I don’t mind open world but I find that instead of the challenge of having to go through an entire level of trials to get to a boss and progress, there’s a bunch of mini trials. Not bad at all, but maybe it feels a little padded

And idk about how other people feel but 213 bosses does feel a little excessive

But yeah intentional world design has kind of fallen off in favor of big open worlds. I just wish we still had both

Youve just been to Stormveil tho. This game has plenty very smartly designed linear dungeons. Theres more than an entire demons souls worh of linear content inside of Elden Ring. It is just that theyve expanded that with this massive Open world.

Which is also why this isnt a 20 hour but 60-70 hour game.

I agree tho sometimes the more shorter and bundled experience of a dark souls 1 or Sekiro feels better to play than Elden Ring. You gotta be in the mood to take in the wide and atmospheric areas.

Again, I just wish linear experiences had a place in modern gaming, it feels like every game has to be open world and expansive

That being said Elden Ring did it the best of any game not named fallout or elder scrolls and Elden Ring may be even better than Skyrim

Stormveil did scratch the itch but it didn’t 100% scratch that itch that demons souls did as my first souls game. But then again Stormveil reminded me ALOT of 1-1

I do want to say that I have only completed 1 main dungeon, and just thinking about how I have completed Limgrave, Weeping Peninsula, Siofra River, and Stormveil Castle feels like a huge undertaking. It really does feel very epic in a similar way that something like lotr does, that in my opinion a game like breath of the wild failed to capture and im not even sure I’ve really ever felt in a game before

You gotta look at the different perspective. From have been making linear games with narrow connected maps for over 10 years. Elden Ring was them stepping out of their comfort zone and bringing a huge aspect of the open and wide world to it.

In some sense this game feels like two games simply because the open world content is not on the same level as the big legacy dungeons. I think most people will agree. The open world is great and provides incredible atmosphere. But they simply lacked the same experience they have with their tight dungeons

So if you are only itching for that super tight and smart narrow levels design I strongly encourage you to go for Sekiro or Dark Souls 1 instead.

I’m gonna stick it out, just my initial thoughts

I still can’t get enough of this game after 2.5 years 🫠

Keep going off to play other games for a few weeks, get bored and come back to this and it feels like a new game again.

Exploring random areas on NG+ and experimenting with different builds without the pressure to play in the ‘correct’ order is too good 👌

The DLC for this felt like a fever dream, I need to hop back in and replay because I can barely remember what happened

I was not enjoying Demon's Souls so I finally started this and yeah its pretty good

I swear to god the enemies are getting stronger way faster than I am

Had 0 problem in Limgrave really, maybe a bit on some parts

But Liurnia took a lot out of me. Siofra and Ainsel didn’t. The legacy dungeons didn’t. Found Rennala hard and Godrick easy. I’m sort of not even looking forward to Caelid cause I know that difficulty spike is nuts and im feeling underleveled already at level 54

Damn I had way more fun with demons souls

What about it didn’t you like?

I think I just needed to take more time going in easier and adapting to the combat, because I was very resistant to how stiff it is. Combined with the directional rolling i found it unsatisfying.

I would have probably been more engaged if I played the remaster though. I played it on a ps3 emulator and its definitely a 15 year old game. Its very gray.

Ohhhh
Yes I played the remaster, AND it was my first game of theirs, so didn’t notice maybe some of the problems there

what level are u supposed to be for margit and the area behind him im 23

Between 20-25 is a good level for Stormviel. You're fine at 23.

I just skip the dlc on each play through from now on I cannot stand it

??? Shadow of the Erdtree was near perfect.

def not; lore is bad, exploration feels way worse than in the main game, some bosses are straght terrible

old hunters is still the best fromsoft dlc

Bad lore lmao

everything after messmer feels like pure fanfiction

I don’t agree entirely but I can def see where you’re coming from. It felt very dark souls 2 at times, and Romina, Ymir and the finger ruins felt half cooked.

I need that new IP Miyazaki

Sekiro / BB inspiration yes please.

Fanfiction wouldve been Godwyn lmao

Tough to compare Old Hunters to shadow of the erdtree when one is 3 main bosses and the other 10.

Shadow of the Erdtree probably got Sekiro and Bloodborne beat when it comes to total number of good bosses.

Its not without flaws the undercooked areas are definitely a valid point but just cause From is spoiling us doesnt mean we should act entitled

I loved both of those DLC’s. Shadow of the Erdtree in Elden Ring and The Old Hunters in Bloodborne. Both were awesome.