Topic: Elden Ring Hype Thread

@render It took me almost exactly 100 hours.

So I think I’ve explored most of the world past godrick.

The only bit I’ve been unable to get to yet is just south of the converted tower in that mountain area. I’ve got the map for it & it shows paths on it. Anyone know how to access it?

After 50 hours it might be time to go to the academy.

Beat Melenia. Really great fight. I like how it forces you to be aggressive and not hide behind a shield. Also hard enough that there is no shame in pulling out the mimic tear

@Mega-Gazz That was probably the best fight in the game along with Mohg. Loved how tense it got towards the end.

@LN78 I have the same issue after every game I have pumped a load of hours into. I usually bounce off a few games before settling on something. Usually something that is totally different and a smaller game.

@LN78 I think this year’s return to yarnham is starting soon, so obviously Bloodborne is next. Would be interesting to see if the curated linear experience still works after Elden Ring.

Personally I’ll finish soon, then jump right back into another playthrough. After that it’s HFW.

@LN78 I've got a few games that I've yet to finish like Deathloop and Dirt 5 which I might jump back in whenever I'm finished with Elden Ring.

@LN78 I’d also say don’t go for Horizon, it won’t compare. I started it before Elden Ring and dropped it fairly soon after that came out. I still haven’t gone back to it. That’s the thing though, my favourite games of the last year, Elden Ring, Deathloop, GotG etc have all felt like a breath of fresh air and push the industry forward in an interesting way. Whereas Horizon personally just felt like a little bit of a refined rehash, which is absolutely ok and it’s a decent game, but can be a tiny bit stale at times.

@LN78 lol everything will compare poorly to ER though

Someone mentioned CP2077 - that’s a really good game too, but not elden ring. At least the dots on the map involve shooting things

@nessisonett How do your thoughts on the CNT compare/contrast with your thoughts/impressions of the full game?

I'm roughly at 50 hours-ish, just beat Morgott at the Capital...

Since tweaking my build and putting a concerted effort into actually equipping appropriate talismans etc, I am finding that I'm shredding through bosses... made me realise how inferior my previous setup was!

I'm not rushing to finish, but reckon I have another 15-20 hrs left. I might shoot for the platinum, but only if I can attain through this one single playthrough. By the time I finish (plat or no plat) I think I'll have had 'my fill'... and probably have a desire to play something new.

Like many have said, HFW is on my list also - but I agree it would likely be a mistake to jump straight in after ER.

Luckily for me - the Returnal DLC finished download today, and I am honestly itching to play it! Perhaps a divisive statement, but as much as I'm loving ER (and I really am!) it still doesnt compare to my experience with Returnal. I can't wait to see what Housemarque drop next

@TheBrandedSwordsman The network test was basically a worse version of the main game. The full scale of the game is so incredibly vast and full of way more interesting dungeons than Limgrave. Plus the technical issues are fixed.

@LN78 I have that issue every single time I finish a meaty game I really like. The best thing to do, in my experience, is to take a couple of weeks off from playing games. Let the experience settle until you're ready for something else. Good time to catch up on some novels, tv shows, etc. you've been putting off.

Genuine question...I should first mention that I generally don’t get on with FromSoftware games because of their difficulty. So my question is this - as Elden Ring is their first open world game, am I likely to get any mileage out of playing it if I avoid the bosses? I realise this means I won’t finish it, but is it possible to still enjoy other parts of the game?

@Nightcrawler71 You can explore about half the map without beating a single boss. And bear in mind that there are loads of little dungeons with much easier bosses that will ease you in. You could spend 30 or 40 hours before even attempting Margit!

@Nightcrawler71 I think it’ll be too hard for me to finish as it stands. Unless perhaps I respec my character and try following a guide to make a more efficient build, which I am happy to try if it comes to it. I think I probably have enough “skill” but not the patience required. So don’t assume you won’t be able to finish it, i think with enough patience you will surprise yourself. I have cleared Demon Souls, Bloodborne and DS2. But as it stands I’m 80 hours in and I feel I have plenty of content that I am still capable of getting through and I’ve loved my time with it. I absolutely recommend everyone try it to be honest.

@Ralizah There is usually not a day which I don't play video games in some sort. Going a couple weeks without sounds like hell to me!

@Jimmer-jammer @LN78 I've played both Deathloop and PREY and I wouldn't say they felt similar to play. Both great games, although I did fall off Deathloop hard towards the end.

@colonelkilgore Hey bud, how are you? Long time no speak. As a fellow melee/UGS player I wondered if you could shed some light on how viable that kind of build is in the game compared to older titles in the Souls series, especially in light of these comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/Eldenring/comments/t80p8w/is_it_just... ?

Finished that game at 176 hours. Messed up two trophies (was mostly blind playthrough so I wasn’t being careful) so I’ll have to get the frenzy ending and all armaments on the next playthrough — which will be a mad monk!!

@TheBrandedSwordsman hey buddy, I think it’s perfectly fine to go pure melee mate. As with Demons Souls, I would assume that spell-casters probably have it a bit easier… but i wouldn’t imagine that it’s half as much fun. Think I’m on the final stretch now and I’ve one-shot’d the vast majority of bosses so far. I have heard the last bunch of bosses (which I’m about to face) are the toughest, so that’ll be interesting.

Ironically, this time I have put a load of points into INT, not because I want to cast or anything… it’s just the UGS (or CGS in this game) requires INT at 22 to use.