Elden Ring

Information
Developer	FromSoftware
DLC	Shadow of the Erdtree
Publisher	Bandai Namco Entertainment
Platform	PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Xbox One Xbox Series X/S Microsoft Windows
Genre	Action RPG
Release Date	February 25, 2022
Rating(s)	ESRB: M

	For the object, seek Elden Ring (concept).

Elden Ring is a fantasy action role playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game is a collaborative effort by Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice creator Hidetaka Miyazaki and author George R.R. Martin, creator of A Song of Ice and Fire and its television adaptation, Game of Thrones.

Plot

Main Storyline

The player takes control of a Tarnished, whose goal is to restore the shattered Elden Ring. Shortly after emerging in Limgrave, the Tarnished encounters a maiden named Melina. Since the Tarnished is at a severe disadvantage from not having a maiden, Melina offers to take that role, gifting the Tarnished an ability to turn Runes into strength and a steed named Torrent. In exchange, Melina wants the Tarnished to take her to the base of the Erdtree, the home of the Elden Ring. Melina later takes them to the Roundtable Hold, a gathering place for other Tarnished seeking to repair the Elden Ring led by Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing. The Tarnished earns an audience with the Two Fingers, whose speaker, Finger Reader Enia, informs the Tarnished that to access Leyndell, Royal Capital, where the Erdtree is, they must hunt the Demigods for their Great Runes,

Aided by Gideon's knowledge, the Tarnished travels throughout the Lands Between to hunt the Demigods. These include the insane Godrick the Grafted, who rules over Limgrave in his castle and is protected by the mysterious Margit, the Fell Omen; the mentally broken Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, who is locked inside the Academy of Raya Lucaria at Liurnia of the Lakes; Starscourge Radahn, who was left feral and mindless after a battle with Malenia, Blade of Miquella in Caelid; Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, who rules over Volcano Manor; and Mohg, Lord of Blood, who has secretly kidnapped Malenia's brother, Miquella, and resides in his hidden palace.

Among the allies that the Tarnished can make throughout their journey include Ranni the Witch, an outcast Demigod who wishes to overthrow the Golden Order and offers the Tarnished the option of serving her, Nepheli Loux, who can replace Godrick as Limgrave's ruler depending on the Tarnished's actions; Millicent, a girl with a mysterious connection to Malenia, and Fia, a servant of the deceased Godwyn the Golden who seeks to enshroud the lands in Death. After gathering at least two Great Runes, the Tarnished is able to enter Leyndell with Melina, and makes their way to Morgott, the Omen King, the demigod guarding the entrance to the Erdtree and Margit's true identity. After besting a shade of Morgott's father, Godfrey, First Elden Lord, the Tarnished reaches Morgott and defeats him. As he dies, Morgott reveals that the Erdtree itself wards off all who approach with impentrable thorns, making the Elden Ring's repair impossible.

However, Melina knows of a way to burn the thorns: using the legendary Flame of Ruin, which is held deep inside the Mountaintops of the Giants and guarded by the endling Fire Giant. The Tarnished also has the option of harnessing the equally powerful but extremely dangerous Frenzied Flame, hidden deep with Leyndell's sewers, an option that Melina firmly and repeatedly warns against. En route to the Fire Giant, the Tarnished can assemble a secret medallion that will lead them to Consecrated Snowfield, where they can gain access to Miquella's Haligtree and slay Malenia within.

Upon defeating the Fire Giant, if the Tarnished did not obtain the Frenzied Flame, Melina will use the Flame of Ruin to sacrifice herself to set the Erdtree on fire. If the Tarnished did obtain the Frenzied Flame, Melina will abandon the Tarnished, forcing them to use the Frenzied Flame to set the Erdtree on fire. Regardless of the method, the fire is not enough to burn away the thorns; for commiting the "cardinal sin" of burning the Erdtree, however, the Tarnished is transported to Crumbling Farum Azula. Inside is the Rune of Death, also known as "Destined Death", which the Tarnished can use to fuel the fire. The Tarnished eventually locates the Rune of Death's keeper, Maliketh, the Black Blade, and slays him in battle for the rune.

The fire is enough to both burn away the thorns and destroy the entire capital of Leyndell. The Tarnished returns to the Erdtree, where they are confronted by a traitorious Gideon, who believes that is Queen Marika the Eternal's will that nobody should claim the Elden Thone, and then the real Godfrey, who seeks vengeance against his son's killer. After defeating Gideon and Godfrey, the Tarnished is finally able to enter the Erdtree, where they are challenged by first Radagon of the Golden Order, Marika's consort co-inhabitating their body, and then by the Elden Beast, the Elden Ring's guardian. After both are vanquished, the Tarnished finds the remnants of the Elden Ring on Radagon's corpse. Depending on the Tarnished's actions throughout the game, six different endings can then be achieved. These include the Tarnished becoming Elden Lord, the Elden Ring being destroyed by Ranni, or the Tarnished becoming Lord of the Frenzied Flame and destroying the Lands Between. In the latter scenario, if Melina survived, she will vow to bring "Destined Death" to them.

Shadow of the Erdtree

After defeating Mohg in his palace, the Tarnished finds a comatose Miquella in a cocoon. Touching his hand, the Tarnished is transported into the Land of Shadow, where they set out to hunt Miquella and claim his Great Rune. Needle Knight Leda, leader of a band of Miquella's followers, assumes that the Tarnished has come to serve Miquella and explains that the Land of Shadow, where Marika first ascended to godhood, has been devastated by the forces of demigod Messmer the Impaler under Marika's orders. The Tarnished also learns that Miquella shredded his body to enter the Land of Shadow, resulting in Miquella discarding both his his Great Rune (which the Tarnished can retrieve from the monstrous Scadutree Avatar) and his emotions. The forsaking of his Great Rune breaks a spell over Miquella's followers, who were in fact brainwashed by Miquella to serve him.

Investigating the Land of Shadow, the Tarnished can journey into a deep fissure and find Miquella's discarded half, St. Trina, who reveals Miquella's plan to ascend into Godhood and urges the Tarnished to kill the corrupted demigod. The Tarnished can also help the scavenger Igon take revenge against Bayle the Dread, a dragon who had mortally wounded him; put down Midra, a failed candidate for Lord of the Frenzied Flame who endures perpetual suffering to keep the Flame at bay; slay Messmer's lieutenants, including Rellana, Twin Moon Knight and Commander Gaius; and help Count Ymir uncover the mysteries of the Two Fingers. Eventually, the Tarnished storms Messmer's stronghold, the Shadow Keep, and successfully slays the demigod in combat. While preparing to use Messmer's kindling to set the sealing tree on fire and pave the way to Miquella's location, the Tarnished learns that Miquella had, in fact, bewitched Mohg into kidnapping him and plans to use Mohg's corpse as a vessel for his "consort"

After setting the sealing tree on fire, the Tarnished is confronted by Leda, who has deduced the Tarnished's true intentions and remains a loyal follower to Miquella. After killing Leda and her allies, the Tarnished reaches the top of Miquella's stronghold, Enir-Ilim, where they find his consort, Radahn. Having sent Malenia to kill Radahn, whom he had considered a worthy consort, Miquella waited until Radahn's soul traveled to the Land of Shadows after his death, then inserted Radahn's soul into Mohg's corpse and revived the Starscourge in his prime physical state. Confronting Radahn and Miquella, the Tarnished engages them in a brutal battle that ends with the two demigods slain, preventing Miquella's "Age of Compassion" from coming to pass.

Gameplay

The player's character is made from scratch. Players can level up at checkpoints using obtained currency.

Summoning spirits is a core component to the gameplay. The spirits can be acquired, leveled up, and upgraded in different ways. The spirits can take on a variety of forms.^{[citation needed]}

The game is open-world, but features six critical "legacy dungeons" that feature bosses, fog gates, and various secrets. These areas are gated-off from the open world. The dungeons can be completed in any order for the most part, but they cannot head directly to the final dungeon.^{[citation needed]}

In the open world itself, the player can ride their spirit steed, and teleport to obtained checkpoints, along with discovering mini-dungeons and field bosses.

Co-op play is available.

Development

As a fan of George R.R. Martin's work, Hidetaka Miyazaki contacted him with an offer to work together on a project. Martin was given full creative freedom to write the backstory and foundation for the game's universe. Elden Ring began development in 2017 after the release of the final DLC for Dark Souls III. Elden Ring was announced at E3 2019. The soundtrack was composed by Yuka Kitamura, who has composed songs for other FromSoftware games.

System Requirements

Gallery

Videos

Elden Ring Official Reveal Trailer - E3 2019

Elden Ring - E3 Announcement Trailer

ELDEN RING - Official Gameplay Reveal

ELDEN RING - Story Trailer