We won’t have to wait too long. The best game of 2022 is scheduled for February 25, whenElden ring on PS4 / 5, Xbox One / Series and PC. And Horizon Forbidden West, Starfield, Where God of War: Ragnarök, or maybe even the sequel to Zelda: Breath of the Wild ? Yeah, well, okay, there will be some more great games this year.
Corn Elden ring has it all for fans of video games, open world, dark fantasy, and more. Indeed, the title is the new creation of FromSoftware, the studio to which we owe the very hard and (therefore) very beautiful Darks Souls, and of… Georges RR Martin. Yes, the author of Game Of Thrones.
A meeting at the top
Their meeting was inevitable, since the time they turn around from a distance, both creators of must-see dark fantasy worlds and tormentors of players and readers. From Demon’s Souls in 2009, whose remake served as a showcase for next gen consoles in 2020, japanese game designer Hidetaka Miyazaki created medieval-fantasy games and universes, populated by gods, dragons, relics, and legends, and very inspired by literature of the kind.
It is therefore not a surprise to see him contact George RR Martin, for, as the novelist writes on his blog, ” a little of worldbuilding : create a deep, dark, resonant world, which would serve as the foundation for a game they want to make. However, I love to create worlds and write imaginary stories. I did my part, and passed it on to my new Japanese friends. “
A mysterious and promising universe
Welcome to Underground, a world divided since the Circle of Elden was mysteriously shattered and the demigods, descendants of Queen Marika, have waged an endless war. They fight over the major runes, the Shards of the Circle of Elden. The only hope? The coming of a new Lord of Elden. Maybe you, simple Sans-Eclat. So much for making it short, if not roughly. Because like the previous FromSoftware games, the story is deliberately cryptic, and the player is let loose in a world of dangers and mysteries, where he will discover the mythology for himself and to bits.
The difference with Dark souls ? Like Halo Infinite, which took the Xbox saga out of its usual corridors and arenas, Elden ring leave the castles and dungeons to acclimatize to the great outdoors, from green plains to vertiginous mountains through sticky swamps and back to the dungeons. We stay at FromSoftware.
A gameplay of all possibilities
Moreover, the simple name of FromSoftware can thrill the most casual of gamers, so much they have raised the difficulty to the rank of art in their games, Dark souls but also Bloodborne and
Sekiro. Titles no longer hardcore, but “masocore”. Yes Elden ring always asks for requirements, after a few hours with the joystick in hand, it seems less punitive, more accessible. It is also the promise, half-word, of the publisher Namco Bandai: to reach the most players. While boss fights always require timing, and unlearning in order to relearn better, the gameplay offers great richness, with a choice of classes, weapons, abilities, and therefore always more combinations and approaches possible.
But above all, the game allows time to get lost, to lose, to start over, to resuscitate. Gameplay, universe, mythology… It’s a safe bet that you will spend (hundreds of) hours on Elden ring in 2022. On the other hand, no touch, George RR Martin. You have to finish writing first The iron Throne.