I wish elden ring was smaller. I thought the open world concept was very poorly executed. I didn’t know where to go at first so I explored pretty much the entire open world unable to do much other than run past everything. The remainder of the game was just teleporting around so the open world was irrelevant. The bosses were good. The legacy dungeons were good. But the open world was largely a one time early game tax to find flak upgrades. I felt frustrated that I was not clearly shown where level appropriate content was. I don’t mind the option of seeking inappropriate content, but it should have been more transparent.
I spent the game picking up herbs. Never used any.
I picked up loads of weapons, but couldn’t use any them effectively without respeccing or farming weapon upgrades.
I found very few of the mini dungeons organically and had to look up where to find them but they tended to be pretty dull and reuse the same bosses. The quests were equally inscrutable without a guide. Finding bosses that are just way too strong for you sucks.
Leyndell and onward aren’t really open world. They’re mostly just linear areas, which I liked more but I also suspected was mostly due to budget and scope cuts. I would have gladly traded the vast open world and mini dungeons for a few more well designed legacy dungeons and bosses.
I played with no summons and beat malenia with two whips and no skills for reference if it matters
I spent the game picking up herbs. Never used any.
I picked up loads of weapons, but couldn’t use any them effectively without respeccing or farming weapon upgrades.
I found very few of the mini dungeons organically and had to look up where to find them but they tended to be pretty dull and reuse the same bosses. The quests were equally inscrutable without a guide. Finding bosses that are just way too strong for you sucks.
Leyndell and onward aren’t really open world. They’re mostly just linear areas, which I liked more but I also suspected was mostly due to budget and scope cuts. I would have gladly traded the vast open world and mini dungeons for a few more well designed legacy dungeons and bosses.
I played with no summons and beat malenia with two whips and no skills for reference if it matters