Fans have been eagerly awaiting the release ofElden Ringever since its announcement during E3 2019. AfterFromSoftware’s long period of radio silence, the studio finally committed to a release date last June and is now less than a month away from the game’s launch.
WithElden Ringreleasing on February 25, director Hidetaka Miyazaki recently sat down with PlayStation for an in-depth interview. The discussion covered a range of topics, related to the upcoming game. Among Miyazaki’s statements was the conformation thatElden Ringwill feature both multiple endings and New Game Plus.
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Now, this likely isn’t a massive surprise for fans of developer From Software. The first twoDark Soulsgames each have two possible endings, withDark Souls 3having four.BloodborneandSekiro: Shadows Die Twicealso has multiple endings, with some requiring significant extra effort on the player’s part. All five games also boast a New Game Plus mode for players interested in a more challenging and rewarding second playthrough. Thus, Miyazaki’s statement isn’t new information so much as it is a confirmation of what many already expected.
Still, it’s good to have an official statement, even if it’s unsurprising. Plus, that wasn’t Miyazaki’s only comment about the upcoming game. For example, he discussed howSekiro’sdevelopment impacted From Software’s philosophy going intoElden Ring. This is partially evident in the gameplay, with Elden Ring building uponSekiro’sPosture system to create the new game’s Enemy Stance Break mechanic. Players may also feelSekiro’sinfluence inElden Ring’swriting. The new game attempts to strike a balance between the fragmented storytelling ofDark SoulsandBloodborneand the more explicit narrative ofSekiro.
Miyazaki also discussed the characteristically harsh difficulty and bleak atmosphere that From Software games are known for. Regarding the former point, he explained how From Software doesn’t make their games difficult just for the sake of difficulty. Instead, the studio believes in making games that reward players for overcoming adversity.
This means that the games still need to be fair instead of arbitrarily punishing. Miyazaki also notes that one advantage of makingElden Ringopen-world is that players can judge for themselves what challenges they are ready to take on next. The game will also offer players more options for dealing with its various challenges. These are some reasonsMiyazaki believes a larger proportion of players will finishElden Ring.
As for the game’s atmosphere,Elden Ringis much more colorfulthan other From Software titles. According to Miyazaki, From Software wants the game to have a more inviting atmosphere that encourages players to explore off the beaten path. It also givesElden Ringa more painterly aesthetic, which the developers feel is better for the game’s setting of a high fantasy realm in decline. However, Miyazaki assures fans thatElden Ringis not lacking darker, more intense moments.
Elden Ringreleases February 14th, 2022, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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