TL;DR Elden Ring is great because it is challenging and satisfying like a Souls game without being a copy of one.

Game is challenging but not impossible. It also is not a clone of the souls and requires you to look differently at the situations you find yourself in. Music is phenomenal. Names of characters/bosses can be confusing. Riding torrent can get wonky. Many of us have fallen to death because the game eats our jump input while riding torrent. Boss fights are exciting and brutal but very achievable with time and patience.

The open world design has pros and cons. You can get a nearly max level weapon before fighting a real boss, or just about any enemy, but collecting the items takes a long time of running around the open world (probably 20-30 minutes depending on your experience and optimized route).

TL;DR Elden Ring is great because it is challenging and satisfying like a Souls game without being a copy of one. Game is challenging but not impossible. It also is not a clone of the souls and requires you to look differently at the situations you find yourself in. Music is phenomenal. Names of characters/bosses can be confusing. Riding torrent can get wonky. Many of us have fallen to death because the game eats our jump input while riding torrent. Boss fights are exciting and brutal but very achievable with time and patience. The open world design has pros and cons. You can get a nearly max level weapon before fighting a real boss, or just about any enemy, but collecting the items takes a long time of running around the open world (probably 20-30 minutes depending on your experience and optimized route).