Elden Ring

[FourWheelDrift]

I've turned RT off now and I've not had another problem, maybe it was that.

[RobB_]

I'm really struggling to remember how this game all works, I could travel to the big egg but I started a new game so I can remember what the fk everything is/does because or I'll just get mullered

[The OG Jester]

Question for anyone that has played both, but is Elden Ring harder or easier than Dark Souls? And is it better sign posted in terms of what to do and where to go?

[davek_964]

I know that I got to the final fight (Elden Beast or whatever it was called) on NG+ but couldn't be bothered to finish it. I will need to dig it out and make sure that I completed the necessary steps to be able to start the DLC - although I really need to continue Baldurs Gate which is likely to take a while.

The OG Jester said:

Question for anyone that has played both, but is Elden Ring harder or easier than Dark Souls? And is it better sign posted in terms of what to do and where to go?

In a way it's easier - because it is much much more open world. If you go somewhere and get utterly mashed - go somewhere else and come back later when you're higher level.
But that probably makes it less signposted.

Dark Souls was brilliant, but Elden Ring is a level above - it's superb. Perhaps a bit less atmospheric for me than Dark Souls, but an amazing game.

[Magikarp]

I’ve not played any of these. Worth starting with this one? I don’t mind a game that’s difficult although my perception seems to be - rightly or wrongly - this is very difficult.

[davek_964]

Magikarp said:

I’ve not played any of these. Worth starting with this one? I don’t mind a game that’s difficult although my perception seems to be - rightly or wrongly - this is very difficult.

Demon / Dark Souls / Bloodborne are difficult - you will die, a lot. But they are truly excellent games.

As I said, Elden Ring is a little more forgiving because it is open world. There will be places you go where you are clearly too low level - so you just go somewhere else where the enemies are more matched. Having said that, you will still die. A lot!

I love all of them and have spent many many hours playing them.

[Calza]

Magikarp said:

I’ve not played any of these. Worth starting with this one? I don’t mind a game that’s difficult although my perception seems to be - rightly or wrongly - this is very difficult.

Yes - in many ways it's more realistic. For example as a spell caster you can't just stand there and spam spells or you'll get flattened. A lot of it is running away avoiding attacks and sneaking a spell in, feels unlike any other game in that regard.

The first 5-10 hours are difficult, there is 0 guidance in game. Guides are your friend IMO.

[FourWheelDrift]

I had to use a video walkthrough the other night, I was at the top of a plateau, tunnels underneath, a lift and two whirlwind air lift thingies and I couldn't find a way down so I was basically doing circles up lifts, down lifts, around never close enough to jump down. It was when I watched the walkthrough on YT that I noticed there was a tunnel exit to the side of one of the air lifts. Completely missed it because when you first drop down it you instinctly run to the other to go up as it looked like just a single tunnel. I was on Torrent for the lifts so it just seemed right.

Wiki pages and YT are good to find the things you have missed to complete achievements too. And it's not cheating because if you have to go back a way you have already been to go through a door you missed all the enemies along the way you had to kill to get past will be back too.

[Lucas Ayde]

FourWheelDrift said:

Wiki pages and YT are good to find the things you have missed to complete achievements too. And it's not cheating because if you have to go back a way you have already been to go through a door you missed all the enemies along the way you had to kill to get past will be back too.

Wikis are the only reason I got into Demon's Souls back on PS3. Without them I was getting nowhere and about to give up. There is so much stuff about the various game mechanics that simply is not told to you in the Soulslike games and they are packed with really obscure secret items and quests that mean you are unlikely to find many of them purely through random gameplay.

Demon's Souls was particularly obtuse thanks to World and Character tendancy mechanics (never properly explained) and the various events that only happen at pure white and pure black World tendancy (not even hinted at).

Once you start to understand the Souls games properly they are about 100x more rewarding to play.

[Mastodon2]

I've finished the main story quest of Shadow of the Erdtree. What a sensational piece of DLC. I'm not surprised it took 2 years or more to make, it is comfortably half the size of the main game and feels even denser and richer than the main map.

Oh, for something to look forward to, the final main boss puts Malenia in the shade. As does at least one other optional boss. Good luck!

[MWM3]

Mastodon2 said:

I've finished the main story quest of Shadow of the Erdtree. What a sensational piece of DLC. I'm not surprised it took 2 years or more to make, it is comfortably half the size of the main game and feels even denser and richer than the main map.

Oh, for something to look forward to, the final main boss puts Malenia in the shade. As does at least one other optional boss. Good luck!

I got to the final boss last night and have had about 10 attempts at him so far. Definitely tricky but I've had him down to around 20% health twice now, so hoping he will fall at some point when I play this evening.

I actually found Messmer to be the hardest boss so far and certainly harder than Malenia.