Elden Ring (George RR Martin and From Software)

Cordell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123476512#Comment_123476512

Dung Eater, of course. And don't underestimate the film industry capability of completely ruining a perfect story and setting.

Penn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123476856#Comment_123476856

I love lore videos of the Fromsoft games, particularly by VaatiVidya. Do they add anything to the game? No, not really. The vast majority of the stuff he puts together and shows are things I would never have noticed or really cared about while playing the game. Not even on subsequent playthroughs, although it does help give some context to some of the weird things characters say and do. But I enjoy the lore just for the explanations of the insane amount of detail and finesse that goes into every element of the design of the game; explaining some of the weirder choices like why one particular enemy is in an area they typically wouldn't be, why one NPC will help you against a particular boss, why some enemies are fighting each other before you arrive, why some enemies might actually be docile until you do something.

But what shape that takes in some sort of Elden Ring movie is beyond me. Even having watched a bunch of lore videos about the story and characters… it doesn't make for a good or interesting movie.

Unfortunately this feels like the studio saw the strong reception to some other video game adaptations, saw the success of Elden Ring, saw George R.R Martin's name attached, and then just saw those fat stacks of cash which will absolutely definitely roll in.

Xofpod

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123476838#Comment_123476838

I'd look more to his work on Annihilation and ExMachina and writing on Judge Dredd and 28 Days Later, to be honest. I think he has the interest in and feel for sci-fi/fantasy/gaming that is required, and probably has a strong enough voice to resist the studio urges to soften or widen the appeal of the film.

(Actually didn't mind Civil War tbh. Not amazing but some good set-pieces. And Jesse Plemons…)

Azza

Who's picking up Night Reign? Any boardsies want to pool together for some multiplayer?

Retr0gamer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123477760#Comment_123477760

I think it coincides with holidays but if reviews are good I might partake

johnny_ultimate

Yeah it's the first 'wait for the reviews' From Soulsborne game in a while.

The beta was fun but just not particularly convincing it's what I'm looking for from an Elden Ring game.

Penn

I'll definitely be getting it but I'm only going to play solo. I know that'll make it harder and will be very dependent on how it's balanced for solo play, but if it's not well-balanced for solo then I'm not going to have the interest to stick with it anyway.

But I'm interested enough in it and the gameplay to give it a try for a while anyway.

Retr0gamer

From have made some really interesting multiplayer games in the past. I mean demons souls was a bit of an industry game changer in that regard. But even something like Chromehounds that made communication one of the most important parts of the battle. You had to take over transition points and if you were outside the range of a transmitter your team mates wouldnt be able to hear you. Then people discovered that turning on and off your lights wasn't a useless feature and could be used to relay Morse code to team mates if you controlled a high point.

Azza

Reviews are out, generally positive but not amazing. A few saying don't bother playing if you haven't got people to play co-op with.

Unearthly

Yeah single player is meant to be frustratingly hard. I can’t be bothered with multiplayer so I’ll probably pass on this

Penn

Yeah I was planning on getting it and just playing solo because it's meant to be designed for 3-player multiplayer or you can play solo, but seems like it's just really unbalanced playing solo, so I might not bother.

From what I've seen of reviews, because the bosses (Night Lords in particular) are designed to be attacking three players, trying to fight them solo is a nightmare, and you have no ability to be rez'ed which would mean your whole run ends if you die (and from what I saw of gameplay videos of the beta, you can die a lot during fights).

To be expected I suppose. How the game was balanced for solo play was always my biggest concern but I thought it might still be manageable. Doesn't seem like it though, at least not yet, and without the joys of exploration and taking your time, being strategic, that usually comes with Souls games, I'm not going to bother for the time being.

Wouldn't mind another playthrough of Shadow of the Erdtree though… see if I can beat Radahn without cheesing him now that he's supposedly been adjusted and balanced better.

Retr0gamer

Might take a punt on this as it's not too badly priced at 40 euro. My only issue is I'm off on holidays for a week and by the time I'm back I'll have the switch 2 to mess around with.

Azza

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123495513#Comment_123495513

The obvious solution is to cancel your holiday!

Retr0gamer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123495605#Comment_123495605

Stop. I've a switch 2 headed to my house and no one to pick it up as I didn't consider that. Smyth's won't let you change address on a pre order so I'm hoping I can change the address with the courier.

Azza

Well my offer still stands if anyone needs a co-op partner on PC let me know.

And don't worry I'm not a person who's going be shouting at you through a microphone or demanding you play at certain times.

Retr0gamer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123497870#Comment_123497870

I can attest to Azza's soundness. He is very patient when it comes to my absolute cackhandedness.

Might pick this up after holidays and have a few games with you.

Penn

Next game patch will feature some changes to help when playing solo, including one automatic revival per main boss fight.

https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action-rpg/elden-ring-nightreign-patch-1-02-will-arrive-next-week-and-itll-make-things-much-easier-for-solo-players/

"For instance, you'll now get an 'Automatic Revival Upon Defeat' option, allowing solo players to revive once per night boss battle, for a total of three revives over the course of an expedition. In addition to that, you'll get more runes in solo, but we've not got a sense of quite how many more runes - presumably it won't be triple, but you'd hope that it'll be worth the while of those players who do make the choice to play on their own."

Interest in game rising slightly, but will have to see what it's like in execution.