I really enjoyed this game and I had not played any other Souls/Fromsoftware games prior to Elden Ring. Everyone told me it'd be hard but personally, I had a different take. The game play is reminiscent of arcade games, you progress through a level, die, respawn, try again, get a little further, rinse repeat.

If you're reading this and wondering if it'll be too hard, give it a shot. There are tons of walkthroughs out there and in this game when you can cheese something, do it and don't feel bad. Stand on a ledge attacking the mobs from range that can't climb and only have melee weapons. Chain-stun a hard mob by spamming the same spell and staggering? Yup! There is always a way to turn a liability into an asset in this game you just have to find it.

I had the same level of immersion as playing a stealth game like Metal Gear Solid and the Open World RPG feel of Skyrim. The world is wondrous and I loved exploring it but I was also power hungry, a perfect set of motivators to really play and progress the game.

The story was curt and cryptic, you really have to dig in if you want it to make any sense. Honestly I just played it and picked up bits here and there, relying on the occasional guide to piece together NPC quests.

I'll be shocked if this isn't Game Of The Year and whole-hardheartedly endorse this masterpiece, I went so far as to buy two extra copies to gift to friends at full MSRP.