Elden Ring fans have had an almost comically long wait in between new details about the upcoming FromSoftware game. The follow-up to Sekiro is highly anticipated, due in part to the creative minds behind its world. Elden Ring's world was created both by Hidetaka Miyazaki, famous for the other FromSoftware games, and George R.R. Martin of Game of Thrones fame. Ahead of yesterday's Summer Games Fest, the hype that has built up around Elden Ring is almost incomparable. The trailer that capped off the Summer Games Fest digital event did not disappoint its fans.
The subreddit for Elden Ring is already on fire after a monolithic new trailer released today, which speaks to fans' excitement about the new reveal. The trailer was chock-full of new details including locations, playable characters (or classes?), new enemies, huge bosses, and apparent open-world elements. After such a long silence on Elden Ring FromSoftware has done a lot to impress in the new trailer and it already has fans salivating for more.
Elden Ring's Summer Games Fest Did Not Disappoint
After so long without any new information, it's almost staggering just how much was included in the trailer released today for Elden Ring. The video primarily prioritized showing off gameplay, but opened with sprawling landscape shots and cramped dungeon footage. The horseback travel across wide open spaces was reminiscent of Shadow of the Colossus and really showcase the unique design that FromSoftware puts into all of its games.
The rest of the trailer was split between cuts of gameplay featuring two different characters, and story elements via the voiceover. It remains to be seen if the two characters shown off are indicative of set protagonists like Sekiro, or of different builds or classes like the other FromSoftware games.
The gameplay itself was also impressive to say the least. After so many Elden Ring teases leading up to the reveal, it was cathartic for fans to finally get a glimpse at how the game will actually play. The characters in the trailer show off two distinct archetypes, one is a Dark Souls-style knight utilizing heavy attacks including jumping slashes, and a glimpse into how magic will work in Elden Ring when a magical blade extends out before a powerful attack.
The other character looks more like a classic roguish fighter. Quick movement including a backflip slashing attack seem fluid and swift. The rogue/assassin character also shows off some magical prowess in the form of a doppelganger that's summoned to aid in attacks against an enemy.
The trailer definitely ends up leaving many mysteries about Elden Ring unanswered, but did a lot to get fans excited. The boss design is classic FromSoftware, including a dark knight and a grotesque nobleman enemy that proceeds to mutate more and more throughout the trailer. Totally new elements like mounted combat and exploration also helped set expectations for what the game will ultimately look like. Elden Ring's open field is a big shift for the series, so it will be interesting to see it implemented.
Many questions still abound about the game's lore and world, but they won't have to wait very long now that the trailer also included a release date for the highly anticipated Elden Ring. Surprising fans, the game releases fairly soon on January 21 next year.
Elden Ring's Expanding Mysteries
The new trailer for Elden Ring did a lot to answer some of the questions that fans had been holding onto for the last couple years. It did even more to create new questions however. A major one concerns the logo itself. Detailed in the game's new logo is a symbol consisting of interlocked golden rings indicative of the game's title. But during the new trailer a sort of destroyed altar is seen emblazoned with the same symbol. FromSoftware is famous for making what are minor details at first have big ramifications later, and this symbol might be important to Elden Ring's Golden Order.
Details are still sparse about just what the Golden Order, and even the titular Elden Ring, actually is, but it's probably safe to assume that the Golden Order is either tasked with protecting the Ring or otherwise connected. The trailer's voiceover points towards the breaking of the Elden Ring as being a catalyst for the game's events, but not much else is given about that. The trailer that capped off Summer Games Fest adds some context to the events though. The boss character throws some insults towards the player character about "a Tarnished playing as a lord." So it's likely that the Golden Order held some kind of political station as well as protecting the Ring. This is a common theme in From Software games like the Healing Church in Bloodborne and its leaders that were eventually corrupted by their own actions.
The trailer also expanded on what fans know about Elden Ring's combat system, but left some other questions. Exactly how Elden Ring's confirmed co-op will work is still largely a mystery. Many fans are probably hoping for a smoother experience than the ones in Dark Souls and Bloodborne. With the two characters shown off, some are wondering if the game will feature other playable characters or classes. And the newly open field was impressive, but just how expansive the game will be is yet to be seen. Players are likely in for some exciting exploration elements though, as evidenced by the mount performing an enormous leap in the trailer to reach a high cliff.
Mounted combat is also on display in the new trailer, another first for FromSoftware. The moment in the trailer is brief, but exciting. The player character is seen charging towards a macabre caravan, a stage coach pulled by grotesque giants. the player quickly engages another mounted combatant before the trailer cuts to a different scene. Other details that are likely going to be important to the game include a brief pan over the Erdtree. Elden Ring is still light on story details even after today's big reveal but that's right in line with most FromSoftware titles.
Fans have been patiently waiting for new information about Elden Ring and the newest trailer has a lot for them to get excited about. The trailer was filled with gameplay, environment, and story details for fans to digest and hopefully there will be even more on the way soon.
Elden Ring releases January 21, 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.