Summary
Over two years later,Elden Ringis still one of the best titles in gaming at the moment. Developer FromSoftware has become a juggernaut in the industry with its creation of the Soulslike genre, andElden Ringhas been hailed as one of its strongest games yet. From the challenging combat to the incredibly intricate world filled with lore and exploration,Elden Ringmanaged to excel at many of the things that make FromSoftware games so compelling.
Now thattheShadow of the ErdtreeDLClaunched over the summer, there is even more for players to experience. However, whatever FromSoftware’s next project ends up being, there is one effective way that can make a follow-up even better thanElden Ring. Despite the incredible amount of content,Elden Ringcan sometimes gatekeep certain items based on player choices, and this can be a nightmare for players who seek to be completionists.
Elden Ring’s Successor Should Strive to Be More Completionist Friendly
Making All In-Game Items Attainable From the Start
Getting 100% completion inElden Ringis a huge challenge. It has been estimated that fully completing every bit of the game can take players around a whopping 133 hours to achieve.Elden Ring’s long road to completionis a goldmine for those who prefer making sure every goal and item in the game has been achieved or found. Unfortunately,Elden Ringkeeps completionist players from reaching 100% in a single playthrough due to locking away items once certain story points are reached or forcing players to choose between items.
Millicent’s quest line is a good example of this. Players have to choose between two different items;the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia and Millicent’s Prosthesis. It’s not possible to get both at the same time, which can be a bummer for players striving for a perfect run-through.Elden Ringexcels at many things when it comes to its features and mechanics, but locking off items this way can be a big source of frustration for some. On the one hand, presenting players with a choice makes them think over their decision more carefully, but it also spoils any attempt at 100%.
TheShadow of the ErdtreeDLC takes another 49 hours to get 100% completion.
AsFromSoftware continues to evolve, each new game has brought a variety of great challenges to the forefront. Being forced to make an item-based choice is a challenge in itself, but that also raises the question about whether it is actually necessary or not. Completionist playthroughs definitely aren’t for everyone, but not having the option to go down that route is shocking when FromSoftware titles are the perfect games to explore for hours. However, there is at least one feature inElden Ringthat shows FromSoftware could be on the right track.
Elden Ring’s Walking Mausoleums Are a Step in the Right Direction
As hulking four-legged buildings that walk around the map,Elden Ring’s Walking Mausoleumsare an intriguing way the game chooses to allow item diversity in a single playthrough. These massive buildings can duplicate Remembrances, which is at least a good starting point. As FromSoftware moves forward with its next title, taking this concept even further by making it a way for players to accomplish a complete single playthrough could be more satisfying.
At this point, there is no telling whatthe next FromSoftware gamewill have in store for players.Elden Ringfeels like the developer’s magnum opus, leaving it with some incredibly high expectations to meet in the future. A follow-up being more completionist friendly is just a small change that could do wonders for specific players. However, FromSoftware is also well known for sticking to its guns and focusing on gameplay and lore over everything. As long as anElden Ringfollow-up brings another great gaming experience to life, the potential lack of getting 100% in a single playthrough will likely be forgiven.
