Genuinely one of the most engaging and complete games that I have played in years.

I'm new to Fromsoft games. The hardcore nature of the Souls series never appealed to me, and I never considered myself to have the time or patience for them. But the world of Elden Ring shown in the marketing material really grabbed me, and I was unable to ignore how fun it looked. I bought the game expecting to maybe get 20, 30, 40 hours in before it got too hard for me - and I was fine with that. I'd keep trying but eventually quit and those hours with the time would be worth it.

Well, that wasn't the case. I beat the first boss and kept going. I beat the second. The game is designed in such an accessible way that skill does play a factor, but you have alternative options - levelling up, gathering equipment that will help you. But I quickly found the appeal that so many find in these games - the harder the boss, the more I enjoy it.

This world is so complete, so vast and so engaging that it's a dream to play. I've seen 'Skyrim with good combat' thrown around a lot, but it's more than that. It's a fully realised world with rich story and characters. It's beautiful, it's scary, it's rewarding to explore.

My main criticisms with the game would be difficulty. Due to the nature of the open-world, it's next to impossible to balance. Some areas were a breeze because I had levelled too much, whereas some bosses were like smashing my head against a wall. The frustrations are few, but the game gets so much right that you notice the issues.

It's worth noting that I've had no technical issues with the game, though I'm very aware they exist and can be damning for some.

In a world of early-access, rushed and incomplete AAA titles, playing such a complete and polished game was refreshing. A great entry point for new fans, and likely a game that will redefine open world games in coming years.

Genuinely one of the most engaging and complete games that I have played in years. I'm new to Fromsoft games. The hardcore nature of the Souls series never appealed to me, and I never considered myself to have the time or patience for them. But the world of Elden Ring shown in the marketing material really grabbed me, and I was unable to ignore how fun it looked. I bought the game expecting to maybe get 20, 30, 40 hours in before it got too hard for me - and I was fine with that. I'd keep trying but eventually quit and those hours with the time would be worth it. Well, that wasn't the case. I beat the first boss and kept going. I beat the second. The game is designed in such an accessible way that skill [b]does[/b] play a factor, but you have alternative options - levelling up, gathering equipment that will help you. But I quickly found the appeal that so many find in these games - the harder the boss, the more I enjoy it. This world is so complete, so vast and so engaging that it's a dream to play. I've seen 'Skyrim with good combat' thrown around a lot, but it's more than that. It's a fully realised world with rich story and characters. It's beautiful, it's scary, it's rewarding to explore. My main criticisms with the game would be difficulty. Due to the nature of the open-world, it's next to impossible to balance. Some areas were a breeze because I had levelled too much, whereas some bosses were like smashing my head against a wall. The frustrations are few, but the game gets so much right that you notice the issues. It's worth noting that I've had no technical issues with the game, though I'm very aware they exist and can be damning for some. In a world of early-access, rushed and incomplete AAA titles, playing such a complete and polished game was refreshing. A great entry point for new fans, and likely a game that will redefine open world games in coming years.