The gaming industry is often driven by hype, with blockbuster games stirring up excitement because they inch toward release. While many anticipated games release to global acclaim (like the recent Resident Evil 4 remake), just like many or even more appear to disappoint, like Cyberpunk 2077. One game that was able to meet its impossibly lofty expectations may be the beloved Elden Ring Runes, which recently celebrated the very first anniversary of its release. But in the present landscape of disappointing releases, what made Elden Ring so special, and just how did it meet the hype?
A large amount of eagerly anticipated games frequently launch with bugs along with other issues that make sure they feel unpolished. It appears like no game whatever the developers prowess is totally bug-free, however, the severity can differ immensely.
Even the mighty Rockstar Games wasnt immune to this, because it released the now infamous GTA Trilogy remaster with wild bugs overall. But Elden Ring, however, was polished immediately, with not many bugs and issues from the beginning.
Most of the games technical issues were incredibly rare and quickly fixed. During our 100+ hour playthrough, the only real issues we have ever experienced were minor frame rate dips on rare occasions, which have been widely addressed since that time. Given Elden Rings sheer size and ambitious design, its surprising precisely how well it worked right out from the gate.
It seems fans happen to be burned a lot of times with unpolished games. The most famous example is Cyberpunk 2077, which was in the works best for the better part of a decade before releasing mixed reviews. The technical issues were absurd, including game-breaking bugs, and wild visual problems that were downright horrifying. It was so bad the game was pulled from the PlayStation Store temporarily.
Its clear developer FromSoftware prioritizes function and high quality. This is highly apparent in Elden Ring, which is partly why it became one of the most beloved games available.
Even if your game has literally zero bugs, its success continues to be dependent on its design. Is the sport fun? Is the gameplay loop rewarding? Not only did Elden Ring nail the fun factor, but for many players, it exceeded expectations.
Elden Ring was FromSoftwares attempt for creating a massive open world, that could have diminished the general quality of the game. Its simple for open-world adventures to feel repetitive and bloated, but that wasnt the situation with Elden Ring. The world felt just like a natural evolution of FromSoftwares beloved action RPG formula, giving players lots of things to see and do. Nearly every encounter feels hand-crafted and unique, offering a remarkable amount of variety. Some areas are completely optional and can include bits of story sprinkled throughout, while some are labyrinthian and concentrate more on action and challenge. No matter what, each area feels interesting.
The realm of Elden Ring is awe-inspiring and packed to the brim with surprises. Its almost unbelievable it exists, especially because of the staggering scale of their world. Exploring The Lands Between provides a sense of dread, but excitement too, causing you to be guessing while you make your method to a new destination. Will the cave ahead be the place to find a gargantuan beast that can you out in a single fell swoop? Or are you going to stumble upon a merchant who sells powerful items?
For nearly all of Elden Ring, its never entirely clear just how much geography there's to explore. Theres a minute just before the conclusion from the third area called Liurnia that feels as though it may be the end of the game. Depending on how things unfold, it may be 30 to 40 hours before you decide to finish Liurnia, so its reasonable to consider the game could summary here. But then, you get to the beautiful Atlas Plateau area, which is a sprawling section leading to major POIs in the direction you appear. Its now that you realize the absurd size of this game a sense that is simultaneously daunting and thrilling.
FromSoftware isnt finished yet. Elden Ring had been overflowing with content, however, fans have a brand new DLC expansion to appear forward to. Beyond that, Elden Ring has got a slew of meaningful updates since its launch, including a fun PvP mode that really tests your talent.
Its easy to understand why Elden Ring garnered a lot of success. Its a behemoth experience that features a lot to do, meaning no two playthroughs are identical. elden ring runes is proof that major games such as these can launch with few technical issues whilst incorporating meaningful design choices that capture a crowd. Even a year after its launch, this game continues to be lauded by the community, setting a brand new precedent for which a successful open-world game appears.
