This game looks fun, and by early accounts the open world design is supposed to be good, but I can't help but wonder whether the openness actually adds much to the Souls formula. The main draw of the world design in DS1 (admittedly the only one of these I've played) was for me, its labyrinthine density. Eldenringland just looks kinda vast and drab to me.
― feed me with your chips (zchyrs), Thursday, 11 November 2021 16:57 (two years ago) link
i was moderately interested in this game, but after watching some of those videos posted above i am now EAGERLY ANTICIPATING. my only problem is i don't have a system for it, and i was leaning toward getting a steam deck rather than a ps5.
― just staying (Karl Malone), Thursday, 11 November 2021 17:18 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9DWTt37khU
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 11 November 2021 18:03 (two years ago) link
Fwiw, both videos note the difficulty of the first mandatory boss.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 11 November 2021 18:15 (two years ago) link
i showed the game a friend of mine who really likes dark souls, and he seemed to be a bit disappointed at first. i think he was thinking of it as a souls-like game, which, it is in some ways of course, very much so. but just being open world and adding jumping completely changes it. it reminds me of GTAIII or breath of the wild in terms of how those games were a departure from the games they built on
― just staying (Karl Malone), Thursday, 11 November 2021 18:20 (two years ago) link
Souls-like.
And something else I was thinking about, given From's propensity for hidden walls/loot/enemies/NPCs/entire levels and/or alternate endgames, I wonder what that portends for an open world game? Gonna be a lot of OCD dudes slashing at every bush, rock or piece of foliage, looking for secret stuff, a la the first Zelda.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 11 November 2021 18:22 (two years ago) link
To be honest the open world part isn't particularly compelling to me. I do like the idea of all the new handcrafted zones that are the equivalent of large Dark souls areas, and a whole bunch of new build options and mechanics (and invasions, of course).
― change display name (Jordan), Thursday, 11 November 2021 18:36 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEypd23I0pQ
here's footage of the PS4 version - it seems like it runs without any serious issues or significant visual downgrades. i got into the network test on PS4 so i'll see how it is in a few hours from now.
i'm not at all concerned about the open world, all the footage of the network test has made it very clear that it's avoiding all the common open world pitfalls (repetitive content, big for the sake of being big, etc.) & is very dense with unique content. there are at least 10 bosses in the network test area alone (which is estimated to be around 1/12 of the full game's map). it's a big change, sure, but i don't think anywhere near as radical a shift as say GTA3 or BOTW were - the core gameplay is still very much the same despite the change in environmental scale.
For example, as I understand it your health can be halved in DS2, and a similar mechanic was brought into Sekiro.
DS2's max health decreasing on death (in increments down to a min of 50%) was more of an iteration on Demon's Souls' mechanic where you lost half your max health when you were in 'soul form' opposed to 'human form', which happened upon dying while human. in both cases, the game was generally balanced around the halved max health, with more than that being a bonus, but it was still kinda presented as a punishment. i think both were intended to give the player another incentive to go into human form, which enabled being invaded as well as summoning other players as well as removing the max health penalty. DS3 improved upon this by having embers, which worked the same way in enabling multiplayer, provide a bonus to your max health instead.
there wasn't any sort of max health restriction upon death mechanic in Sekiro though, and there doesn't seem to be in Elden Ring either.
DS2 is one of the weaker souls games but it's still worth playing. the issues with it are largely that the encounter design isn't quite as tight, the world design is clumsier & it rarely reaches the same sorts of high-point boss fights as the best of the series. i'd still put it above Demon's Souls at least.
― ufo, Friday, 12 November 2021 06:41 (two years ago) link
i may be a minority opinion here, but i don't worry at all about whether something can run well enough on a certain machine. i can count the number of times i have been bothered by the framerate/slowdown of a game on one hand. i think part of it is that i came to gaming age playing games like LIFE FORCE. the slowdown was part of the game. the bug became the feature. aiming for this perfect-smooth framerate ideal is understandable but also kind of disappointing. it's just different, i guess
― just staying (Karl Malone), Friday, 12 November 2021 06:46 (two years ago) link
blighttown was pretty miserable at times in the original console versions of ds1 due to all the slowdown. it's certainly something to be concerned about & can make experiences much worse. with cross-gen games like this, it does happen sometimes that the last-gen versions are significantly inferior due to cutting corners trying to get the game to run on hardware they weren't focusing on, but that thankfully doesn't seem to be the case here at all.
― ufo, Friday, 12 November 2021 08:06 (two years ago) link
IDK I think having a smooth frame rate is critical for a game like this where you have to time movements precisely. And while 60 is nice, 30 is perfectly good as long as it stays consistent. I played DS1 on Switch and it runs great!
― feed me with your chips (zchyrs), Friday, 12 November 2021 14:19 (two years ago) link
As a relatively recent returner to games, I've learned my lesson the hard way. When I got "Doom" for the Switch it kinda ran like shit, even after a few updates. The slowdowns definitely affected game play in such a fast paced game, and even things like jumping were impacted. Like, you would run at a couple of spots (even with no enemies) and suddenly things would slow down, right before you pressed jump, and you would fall to your death. But tbf, "Doom" is almost uniquely busy and fast paced, and yeah, I can't think of another game off the top of my head with issues like that.
That said, I sort of suspect at least some of my problems with "Sekiro" were related to the frame rate. Usually I don't notice/care, but that game was all about timing, and while it could have been me (I mean, for sure it was me), it's also possible it was just that much trickier for me at 30fps than it would have been at 60.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 12 November 2021 14:38 (two years ago) link
there wasn't any sort of max health restriction upon death mechanic in Sekiro though
Oh, I just meant the mechanic that makes you lose half your souls or whatever. And gives everybody dragonrot. There's a cost of dying, which I found irritating since these games are built around dying over and over again. DS1 and DS3 don't have that cost, and Bloodborne gives you a shot to get some echoes back, too.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 12 November 2021 14:41 (two years ago) link
I never minded slow downs either, it's like slo mo at a dramatic moment.
Glad the PS4 version runs well, I never cared about graphics but had to admit that 60fps is really nice after playing the DS1 remaster and now DS3 on PS5. But I played all of the other games at 30fps for hundreds of hours and had a great time, so it's definitely not essential.
― change display name (Jordan), Friday, 12 November 2021 16:44 (two years ago) link
very positive impressions
https://kotaku.com/elden-ring-may-just-reinvent-the-open-world-genre-1848093261
― just staying (Karl Malone), Saturday, 20 November 2021 20:38 (two years ago) link
I look forward to suddenly earning souls from some NPC that dies fighting enemies on the other side of the map.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 20 November 2021 23:47 (two years ago) link
I keep wondering if I should give the other From games a shot? I just got incredibly fed up with BB but maybe having a shield would make me feel better? (Probably not.)
― Nelleee Hooper (Leee), Monday, 22 November 2021 18:32 (two years ago) link
On the one hand having experience in one of these games helps with all of them since they have some basics in common, but on the other hand, ER looks to be the most user-friendly of them all (from little things like the menus and upgrade systems, to how the combat system seems to align with what you see onscreen in a more intuitive way, rather than having to look up online how combos/poise/parries/etc work...that's mostly for pvp though).
Generally speaking though Dark Souls 1 and 2 are slower paced, while the combat in Bloodborne is faster (and DS3 is somewhere in-between).
― change display name (Jordan), Monday, 22 November 2021 19:03 (two years ago) link
Shields in these games are mostly there to taunt you and weigh you down.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 22 November 2021 19:05 (two years ago) link
i have played defense heavy builds to some advantage in these games on occasion; it's a preferred method. it makes me shit at pvp tho!
― When Young Sheldon began to rap (forksclovetofu), Monday, 22 November 2021 19:12 (two years ago) link
I haven't used a shield in DS3 since my first playthrough, but I might use one for ER! For one thing, there's a shield weapon art (or "ash of war" I guess) that acts as both a normal parry AND can parry spells (and turn them into little magic swords you send back):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BBLmt_DI50
― change display name (Jordan), Monday, 22 November 2021 19:14 (two years ago) link
In the pvp world, there's been a lot of talk of the big changes from Dark Souls 3, particularly:
-No guaranteed combos, ie hitting someone once doesn't necessarily mean you can hit them again if they decide to roll out of it. In DS3, most small and medium weapons had a guaranteed 2-hit combo on normal attacks, with a shorter stun window after that so the other person could get away.
-Backstabs are de-emphasized, and no one's sure if they're "working as intended" or not. Basically the backstab doesn't work if the other person isn't perfectly aligned with your character, or possibly if they're in any kind of animation. In DS3, it would work as long as the other person wasn't moving away from you, meaning that you could sneakily backstab someone if they were in a long animation (like after swinging a large weapon, or casting a healing spell). I enjoyed that system, but it makes sense that From is trying to smooth over elements that looked or felt weird to anyone not super versed in the mechanics.
I'm all for the changes if they make the pvp more intuitive and appealing to people. Although I hope there are some good unparryable attacks to use when someone keeps throwing out parries, since that still seems strong, and in DS3 you could run around behind them, use a kick, etc.
― change display name (Jordan), Monday, 22 November 2021 19:49 (two years ago) link
This looks really good. I mean, it's very Soulsy and sometimes these things can feel like Scategories. Just replace bonfire with lamp; souls with blood echoes etc... But I'm down with this. It looks a lot more open and less fiendishly claustro than Bloodborne. I also like how you can actually jump. There also seem to be a few more NPCs about the place, so it's got more of a Witchery vibe to it. Yeah looking forward to it
― Urbandn hope all ye who enter here (dog latin), Tuesday, 23 November 2021 00:30 (two years ago) link
This is gonna own me isn't it.
― When Young Sheldon began to rap (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 2 December 2021 17:06 (two years ago) link
There has been much Oroboro watching in our household this past month
― covidsbundlertanze op. 6 (Jon not Jon), Thursday, 2 December 2021 17:07 (two years ago) link
just bought the lil baby xbox series s in a chip-shortage panic, just in case they disappear again before this comes out
― adam, Thursday, 2 December 2021 17:11 (two years ago) link
I also got the lil' baby Xbox, the first Microsoft console I've ever had! Personally, I think it's great as an affordable, stand-alone Game Pass machine
― feed me with your chips (zchyrs), Saturday, 4 December 2021 17:20 (two years ago) link
are they readily available?
― When Young Sheldon began to rap (forksclovetofu), Saturday, 4 December 2021 17:53 (two years ago) link
though frankly i don't think i can hang with that joystick
― When Young Sheldon began to rap (forksclovetofu), Saturday, 4 December 2021 17:57 (two years ago) link
got one at a gamestop on myrtle ave, looked like there were tons
― adam, Sunday, 5 December 2021 00:21 (two years ago) link
https://kotaku.com/the-elden-ring-community-is-now-arguing-over-horse-crot-1848315650
― Rabbit Pen Warren (Leee), Friday, 7 January 2022 18:45 (two years ago) link
They should split the difference between Dark Souls and Red Dead Redemption and make horse genitalia prominent, dynamic and a stat. Because you know there would be hundreds of level one players who will put every single soul into horse dick.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 7 January 2022 19:13 (two years ago) link
Counterpoint, you should have a separate character creation menu for your horse, complete with gender and appearance sliders
― change display name (Jordan), Friday, 7 January 2022 19:17 (two years ago) link
Why not both! Customizable horse would be next level From. Hell, you should be able to *play* as a horse, that would be rad.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 7 January 2022 19:50 (two years ago) link
If they did have horse dick, what stat would it scale with
― flamboyant goon tie included, Friday, 7 January 2022 22:54 (two years ago) link
Luck
― change display name (Jordan), Friday, 7 January 2022 22:56 (two years ago) link
girth
― i cannot help if you made yourself not funny (forksclovetofu), Friday, 7 January 2022 22:56 (two years ago) link
all horse dicks aside, i am really fucking hyped to play this game
I'm medium hyped! I literally beat Gael for the first time today yay
― flamboyant goon tie included, Friday, 7 January 2022 23:01 (two years ago) link
I cannot wait. I may have said this but the weekend it comes out I'm going to be in Florida playing a gig and visiting my folks, and it's going to be tough avoiding spoilers!
― change display name (Jordan), Saturday, 8 January 2022 16:02 (two years ago) link
Josh is always worried about the horse parts
― Ssäm Sauce | Martha Stewart (Sufjan Grafton), Saturday, 8 January 2022 16:51 (two years ago) link
Haha, I actually never worried about my horse (named My Horse) in RDR2 ever! Nor did I ever notice its gender or genitals, come to think of it. Maybe I should have paid closer attention?
Wait, there were horses in Breath of the Wild, weren't they? I don't think I ever used a horse, except the one or two times a fight required it.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 8 January 2022 17:26 (two years ago) link
yes there were horses, and yes we had a many post discussion about it
― Ssäm Sauce | Martha Stewart (Sufjan Grafton), Saturday, 8 January 2022 17:35 (two years ago) link
Shows what an impression they made. All I remember is that they offered me no benefit so I stabled them. Where they remain, virtually, to this very day.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 8 January 2022 18:06 (two years ago) link
https://blog.playstation.com/2022/01/28/an-interview-with-fromsoftwares-hidetaka-miyazki/
― i cannot help if you made yourself not funny (forksclovetofu), Sunday, 30 January 2022 22:36 (two years ago) link
I have been keeping up and everything looks incredible, but the most important feature so far is that you can find tailor's tools and add a cape (and who knows what else?!) to your outfit.
― change display name (Jordan), Thursday, 10 February 2022 20:48 (two years ago) link
this is gonna happen fairly soon and i'm genuinely a little nervous as i simply don't have time.
― i cannot help if you made yourself not funny (forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 16 February 2022 05:33 (two years ago) link
there might be a slight dip in unemployment in early march
― snarl self own (Karl Malone), Wednesday, 16 February 2022 05:42 (two years ago) link
so this is getting "greatest game ever" reviews!!! https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/feb/23/elden-ring-review-an-unrivalled-masterpiece-of-design-and-inventiveness
― Critique of the Goth Programme (Neil S), Wednesday, 23 February 2022 15:15 (two years ago) link
Will this be worth playing on PS4?
― Urbandn hope all ye who enter here (dog latin), Wednesday, 23 February 2022 15:17 (two years ago) link
@ Jordan yes, the Great Jar Challenge became impossible around the arena update. I think I was trying to get a RL 80 character going, and I had to re-spec to a cheese build just so I take on those Jar challengers. Awful!
― a hyperlink to the past (flamboyant goon tie included), Wednesday, 28 February 2024 15:43 (one month ago) link
That's cool if there's a new levelling system. Just going to keep getting OP while staying remorselessly stupid.
fgti how did you get parry on a greatshield? I was mucking about trying to learn parry the other day and could only get the parry-ish ashes onto my mediums. Thought it would be fun to have it on a stupid big shield but failed.
― woof, Wednesday, 28 February 2024 15:49 (one month ago) link
Oh I'm likely misremembering, I think you're correct. It's been well over a year since I've Eldened a Ring. In PvP I think I relied on the ridiculous poise reduction of the lances and poise absorption of the greatshield to stagger, for example, those beastly knights in Elphail and Farum Azula, at which point I'd crit with a dagger. One day I'll re-connect my PS5 and revisit my builds but not today!
― a hyperlink to the past (flamboyant goon tie included), Wednesday, 28 February 2024 15:53 (one month ago) link
ELDEN RING!
Okay, well now I've remembered the controls, I spent a lot of time just prattling about again last night in spaces I thought I was familiar. It's amazing how much time one can spend doing this, in fact, just saying "I'm just going to follow this wall or this cliff edge and see where I end up". In fact I'm sure I happened upon a part of Limgrave I couldn't quite remember seeing before with all these abandoned decrepit flame chariots dotted around a field with a rune bear in the middle of them.
This is partly because I can't quite recall where I tapped out of the game almost a year ago. Until now I've been trying to go through the game in the "intended" order, but now I've hit Altus Plateau, it's not obvious where to go next.
― your mom goes to limgrave (dog latin), Thursday, 29 February 2024 14:25 (four weeks ago) link
Totally. My build is coming together, can confirm that the Dragon Halberd is pretty ridiculous (I happened upon it and only later found the videos about how it's been buffed and the weapon skill now true combos) and the dual halberds are working for pvp. Just goes to show that planning out a build rarely works out for me, better to play through the game and experiment with what feels good. At this rate I'll definitely have two characters for the dlc.
― Jordan s/t (Jordan), Thursday, 29 February 2024 20:52 (four weeks ago) link
I've always wondered about From games and the like, what is the lexicon used in the original Japanese? Do the weapons and classes and bosses and whatnot have different, Japanese names, or are some of the nouns (proper or otherwise) still some variation of Medieval English?
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 29 February 2024 22:32 (four weeks ago) link
there seems to be a whole cottage industry of lore hunters going through the various translations and versions of the item descriptions to dig up potentially missed content or alternate meanings to the flavour text
― your mom goes to limgrave (dog latin), Friday, 1 March 2024 12:03 (three weeks ago) link
I just washed a fraction of that Rusty guy go through his two and a half hour YouTube video about best weapons in Elden Ring, and man ... From the clips to his selections, it's like I have never played this game before, I can barely recall so little. Utter madness, given the amount of time I spent on my playthrough.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 10 March 2024 01:14 (two weeks ago) link
Yeah I just watched it (at 2x speed) and felt similarly. Happy my beloved lance made the top 10. Wtf are Raptor's Talons? I mean I had them but never thought to use them
― a hyperlink to the past (flamboyant goon tie included), Sunday, 10 March 2024 03:20 (two weeks ago) link
Continuing to enjoy my second real playthrough, even though I'm back in the sewers and still don't remember my way around (eventually I caved and looked on youtube, and they sure do a good job of hiding the correct tunnel, it's dastardly).
Doing better at invasions too. Most people just spam their crazy damage move (whether that's a weapon art, spell, or bleed weapon), so my current philosophy is not to rush in, get a few pokes in so they're not at full health (but not yet compelled to heal), and wait for the right moment to unleash my crazy damage move. It's not as fun as DS3 where I could just get in there and react on the fly, that gets you killed instantly in ER (or at least you're rolling the dice on whether your poise + crazy damage move beats theirs).
― Jordan s/t (Jordan), Tuesday, 26 March 2024 15:26 (two days ago) link
nobody knows their way around those sewers
― your mom goes to limgrave (dog latin), Tuesday, 26 March 2024 15:34 (two days ago) link
i don’t think i ever properly got to the bottom on my first play through. i’m on a second now and will give it a go.
― Fizzles, Tuesday, 26 March 2024 17:11 (two days ago) link