objective fact when its simply not. I much prefer this open world to pretty much all other recent releases. Its different in a good way compared to other open games.

[Trezoitao38]

Originally posted by smammered:

I problem here stems from DS players getting a taste of something slight more than just linear hallways -> bossfight. To them, this open world is a heavenly masterpeice. But players with a deep background in RPG's, Open world games, etc see how breathtakingly lacking this game is when comparatively observed to the "latest industry standard". The game for everyone not a multi-year DS loyal fan is incredible. For everyone else in the world, its subpar. There will be no meeting-of-the-minds beyond that point. What baffles me is when people are hella disconnected from reality- saying objectively rancid things like "the open world is incredible" or "100% game of the year". Thats super-fan talk, not at all related to any form of objective or comparative analysis for the standards the contemporary gaming industry has already set.

It is not the best open world gameplay or story wise.

[Shizofrend]

I was worried it'd be like this. shame. a dark soul 3 clone with easier difficulty in bigger empty map. They couldve mixed ds and sekiro combat with not open but bit more sandboxy than ds3 world game. And make it harder than most of their games but include easy mode hp n dmg buff for boomers. And let two laghy old coop noobs play coop without pvp. And took time to finish and polish and test and fix it properlly. Wouldve been epic. This is just sad. Most cant even play it due to horiffic stutters and aweful performance

[AfroRyan]

What a low IQ bait post.

[bandit]

only issue is the bad fps even with a good gaming rig

[Eidh]

I love fighting over explore like you BUT you would be surprise how many people like exploring too.

[Tr0w]

Originally posted by smammered:

I problem here stems from DS players getting a taste of something slight more than just linear hallways -> bossfight. To them, this open world is a heavenly masterpeice. But players with a deep background in RPG's, Open world games, etc see how breathtakingly lacking this game is when comparatively observed to the "latest industry standard". The game for everyone not a multi-year DS loyal fan is incredible. For everyone else in the world, its subpar. There will be no meeting-of-the-minds beyond that point. What baffles me is when people are hella disconnected from reality- saying objectively rancid things like "the open world is incredible" or "100% game of the year". Thats super-fan talk, not at all related to any form of objective or comparative analysis for the standards the contemporary gaming industry has already set.

I've seen people say that the whole if something is too hard you can go and do other things design is "revolutionary game design" when Gothic and other games already had that ♥♥♥♥ 20 years ago. I've also seen people saying that it's so innovative that this is new standard for openworlds going forward. Now i don't know about everyone but the Elder Scrolls games have far better openworlds with far varied things to do in them and i rather have more open worlds like that minus the markers everywhere.

[Khorne Daddy]

Originally posted by Ahoge-dono:

I don't know why people keep dissing Assassin's Creed open world. Actual historians and archaeologist look at the game and marvel at the historical accuracy of what Ubisoft got right and what they get wrong. AC Unity was used to help in the restoration of Notredame after it was damaged. All the cities in AC was filled with civilians acting how they would in ancient times.

In Elden Ring, the world is beautiful sure, but very much dead. I'm sure there's plenty of in lore reasons but can you really call a world living if everything's ONLY response is to stab your face in. Also in terms of design, even with Torrent, the world is a pain in the butt to get around. So many mountain, cliffs, and plateaus and not enough of those slipstreams to take advantage of the terrain to help get around. If you want to go to somewhere unexplored on the map there's actually only one correct road that will safely get you to it.

What IS this comparison? On the one hand you praise AC because apparently criticizing it is invalid due to its historical accuracy? But then you criticize ER based solely on gameplay - all of a sudden the world itself is out of the picture?

The fact that in your defense of AC you don't mention gameplay is very telling.

[Ditzy Femboy]

It's Dark Souls 3 except good

[Karamell]

Originally posted by MateAndMead:

It's Dark Souls 3 except good

Dark Souls III was very good, I get this is more subjective of course and people are free to feel about a game as they wish- but I would argue Dark Souls III did a great job especially with the Ringed City DLC.

Now granted, the game does have it's flaws and despite I gave Elden Ring a negative review, I can also safely say Elden Ring is also a great game, just the flaws hindered my experience too much to fully enjoy the game.