The problem with Souls games is they aren't hard because the combat or AI is better, or more difficult. They are hard because you don't get to pause or save as you go and even the checkpoints aren't chekpoints, they are reset points. You cheese (button mash) the easy enemies and reset the area so you can cheese them again to level up, so you can eventually cheese the bigger enemies to level up some more, so you can eventually chesse the boss fights. It is no different than every other open world RPG in that regard.
What Souls does different (allegedly) is hide the story (as much as it is) in the lore of the game. I personally don't like this approach and prefer a game story to unfold as I play and feel like I am acheiving something as I go. Souls games and Elden Ring do not give you that particular reward factor, so it can feel very grindy.
You don't get a defined goal interspersed with compelling story cutscenes or character/lore building. It is also lmost totally bereft of NPC that make the world seem lived in. I beat all 3 of the Souls games and I hadn't a foggy notion what I did, or why I was doing it.
Where Elden Ring improves on the older Soulds games is that being open world rather than mostly scripted, you can avoid harder boss fights easier. Having said that, the older Souls games being linear meant you were always vaguely aware that "this was the way I need to go". Elden ring being so open world and almost devoid of in world guidance means you end up going "the wrong way".
So if you like grindy but somewhat rewarding combat that is more about perserverance than skill, with no actual story telling and unforgiving game mechanics, then give it a whirl.
Last edited:
