I’m still amazed at just how much I can improve in a particular new FromSoft Soulsborne game even though I’ve played every single one (including Sekiro of course), at least once all the way through. Like, I’ve put so many hours into both the PvE and PvP of all the Souls games. But every game is always just different enough to where I of course start off way ahead of say a beginner, but the games are different enough to where I suck at the beginning. Well, “suck” in this context is super relative, considering compared to someone that Elden Ring is their first Miyazaki FromSoft game, I’d be top tier in comparison, but I think y’all know what I mean. But getting better at a new “Souls” game is always a process, you’re never just automatically godlike in a new “Souls” game. Like, the whole process of learning all the new mechanics, unlearning habits developed in previous Souls games that don’t work anymore or that aren’t as good in the new one, learning all the new bosses and their patterns, etc etc.
Anyway, I’ve improved so much since the beginning. Obviously I have way better gear (armor, weapons, AoW’s, Spirit Ashes <which I almost never use SA’s anymore bc I think they’re too good>, higher level, etc etc), but I’m better at the game on a fundamental level.
That feeling of true progress, that gratifying realization that you’ve improved so much on a fundamental level, that type of genuine satisfaction of seeing and feeling the benefits of the time and work you’ve put into the game and getting better, THAT’S what I want for all Elden Ring players (Very similar feeling to finally beating a player in a FG that you’ve always struggled against, namely in a tournament match). That’s why I of course absolutely believe you should play however you like, but also strongly encourage you do certain things that don’t just make every big boss fight or big moment trivial and anticlimactic because you get carried by summons or you never get close to a boss and just use OP pew pew magic. Trust me, I’ve done it all, I’ve played Souls games in just about every legit way possible. I know how much of a difference going in blind AND beating a difficult boss is on your own VS summoning randoms or your overleveled friends to bum rush ‘em while you sit back and Harry Potter ‘em to death. I’m not saying there’s anything necessarily wrong with doing that, I’m just saying on your first playthrough, with all my years and thousands of hours of experience in these games, that absolutely gratifying feeling is only achieved via going into a boss fight blind and on your own. I want everyone to experience that feeling. I want people to struggle vs a tough boss and instead of getting lazy and overleveling, or summoning 2 friends + an NPC, I want them actually analyzing why they lost, studying the bosses movement and patterns, and getting better through their own determination and then finally beating that boss. Because man, ime there’s no other single player game that can offer you
that type of truly self gratifying experience I don’t think.
And to be as clear as I possibly can, I’m very
obviously not saying you
HAVE to do this. Not even saying you
OUGHT to do this. Just sharing that in my experience I have found that this is the absolute optimal way to get the most out of the game and experience at least in your first playthrough. I know how I felt the first time I did it (giggity), and I know how it still feels to this day when I do it (giggity). All this is is me strongly suggesting people try this approach out with at least one tough boss in their playthrough. If you still don’t care for it after that, you at least attempted it (and in this hypothetical were successful). I KNOW it takes way more work and is harder, that’s kinda the entire point. To truly appreciate the highs, you have to go through and endure the lows. And sure, success on its own is nice, most can agree on that. But succeeding despite all the hardships, constantly struggling, and relying on nothing but yourself and your will to win, being successful after that is just a new a better feeling entirely.
And again to reiterate, this is only my
suggestion. Which is based on, as I said, playing through all of these games in almost every different way you can. If you don’t care and just want to beat the game as easily and quickly as possible, that’s your prerogative. If you want to overlevel to the moon so that you’re a God in the game, go nuts! I’m not some elitist saying this is how you HAVE to play or that if you don’t play the game a certain way you’re not a real gamer or anything like that. I simply just
want people to experience the joy that I have experienced, that is all.
Anyway, Elden Ring = GOTC (Game of the Century)!
