As of the time of writing, Elden Ring is set to release in just a few days, and it’s one of the most highly-anticipated games of 2022’s first quarter by a longshot. Despite being a new IP in the Soulslike genre, it’s apparently a somewhat spiritual successor to titles like Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne, serving to ramp up excitement for long-time fans of those series.
Elden Ring was initially revealed in 2019, after which FromSoftware remained mostly silent. However, the game received a huge gameplay reveal in June of 2021, and fan excitement has been at an all-time high since. This is especially true now that the waiting is almost over and the anticipation and excitement of the final days tick down. In the meantime, here’s everything players need to know before jumping in with their next soulslike.
7 There’s A Bunch Of New Features, Including Fighting On Horseback
It’s true that Elden Ring is going to feel somewhat similar to the Dark Souls experience that fans are used to and absolutely love. However, this doesn’t mean it isn’t bringing some new additions to the table.
For one, Elden Ring is a huge open-world with six main areas to explore. There’s horseback riding (including jumping) and even a mounted combat system. There’s a guard counter system that allows players to attack immediately after blocking – a separate system from the Parrying fans are used to. And finally, there’s a world map where players are able to place their own custom markers, which is great for anyone trying to get the most out of the game’s massive world.
6 There Are Some Fan-Favorite Features Returning From Dark Souls As Well
In addition to the new features coming to Elden Ring, there are some fan-favorite systems in Dark Souls that will be making their return as well. For one, co-op is of course going to be included for anyone who wants to embark on their new journey with up to three other players.
Player-versus-player invasions are also making a return, but there may not be the option to invade solo players if you’re in a group for fairness’ sake. Bonfires for fast travel as well as resting are back but in a different form – now called Sites Of Lost Grace. Finally, bloodstains are making their return for anyone who wants to see how other players met their end.
5 The Game’s PC Requirements Are Out, And They’re Quite Beefy
As expected, the specifications required to run Elden Ring well and with high settings are rather high. What’s a bit shocking is that even the minimum requirements might put some potential PC players in a bit of a bind.
The minimum requirements include 12 GB of RAM and 60 GB of storage. An Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 3 3300X processor is recommended, along with either a GTX 1060 or RX 580 graphics card. For high-end play, players will need 16 GB of RAM as well as an Intel Core i7-8700k or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X processor. Finally, the recommended graphics cards are either a GTX 1070 or an RX Vega 56.
4 The Game Can Be Completed In About 30 Hours, But Rushing Through Isn’t Recommended
In a quote from the producer, Yasuhiro Kitao, it’s stated that it’s possible for Elden Ring to be completed in as little as 30 hours. However, rushing through and attempting to ‘beat’ the game as quickly as possible simply isn’t the recommended way to play, even for those who enjoy efficiently completing games as quickly as possible.
This is because exploration is at the very heart and soul of Elden Ring. By simply rushing through the main objectives and not allowing one’s sense of wonder and exploration to take the wheel at times, players will miss half the fun of the entire experience.
3 There’s More Diversity And Player Choice When It Comes To The Game’s Combat Systems
One of the most stand-out features coming to Elden Ring is how diverse and rooted in player choice its combat system seems. For one, the summons from Dark Souls are returning, but they’re much less restricted. Instead of being limited to specific areas, players will be able to find and equip summons as they go to use at will.
In addition, weapon skills are much less restricted than they have been in the past. Instead of having skills tied to specific weapons, skills can freely change between a large variety of weapons, making the player feel like they have much more agency.
2 Twelve Different Playable Classes Have Been Confirmed
As of several days before pre-launch, twelve different playable classes have been confirmed for players to choose from. Those classes are as follows: Samurai, Confessor, Hero, Vagabond, Astrologer, Bandit, Prisoner, Bloody Wolf, Champion, Prophet, Enchanted Knight, and Warrior.
However, choosing one of these doesn’t mean players are going to be forced into a static build path, so don’t worry. Game director Hidetaka Miyazaki confirms that build customization is going to be more varied than ever before in similar soulslikes.
1 The Composer For Dark Souls 3 Is Also Composing For Elden Ring
Yuka Kitamura is a veteran composer at FromSoftware studios. She was heavily involved with the soundtracks for Sekiro and Dark Souls 3, and fans of her work can rejoice. It’s confirmed that she’s working as a composer for Elden Ring as well, so anyone who enjoyed the soundtracks from other FromSoftware titles will have a lot to look forward to when the game officially launches on February 25th.
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