Elden Ring is not good.

[Roshambo]

I have mixed feelings about Elden Ring.

I played the entire game without attacking, and it was tough. The main bosses were really cool, best part of the game in my opinion aside from the weapon system. Nailed the inspiration from Dark Souls tricks and put their own spin on it in a modern title. Graphics are good, and the music is alright. Loved how just when you think you beat the boss, it has another phase. My favorite part of souls' games is the surprise when you realize the boss has another phase. Other good mechanics like the mechanical horse whistle, similar to shinobi prosthetic from sekiro, the health rally after spell cast and regaining heals by killing mobs. And the UI prompts like where to stand to get a grace and when a boss is doing a deadly attack can help newer players to the genre. Another good note was that I didn't feel the need to use a guide to progress, since the game was pretty straightforward and linear throughout.

However, my least favorite part was the enemy balancing and how bad dodging actually is. Some enemies, especially the Revenant and Dualwield Banished Knight have super long combos, and many hovering & delayed overhead attacks combos always seeming to roll catch you making them harder than some of the main story bosses. It just seems unfair to me, and I always think to myself when I die to that "Why is that even a thing in the game?". It also seems as there isn't a delay between combos, so once on is finished the enemy will go straight into another combo, sometimes being the same one it just performed. And who thought it was a good idea to have Malenia ignore I-frames? Beyond me at this point.

Losing runes from previous death when you get hit trying to recover it is just annoying, forcing you to not just run past enemies like you usually do because you've already killed all the enemies there once before. Enemies also seem to have perfect tracking and with all this combined it makes bosses and enemy encounters feel very skill issue, and I found myself being left at 1 hp with no flasks at the end of every boss only beating it by the skin of my teeth.

I'm not new to souls likes or anything, I love the genre and I've personally sunk hundreds if not thousands of hours into some titles and I'm open to every new one that catches my eye. Anyway, continuing on. The fact I need to buy a recovery flask or other mechanics (with scarce resources) that come with other souls' games natively is crazy to me. You can at most max out a weapon in your first playthrough, only getting the ability to buy over half of the materials required for a +10 weapon in Farum Azula and above which is way too late game in my opinion. You get like 3 Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone materials near one spot in Miquella's Haligtree.

Recovery animation frames also aren't very good, and it doesn't help that you are meant to parry the entire game with coop. It doesn't even deal noticeable Fire damage until you upgrade it. I've seen arguments that parrying is good because you can play Sekiro, but for me I think the risk involved in parrying and getting a riposte faster is not better than just spending the time chipping away at the health bar instead and dodging out of the way to guarantee safety.

I also don't like how the second you equip your brand-new amulets and rings your dodging turns to fat roll (It's a bit overboard IMO). Anything over slightly heavy load is unplayable, which is crazy because its only 70% of your maximum equip load. That shouldn't even be in the game because it reduces your "Maximum" equip load required to keep the game playable for dodge mains that carry over souls borne game muscle memory.

When they referenced bloodborne, they made sure to get both the good AND the bad parts. Like for example is how enemies have all the hyper armor in the world, yet your player lacks any bit of hyper armor, which taints any player who decides to use a moderately heavy/slow attacking weapon. This also doesn't pair well with needing to jump attack to even stagger a boss to get the opportunity to riposte all while leaving you open to attacks for the dreaded amount of time it takes to recover from jumping with a weapon that isn't fast.

I don't like how the same dog enemies you see at the start of the game are seen over and over again, just pasted throughout the game. Wasn't a fan of the whole Medieval theme in general and some questionable level design choices. They really didn't need to include a poison swamp, or worst of all a swamp that can kill you, the worst kind. And why did they also bring Death Blight, an insta death status effect? Somehow worse than other games due to the fact there's an entire main area in the Haligtree and Farum Azula filled to the brim with enemies that inflict half your status bar per hit even with resistance amulets/rings equipped. A bit excessive in my mind.

Runbacks aren't that bad, but again why even include them? Thrusting weapon lock on correction after dodging is poor, so you will be missing loads of attacks right after dodging while using any thrusting weapon (especially the longer ones). The joysticks (at least on Xbone) are Jank, with snappy small degree turns and not smooth when looking AND moving around with the joystick (I haven't had this problem with any other game that isn't on Xbone and my controller is pristine condition (give or take). This doesn't pair well with the many tightrope bridges in this game, hindering your ability to make it across smoothly. Not to mention while being pelted by projectiles with knockback II enchant. Build crafting isn't really a thing other than the weaponsmith and pick a damage type. But hey, here's infinite Larval Tear items to make up for the lack of builds!

Hot swapping items in menus is also nonexistent because you can't move while doing so. It's a niche mechanic but made up for the fact it's not as necessary because there is an item bar. Also, why the hell can Melania regain HP? And slowly regain health that you chipped away at them like some kind of white mage buff? Consumables are actually good in a souls game, a rare sight but also tainted by how rarely you come across them without going out of your way to farm or buy them. And a lot of the UI elements and item pickups seemed like complete gibberish when I first started (another bloodborne trait).

Anyways, the mechanics, some enemy / boss designs and movement being locked away, made it less enjoyable for me. Also, with the alternative playstyle mechanic like the perfect block really throws away my playstyle and makes me feel like I should use it to be a cool guy. I'm a dodger who dodges, not one to block or parry. I dodge my taxes. I evade my kids. I'll even sidestep reality if I have to. I'd be more willing to learn blocking if they made it easier. It's a good game, but let's not deny that this game has flaws and some of these mechanics really need polishing so I can continue to avoid attacks the only way I am willing to.

[LuckyCheshire]

I'm not sure if you're trying to be ironic or just hit the wrong discussion tab, but wrong game. Also, this is a review, not really a discussion topic. Just post a review of the game if you want to put your opinion out there that much...

[Coansp]

This is a direct copy and paste of a lies of P discussion I made (must have really hit a nerve with that one) and he switched around the lingo and terms to fit elden ring, which is why it doesn't make any sense in some places.

Still going to respond to these, IK you probably already know all this stuff but whatever

1. this is just silly

2. elden ring is full of enemies with generous tracking, most attacks and combos are avoided with a side dodge. the dual wield banished knights do have a long combo, but it can so easily be outspaced. unlike lies of p, with repeated lunges, jumps and overheads one after another that teleport above you no matter what. forcing you to use a poorly implemented mechanic. Again this is just silly misinformation. every single enemy in elden ring will just stare you down after their combos. Malenia does not ignore I frames, and even if she did, thats one boss vs every single boss in lies of p.

3. you know whats worse? losing ergo getting hit on your way to pick them up, even though you are yet to die and meet a fitting punishment. elden ring enemies don't absorb your runes so that is simply not necessary.

4. if you mean "recovery flasks" as in healing, you use your MAP in the open world game and pick them up at every church you see. you can get somber upgrade stones 1-9 very early. and you can max out more than 10 weapons per playthrough. again, you aren't blocked from getting those 3 ancient upgrade materials until you get to late game and there isn't only 3. and no you do not even have 1k hours combined, even if you 100% them all.

5. "parry the entire game with coop" not true.

6. Talismans dont weigh more than 3 units at most.. and the max load has been that way since dark souls, 70% load is nothing new or surprising. if anything its forgiving. slightly heavy load doesn't exist in elden ring, just a bad game design choice from lies of p. additionally, the equip load stat isn't separate like it is in LoP.

7. not true, you can poise through so much in this game its crazy. jumping is not the only way to stagger, and you have plenty of time to get the riposte off after a jump attack.

8. yea the game is pretty big so theres bound to be reused assets. cant say the same about lies of p. there is no death blight swamp (instant death status). again, not true those enemies do not inflict half your status bar in one hit if you have even one of the status talismans equipped.

9. there is 0 run back in elden ring. the graces are literally right beside the fog gate. "Thrusting weapon lock on correction after dodging is poor" this is the one thing they fixed in elden ring from dark souls.

10. you can move while hot-swapping on KB&M. malenia life steal is a bit bogus but just simply don't get hit. the item names are pretty self explanatory in ER.

11. the only movement being locked away in elden ring is the horse, which is 2 checkpoints away from the start of the game and has a direct path leading to it. "I dodge my taxes. I evade my kids. I'll even sidestep reality if I have to" OK buddy.

yep its my play-style i play the game how I want and have the right of free speech to complain about it being bad. In the end, we are all entitled to our own opinions.

also this would probably have been more fitting to paste under my original thread since it would be otherwise off topic for this being in the lies of p discussion.

[Coansp]

Originally posted by LuckyCheshire777:

I'm not sure if you're trying to be ironic or just hit the wrong discussion tab, but wrong game. Also, this is a review, not really a discussion topic. Just post a review of the game if you want to put your opinion out there that much...

its a copy-paste of my unofficial LoP review because I dont own it on steam, changed to elden ring lingo and flooded with misinformation to try and get a kick out of me lmao. must have hit a nerve with that one

[Sgt. Magnusson]

That's crazy, man.

[Sirius]

That was quick.

[PhyrixisGaming]

I can't help but notice that big, fat BANNED next to OP's name. They're probly in here because they got busted cheating and got banned. So now they have to ♥♥♥♥ on the game, I guess?

[Sirius]

Originally posted by PhyrixisGaming:

I can't help but notice that big, fat BANNED next to OP's name. They're probly in here because they got busted cheating and got banned. So now they have to ♥♥♥♥ on the game, I guess?

Game bans do not equal forum bans.

OP is probably a serial troll and likely got community banned for a while.

[PhyrixisGaming]

Originally posted by Sirius:

Originally posted by PhyrixisGaming:

I can't help but notice that big, fat BANNED next to OP's name. They're probly in here because they got busted cheating and got banned. So now they have to ♥♥♥♥ on the game, I guess?

Game bans do not equal forum bans.

OP is probably a serial troll and likely got community banned for a while.

Noted.

[Coansp]

Here is my original thread that this OP had made a parody of, if anyone is interested. Based off of lies of P criticism which is why most this stuff doesn't make sense for elden ring. (OP's post was originally was on lies of p discussion right above mine, but was promptly moved to the corresponding forum).

"Lies of P is not good. I have mixed feelings about Lies of P. I played the entire game without parrying, and it was tough. The main bosses were really cool, best part of the game in my opinion aside from the weapon system. Nailed the inspiration from bloodborne trick weapons and put their own spin on it in a modern title. Graphics are good and the music is also nice. Loved how just when you think you beat the boss, it has another phase. My favorite part of souls' games is the surprise when you realize the boss has another phase. Other good mechanics like the mechanical arm, similar to shinobi prosthetic from sekiro, the health rally after block and regaining heals by attacking when you run out. And the UI prompts mid fight like where to stand to get a riposte and when a boss is doing a deadly attack can help newer players to the genre. Another good note was that I didn't feel the need to use a guide to progress, since the game was pretty straightforward and linear throughout. However, my least favorite part was the enemy balancing and how bad dodging actually is. Some enemies, especially the puppet brutes and monster brutes have super long combos, and many hovering & delayed overhead attacks combos always seeming to roll catch you making them harder than some of the main story bosses. It just seems unfair to me, and I always think to myself when I die to that "Why is that even a thing in the game?". It also seems as there isn't a delay between combos, so once on is finished the boss will go straight into another combo, sometimes being the same one it just preformed. And who thought it was a good idea to ignore invincibility frames when trying to avoid a Fury attack? Beyond me at this point. Losing ergo from previous death when you get hit trying to recover it is just annoying, forcing you to not just run past enemies like you usually do because you've already killed all the enemies there once before. Enemies also seem to have perfect tracking and with all this combined it makes bosses and enemy encounters feel very luck based, and I found myself being left at 1 hp with no flasks at the end of every boss only beating it by the skin of my teeth. I'm not new to souls likes or anything, I love the genre and I've personally sunk hundreds if not thousands of hours into some titles and I'm open to every new one that catches my eye. Anyway, continuing on. The fact I need to buy a recovery dodge or other mechanics (with scarce resources) that come with other souls' games natively is crazy to me. You can at most max out 1 weapon in your first playthrough, only getting the ability to buy over half of the materials required for a +10 weapon in chapter 9 and above which is way too late game in my opinion. You get like 3 Full moon materials near one spot in chapter 11. Recovery animation frames also aren't very good, and it doesn't help that you are meant to parry the entire game with subpar parrying. It doesn't even deal noticeable stance damage until you upgrade it. I've seen arguments that parrying is good because you can break the boss's weapon, but for me I think the risk involved in parrying and getting a riposte faster is not better than just spending the time chipping away at the health bar instead and dodging out of the way to guarantee safety. I also don't like how the second you equip your brand-new amulets and rings your dodging turns to garbage (You can argue that this is in replacement for armor and how clothes are purely cosmetic now but it's a bit overboard IMO). Anything over slightly heavy load is unplayable, which is crazy because its only 60% of your maximum equip load. That shouldn't even be in the game because it reduces your "Maximum" equip load required to keep the game playable for dodge mains that carry over souls borne game muscle memory. And when they referenced bloodborne, they made sure to get both the good AND the bad parts. Like for example is how enemies have all the hyper armor in the world, yet your player lacks any bit of hyper armor, which taints any player who decides to use a moderately heavy/slow attacking weapon. This also doesn't pair well with needing to fully charge a heavy to even stagger a boss to get the opportunity to riposte all while leaving you open to attacks for the dreaded amount of time it takes to fully charge an attack up with a weapon that isn't fast. I don't like how the same puppet enemies you see at the start of the game are seen over and over again, just pasted throughout the game. Wasn't a fan of the whole puppet theme in general and some questionable level design choices. They really didn't need to include a poison swamp, or worst of all a durability decaying swamp, the worst kind. And why did they also bring an insta death status effect? Somehow worse than other games due to the fact there's an entire main story area filled to the brim with enemies that inflict half your status bar per hit even with resistance amulets/rings equipped. A bit excessive in my mind. Runbacks aren't that bad, but again why even include them? Thrusting weapon lock on correction after dodging is poor, so you will be missing loads of attacks right after dodging while using any thrusting weapon (especially the longer ones). The joysticks (at least on Xbox) are Jank, with snappy small degree turns and not smooth when looking AND moving around with the joystick (I haven't had this problem with any other game on my Xbox and my controller is pristine condition). This doesn't pair well with the many tightrope bridges in this game, hindering your ability to make it across smoothly. Not to mention while being pelted by projectiles with knockback II enchant. Build crafting isn't really a thing other than the weaponsmith and pick a damage type. But hey, here's infinite respec items to make up for the lack of builds! Hot swapping items in menus is also nonexistent because you can't move while doing so. It's a niche mechanic but made up for the fact it's not as necessary because there isn't any PVP. Also, why the hell can bosses rally you? And slowly regain health that you chipped away at them like some kind of Remnant 2 boss affix. Consumables are actually good in a souls game, a rare sight but also tainted by how rarely you come across them without going out of your way to farm or buy them. And a lot of the UI elements and item pickups seemed like complete gibberish when I first started (another bloodborne trait). Anyways, the mechanics, some enemy / boss designs and movement being locked away, made it less enjoyable for me. Also, with the intended mechanic with the perfect block really throws away my playstyle. I'm a dodger, not one to block or parry. I'd be more willing to learn blocking if they made the parry window less tight. It's a good game, but let's not deny that this game has flaws and some of these mechanics really need polishing."

I've since updated my original discussion in the lies of p community forum, but here is the specific version referenced in OP's post.

[Koala 4peace]

Noted.

[echo_ML]

I genuinely cannot tell if this is a joke or not

[WhateverWorks]

I actually kind of sort of agree that the weight system is implemented poorly. I think it's the right idea, the scaling is just bad in terms of what you get out of carrying more gear compared to pumping main stat more. I'll have to try it sometime, I imagine full heavy armor and dual colossal weapons while still having mobility would be fun.

Most of this post seems like some kind of weird reverse troll where OP is making fun of the sort of dumb things people tend to say about this game though.

[Madao]

Originally posted by WhateverWorks:

I actually kind of sort of agree that the weight system is implemented poorly. I think it's the right idea, the scaling is just bad in terms of what you get out of carrying more gear compared to pumping main stat more. I'll have to try it sometime, I imagine full heavy armor and dual colossal weapons while still having mobility would be fun.

Most of this post seems like some kind of weird reverse troll where OP is making fun of the sort of dumb things people tend to say about this game though.

can't talk about heavy armour but I do use dual collosal swords with light to medium armour, so still a fast roll iirc, and it was good fun

[DreadLordAvatar]

Rather comical reading all you softies attacking the op and his opinion rather than providing objective feedback.

One thing is for sure, ER is a solid 7/10.

[Lord Bob]

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