Bandai Namco has allowed publications the first hands-off preview for Elden Ring. And while details are still being kept under wraps, there are several key details that publications like GameSpot, Game Informer, IGN have reported on that will no doubt pique your interest.
Starting off, the land you’ll be traversing is huge. The game will make use of a couple of things to make your travels easier. Elden Ring will use a waypoint system similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The game will also use “retry points” where when you die, you can use these points to make it easier to retrieve your corpse, or you can choose to head back to a checkpoint.
Another way players will be able to cover ground is through your horse. Or rather, your spirit steed. Not only will your horse allow you to move quickly across the map, but it will also accompany you in battle.
Seeing as Martin is involved in the story, things are a little different. For one, Martin only outlined the world and its history, while From Software did the part of filling in the rest. That being said, the story still differs from the developer’s usual fare. Whereas games like Dark Souls had the players figure the story out themselves, Elden Ring instead will be more of a conventional fantasy story.
One thing that hasn’t changed is From Software’s penchant for giant monsters. And Elden Ring has a lot of them. From traditional fantasy staples like giant trolls or dragons, to the more disturbing such as a boss composed entirely of dead bodies, players familiar with From Software’s past works will know what to expect from the creature designs.
Elden Ring is due out for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, and PC via Steam on January 21, 2022.