Elden Ring Sets A New Benchmark For Open World Design
Elden Ring has been compared to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild countless times now, both being sprawling open world adventures where exploration is encouraged through natural means instead of chasing icons and quest markers. From that perspective they are incredibly similar, both equally groundbreaking in how they curate player agency and ensure all decisions feel our own, like we’re shaping its landscape to very specific whims.
Yet they are so different, both in terms of overall tone and mechanical execution. Breath of the Wild is a relatively forgiving jaunt that encourages the occasional flirtation with combat alongside a number of varied puzzles through its Shrines. While small pockets of darkness exist across Hyrule, it is undeniably wholesome in the characters you meet and the environments you explore. The sequel seems set to continue this trajectory while delving into the supernatural much like Majora’s Mask. Compared to the hellish imagery of Elden Ring, it’s heaven.
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The Lands Between is a nightmarish beauty, unafraid to have us uncover the darkest recesses of Hidetaka Miyazaki’s twisted vision of gothic high fantasy. Sprawling castles and gorgeous manors are juxtaposed with miserable swamplands and cavernous underground tunnels where the rotten are expected to wither away in misery. While pockets of hope splinter through the cracks, Elden Ring expects you to grow fond of a world that has long been lost to damnation.
You are little more than a voyeur pilfering through the wreckage, taking whatever spoils you can while trying to piece together what brought this realm to its knees. The Tarnished’s overall goal is a far nobler one, but how you choose to pursue it
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