Replayability

[risz]

I’ve read countless forums and Reddit posts about this games replayability. The two common but opposite opinions are
1 the game is really good first playthrough, but it sucks on playthroughs after
2 the game is replayable because you can beeline your get the items for you build
I would like to build a general consensus. Arguing is welcome, please don’t put others down though, this is supposed to be constructive.

[Rhett]

It's replayable in that you can choose to take a completely different route (you're not locked all that much in where you can go), and use a completely different build, if you so choose, from the start. There's quite a bit of build variety, despite the ability to fully respec.

Different endings, too, though besides achievements, I personally found them all boring.

I'm on my second playthrough after vanilla, this time with the co-op mod, which is quite a different experience co-oping from start to finish without interruption or disconnects.

[la sanie des siècles]

While its cool to replay with new builds and experience all the weapons/spells and playstyles, Elden Ring lacks a proper motivation to start a NG+, there's no new itens, questlines and such like previous titles, they were not tremendous changes, but it was better than the current NG+ model.

[risz]

Thanks for the responses! I forgot the co-op mod was a thing, I’ll check that out sometime.

Originally posted by lataria judiada:

While its cool to replay with new builds and experience all the weapons/spells and playstyles, Elden Ring lacks a proper motivation to start a NG+, there's no new itens, questlines and such like previous titles, they were not tremendous changes, but it was better than the current NG+ model.

Another question is, does that mean that the replayablility would be worse than the souls games (specifically 1 and 3)?

[la sanie des siècles]

Originally posted by risz:

Thanks for the responses! I forgot the co-op mod was a thing, I’ll check that out sometime.

Originally posted by lataria judiada:

While its cool to replay with new builds and experience all the weapons/spells and playstyles, Elden Ring lacks a proper motivation to start a NG+, there's no new itens, questlines and such like previous titles, they were not tremendous changes, but it was better than the current NG+ model.

Another question is, does that mean that the replayablility would be worse than the souls games (specifically 1 and 3)?

I think so, but take my opinion with a grain of salt, i think Elden Ring is a good game, but the worst game FromSoft ever made.

[Koros Antavo]

If you have experienced the majority of the game on your first playthriugh (as I did), replayability is non-existent.

By far the most affecting part of ER is joy of exploration, which is completley lost when you've explored everything. This loss, of course, is present after consuming any piece of media. And yet, more linear experiences force you to trigger memories of previous occurences, allowing you to relive that joy somewhat. In games specifically, linear structure also requires you to complete the presetned challenges, which are often mechanically satisfying in and of themselves.

I doubt you can describe previous Souls games as linear, but they pretty much forced you to complete most of the content, tapping into benefits of linearity. Elden Ring, on the other hand, is 90% optional. After the first playthorugh, the whole game seems pointless.

One can find meaning in multiplayer, achieving replayability in that regard. But be honest with me, would you still participate in ER pvp if the servers for other souls titles were up?

One could try to replay the game with a different build, but after the first playthorugh you are not reeeeeaaally playing the game, you're rolepaying playing the game. You can pick and choose which locations to visit arbitrarily, and this lack of defined bounds produces lack of meaning. Unless you do a specific run with strictly defined rules, like a challenge run, or using a certain route through the game, it's very difficult to find meaning in continuing to play this game.

[Koros Antavo]

Oh, and I think ER is From's best game ever made. If we only look at the first playthrough. And only singleplayer. And ignoring the drag of the last third of the game.

[psheue]

With FROM's games, I'm usually done with the PvE after a few of runs. With ER, it took one.

[CourtesyFlush09]

It's a basically a one-and-done type of game, which is a marked departure from From's previous work. But that's one of the downsides of having such big, open world.

[Freak4Leeks]

ER has the most replay-ability there are still a ton of things i have to do left in vanilla, i did try out some mods but overall my game is vanilla. It's the pinnacle of a souls game and i have no clue how FROM SOFTWARE plans to beat it but considering its FROM SOFTWARE i know they will somehow, Although keep in mind i couldn't care less about the online aspect whatsoever i coop or invaded very rarely so i do not take into any consideration that part of the game.

[risz]

Thank you for all the responses!
The one thing I don’t get is, what separates an open world game like this with an open world game like Skyrim. The combat in this game is way more complex and harder to master, and there is a ton of build variety. What is preventing the game from being a new experience if I choose a new build on a later playthrough, given that I hadn’t respected into that build in a previous playthrough

[Koros Antavo]

Absolutely nothing. But will it be as fun though?
Skyrim is a much larger game comparatively, with a lot more quests, branching paths, and storylines. A lot more ability to rolepay and set your path.

From's games, even ER, are still incredibly linear compared to the likes of Elder Scrolls. There is a set of things to be done, and little reason to do anything else beyond gathering materials to finalise your build (after first playthrough). This applies to all souls games, but by making ER mostly optional, they took from you the reason to engage with the game.

[PainkilleR]

Originally posted by risz:

Thank you for all the responses!
The one thing I don’t get is, what separates an open world game like this with an open world game like Skyrim.

Well... They are completely different genres. One is action adventure with rpg elements and the other is an open world immersive sim/sandbox with rpg elements.

[aristateles]

Originally posted by Rhett:

It's replayable in that you can choose to take a completely different route (you're not locked all that much in where you can go), and use a completely different build, if you so choose, from the start. There's quite a bit of build variety, despite the ability to fully respec.

Different endings, too, though besides achievements, I personally found them all boring.

I'm on my second playthrough after vanilla, this time with the co-op mod, which is quite a different experience co-oping from start to finish without interruption or disconnects.

Wait wait, coop mod has no or maybe less issue with connection?