FromSoftware fans are still exalting after the gameplay trailer for the massively anticipated Elden Ring dropped at the Summer Game Fest. There has already been an outpouring of support and excitement for the title since its first trailer in 2019, raised to a fever pitch now more details of its gameplay and world are coming to light.
Elden Ring shares a similar visual language to previous FromSoftware games, though with a slightly more 'high fantasy' twist than Dark Souls veterans are used to. Coupled with Elden Ring's seemingly vast, sprawling world, celebrated game director Hidetaka Miyazaki's newest game seems tailor made to invoke a sense of wanderlust alongside the feelings of trepidation and danger that are hallmarks of the genre-defining Souls games. Fan artists are flocking to the game to reflect on both the moments of action- and the moments of respite, too.
While there are plenty of moments of high-flying action showcased in Elden Ring's newest trailer, there is also a deep nostalgia for many players of the quiet moments like those in Firelink Shrine in Dark Souls. In a world of constant peril, safety and rest are a novel thing, and while Elden Ring hasn't showcased many non-player characters the companions found in the series often become fan-favorites over just a few conversations.
This 'demake' Elden Ring fanart by @Mr3sk encapsulates these moments, translated into the world of Elden Ring. The light of a bonfire and a seat on the cold ground are of the few comforts available to the protagonists of FromSoftware's despondent settings, though at least the hero of Elden Ring is going to be accompanied by their faithful steed.
Elden Ring's open world appears vast in scope, with recent interviews suggesting that the Elden Ring's world will comprise of six distinct environments. The player's ghostly steed, which visually appears somewhere between a horse and a many-horned deer, is likely to be the player's only constant companion throughout these journeys, an emphasizing point on the melancholic, lonely world being created by Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin.
The trailers for Elden Ring hint at a more 'developed' world than previous FromSoftware titles, which leaned towards more streamlined- though by no means linear- dungeons and lairs. A huge change coming to Elden Ring is the implementation of a day/night cycle and weather system, which will help break up some of the gradual visual monotony that comes with travelling through an open world. It also provides a wonderful thematic opportunity as showcased in the Elden Ring fanart, allowing players to wait out the dangerous nights in relative safety.
Elden Ring is releasing January 22, 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.