Exploring the Open World of Elden Ring: A New Challenge for FromSoftware

The open world genre has been a popular trend in video games for the past decade, with titles like The Witcher 3, Skyrim, and Horizon Zero Dawn captivating players with their vast landscapes and endless possibilities. However, when FromSoftware, the developers behind the Dark Souls series, announced their foray into open world design with Elden Ring, many fans were skeptical. The Souls series is known for its intricate level design, challenging combat, and enigmatic storytelling, which seemed at odds with the open-ended nature of an open world game. In this article, we will explore the unique approach FromSoftware has taken with Elden Ring’s open world design and how it challenges players in new and exciting ways.

FromSoftware’s president, Hidetaka Miyazaki, has acknowledged that there were concerns within the development team about Elden Ring’s shift to a full-blown open world format. However, Miyazaki emphasized that Elden Ring’s vision for an open world was not traditional. Instead, Elden Ring is an open world game in the same way that Dark Souls is a hard game. Miyazaki explained that they don’t set out to create a difficult game, but rather a challenging one. To achieve this, they need threats and dangers, and unknowns.

Elden Ring’s open world is filled with these challenges and unknowns. Players can explore vast fields, trek through dark forests, and discover hidden areas, all while encountering new enemies and bosses. One of the most notable features of Elden Ring’s open world is its non-linear design. Unlike traditional open world games, Elden Ring does not hold the player’s hand and guide them through the world. Instead, players are free to explore and discover the world at their own pace. This sense of freedom and discovery is a departure from the more linear design of the Souls series, but it is a welcome addition for many players.

Another way Elden Ring challenges players is through its optional content. The game is filled with optional bosses, dungeons, and assorted gear and crafting bobbins. These optional areas and items add depth and complexity to the game, making it feel more rewarding and engaging. However, they can also be overwhelming and intimidating for some players. Elden Ring’s open world design allows players to tackle these challenges in any order they choose, making the game feel more personalized and tailored to their playstyle.

Elden Ring’s open world design also brings the game’s various field areas and dungeon types together more seamlessly. Miyazaki has explained that they have experimented with something a little more in-between these traditional areas to bring a more diverse gameplay experience. This seamless integration of different areas and gameplay styles is a departure from the more segmented design of the Souls series, but it adds to the sense of immersion and exploration in Elden Ring’s open world.

One of the most exciting aspects of Elden Ring’s open world design is the potential for player discovery. Players can stumble upon hidden areas and secrets, making the game feel more rewarding and engaging. For example, players may discover a village full of dancers or a singing bat lady. These discoveries add to the sense of wonder and exploration in Elden Ring’s open world, making it feel more alive and dynamic than traditional open world games.

Elden Ring’s open world design also sets it apart from other open world games in terms of mood and atmosphere. The game’s dark and mysterious world is filled with danger and uncertainty, making it feel more immersive and engaging than other open world games. The game’s optional bosses and dungeons also add to this sense of danger and uncertainty, making each discovery feel like a true accomplishment.

Elden Ring’s upcoming DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, promises to introduce fresh challenges and improve upon the game’s open world design. The DLC will feature a fight that’s just as hard as Malenia and a poison swamp, making it a must-play for fans of the game. Additionally, the DLC will develop Elden Ring’s approach to open worlding, with denser and richer level design that brings the game’s various field areas and dungeon types together more seamlessly.

In conclusion, Elden Ring’s open world design is a departure from the more linear design of the Souls series, but it adds to the sense of immersion and exploration in the game. The game’s non-linear design, optional content, and seamless integration of different areas and gameplay styles make it feel more personalized and tailored to each player’s playstyle. The potential for player discovery and the game’s dark and mysterious world make Elden Ring’s open world feel more alive and dynamic than other open world games. With the upcoming DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, promising to introduce fresh challenges and improve upon the game’s open world design, Elden Ring is a must-play for fans of the Souls series and open world games alike.