Elden Ring | Everything We Know – The release of the next FromSoftware adventure is now very close, as on February 25, players can enter the wide world shaped by two big names: Hidetaka Miyazaki and George RR Martin (Game of Thrones). We have already devoted two previews to the game and so close to the release it is useful to list all available information. This article can spoilers about the story so don’t read any further if you want to know as little as possible. With that caveat in mind, let’s dive in deep with this Everything We Know article by Elden Ring.
The story and setting of Elden Ring
Although we don’t know everything about the story of Elden Ring yet, we do have a small impression of how it works. In the Lands Between – the kingdom you reside in – the world is ruled by the Elden Ring. You could see this as a kind of law book and it dictates how the state of affairs should run. The Elden Ring consists of all kinds of Runes that come in small and large sizes. However, one of the great Runes that deals with death is suddenly stolen. Death was a concept that the rulers never had to deal with, but that has changed. Marika the Eternal, the queen of the land, was pushed to the limit to keep the kingdom together while war was spreading everywhere and nothing but chaos was left.
The demigods went up against the current rulers and nothing but war continued to plague the Lands Between. There was a sort of power vacuum, with each leader trying to seize the opportunity to take the throne and found the new Golden Order. After all this time of bloodshed, only the two strongest faced each other and they fought to the death. However, this did not lead to a winner and so the world was left in a broken state. However, the Tarnished – the player – comes on the scene in this confusing time and it’s up to you to make the Elden Ring complete again. However, given the different endings of the Soulsborne games, it could also be the opposite. Maybe you think the current state of affairs is fine and you prefer to keep the world in chaos? The choice to ascend the throne and make the world a better place is most likely yours.
So all this takes place in the Lands Between which is divided into various areas and smaller kingdoms. You could compare the setting with the Dark Souls franchise, only this world is of course much bigger. FromSoftware moves away from the linear level design and in Elden Ring you have the freedom to go where you want almost from the start. You can of course choose to purely follow the storyline, but then you will undoubtedly miss areas and therefore possibly not find new weapons, spells, armor and more. Just like in the other FromSoftware games, you are encouraged to explore. Who knows, you might come across secrets that may have a greater impact than you might think. The fate of the Lands Between is in the hands of the Tarnished, and only you have the power to change it all.
The gameplay of Elden Ring
As for the gameplay, it will feel familiar to Soulsborne enthusiasts. You could say that the gameplay of Dark Souls III serves as the basis and that other games from this developer add elements to it. You can finally jump and stealth situations are now also possible, something we saw earlier in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Furthermore, the infamous Power Stance from Dark Souls II returns, so you can wield two weapons of the same type to hand out unique combos. Players more in favor of a defensive style can also enjoy themselves in Elden Ring. Either players who like to play with a bow or who like to cast spells will get their money’s worth.
What you can expect once you play is basically the well-known Dark Souls feeling. The big difference is of course that all this takes place in the Lands Between which is a large playing field for the players. Given the size of the areas, it is therefore more than logical that we get a horse in Elden Ring. Early in the game you will already meet your faithful four-legged friend Torrent, who will explore the countries with you. Just like in the previous games from FromSoftware, you are now also encouraged to go out and explore. The gameplay is therefore a mix of brutal action, exploration, finding secrets and of course the necessary portion of dying, as we know it.
While exploring you may encounter patrols, be suddenly ambushed and of course discover secret places such as hidden caves. These caves can be compared to the Chalice Dungeons from Bloodborne and at the end you will always meet a boss that you have to defeat. Once defeated, it gives different kinds of rewards that can help you further in your adventure. All hidden locations feel unique and are each designed in their own way. You may also encounter NPCs in these dungeons that may come in handy later on, just like you meet these individuals in the rest of the Lands Between.
Elden Ring: Pre-Order Edition
Like most games, Elden Ring has special editions that we briefly explain below. Players who pre-purchase the Standard Edition – both physical and digital – will receive a digital Adventure Guide and an extra Gesture, which you can use in-game to show your true strength. The price ranges between €54.99 and €59.99 for most platforms and the game is no more expensive than the other versions for current-gen consoles. You can also choose to purchase the Deluxe Edition for €89.99. Here you will be offered the game as well as a digital artbook and soundtrack.
Elden Ring: Launch Edition
At the same price as the Standard Edition you can also choose to buy the Launch Edition. This costs € 59.99 and with this version you get some nice extras. First of all, you will of course be offered the game and you will also receive appropriate art cards. Furthermore, the Launch Edition contains a woven patch, a sticker set and a poster in the format 393×334 millimeters. You can view the edition below.
Elden Ring: Collector’s Edition
For the real fans of the Soulsborne franchise, there is of course also a Collector’s Edition available. For this extended edition you have to dig a little deeper into your pouch, because it will cost you € 199.99. Of course, for such a price you also get more extras, including a statue of Malenia – Blade of Miquella, an exclusive steelbook and a hardback copy of the Elden Ring art book consisting of 40 pages. This edition is now sold out and you probably can’t find it anymore. Below is the full content of the Collector’s Edition of Elden Ring.
Elden Ring: Premium Collector’s Edition
Finally, there is the most exclusive edition for Elden Ring and that is the Premium Collector’s Edition. This has a price tag of € 259.99 and is broadly the same as the Collector’s Edition. The big difference in the Premium version is that you also get a 1:1 replica of Malenia’s helmet. Of course this is a nice collectable that you can place in the cupboard, display case or on the shelf. This edition is exclusively available at Bandai Namco’s online store and is now also completely sold out. The contents of this edition on the image below.
Elden Ring previews
In addition to this article, we have had the opportunity to play Elden Ring several times. In November was the closed network test in which we had our first introduction to the game and we got a preview written about. In that preview, we dive deeper into the general stuff of Elden Ring and exactly how the game feels. Recently we also had the opportunity to work with the latest – and most likely final build – of Elden Ring. Do you want to know more about the areas of Elden Ring and what you can find? Then you can go to our second preview.
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