Opinion

«Elden Ring» proves that the Ubisoft formula has seen its day

17/3/2022

Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson

12 million copies of «Elden Ring» have been sold to date. A clear indication that games without training wheels can still have mass appeal. Time for other developers to take note.

Painfully challenging, cryptic and inaccessible. Games developed by Japanese studio «From Software» have a special reputation. When it was initially released, the first part of «Demon’s Souls» wasn’t launched in the western world. This was because its developers considered the game too difficult for our markets. However, contrary to this assumption, the global fan community of the so-called «Soulsborne» games has been steadily growing. With over ten million copies sold worldwide, «Dark Souls 3», the fifth part of the unofficial series, has brought it out of its niche and washed it into the mainstream.

But still, compared to big blockbusters such as «Horizon Zero Dawn», «Assassin’s Creed» and the like, games by «From Software» were still exotic specimens. They don’t feature minimaps, quest logs or signposts. Nothing’s spoon fed. «From Software» trusts that players will not only manage to find their way round without training wheels but also enjoy the journey. Twelve million copies of «Elden Ring» sold in just under three weeks confirm their assumption. I’m hoping the same thing will happen as it did with «Zelda Breath of the Wild». To this day, Nintendo’s reinvention of the cult series continues to attract countless imitators. It would only be fair if «Elden Ring» had the same effect. Creator Hidetaka Miyazaki has drawn a lot of inspiration for his latest work from Nintendo’s masterpiece.

«Elden Ring» trusts in you

«Elden Ring» does many things differently than previous releases by «From Software». But at its core it remains true to its aforementioned roots. What’s new is the gigantic open game world, ghosts that you can summon and that will stand by you in battle, fast travel points and significantly more checkpoints. In spite of all this, the game isn’t easy. However, it is more accessible than, say, «Dark Souls», where you have to fight your way back through numerous smaller enemies every time you die, only to have to start all over again after taking a blow from the boss.

«Elden Ring» doesn’t do much explaining. So the world seems all the more mysterious.

What makes «Elden Ring» exceptional, however, is not the level of difficulty, but the world that’s waiting to be discovered. With emphasis on «discover». For years, I’ve been criticising open world games like «Assassin’s Creed» for cluttering the world and map with icons. In «Elden Ring» too, there are countless secrets to discover. More than 70 hours into the game, I’m yet to uncover most of them – and that’s a good thing.

The problem with Ubisoft and the like is that they’re afraid you might’ve missed something. After playing «Horizon Forbidden West», I didn’t for a second feel the need to ask my mates if they’d discovered certain noteworthy features. Of course they had. The game wrestles you into a headlock to ensure that you see all there is to see. As a result, all the thrill of exploration is lost. Ubisoft and co. drag you on an all-inclusive holiday with a boastful tour guide, marking the must-sees with a thick highlighter pen. «From Software» turns back time, transporting you to a world where Lonely Planet doesn’t yet exist; where you can’t see a panorama photo of every little five-star-rated waterfall.

The lack of aids slows down the game, but makes the world more enigmatic. Without a minimap showing you where to collect your next bunch of herbs or where the next cave is located, you’re more aware of your surroundings. I never had any trouble navigating. I’d go in blind – finding the way from the starting area of Limgrave towards hellish Caelid – because barring a few recycled dungeons, the landscape is one of a kind.

Fancy playing with two shields? More power to you.

There’s something mysterious about the weapons, equipment, potions, spells and abilities, too. I’m not talking about the slightly clunky menu, the cryptic stats or lack of comparison options. In this regard, «From Software» could definitely do more to get with the times. No, I’m talking about the fact that «Elden Ring» encourages you to try things out. There’s no clear pattern telling you which weapon goes with which armour in order to become the perfect sorcerer. There’s an infinite number of combinations. You won’t notice whether it suits you or not until you’ve slain a couple of opponents.

I sincerely hope other developers copy the odd trick or two from «Elden Ring». Not every game has to be quite as gruelling as a «From Software» game. But just as my mum one day stopped holding my hand on the way to school, game studios should put more trust in us players to find our own way.

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Philipp Rüegg

Senior Editor

Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.ch

As a child, I wasn't allowed to have any consoles. It was only with the arrival of the family's 486 PC that the magical world of gaming opened up to me. Today, I'm overcompensating accordingly. Only a lack of time and money prevents me from trying out every game there is and decorating my shelf with rare retro consoles.

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