The best parts of Elden Ring were the parts where it stopped being Elden Ring. The legacy dungeons are where the game shines, and especially Stormveil is fantastic . Whenever I think of Elden Ring I think “God I wish the whole game was like Stormveil.”

I don’t think it’s the most beautiful game ever, and I don’t think it’s the best game ever either. It’s a very good game, a worthwhile experience (though just once - I don’t really feel a desire to go back) and I think it deserves it’s GOTY. We shouldn’t overhype it though.

What is left behind of Eldenring when you take away fighting? This is not a problem, the game can still be very good but I don’t understand the obsession with it. Like Tetris it does only one thing. It feels like I love this one thing for 50+ hours or this game isn’t for me.

Have you played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? It’s way up there on the beauty scale.

But nothing beats the Unreal intro where you fly through the castle. Maybe Minecraft.

It’s a pretty game, but I think games needs to do more than look good to be beautiful and I honestly didn’t find it all that engaging. I got all the way to Radegon but never bothered to finish because I just didn’t care enough to complete the story.

My 1194 hours would tend to agree with you. Certainly the best game I’ve bought on launch

Meh, the open world is a detrimento to it. I tried to replay it recently in order to play the DLC and I just could not stomach it. Maybe that’s my fault for trying to do everything on a single run, but previous souls games I’ve been able to replay at least once with joy. This one was one and done; had to get on my old save to play the DLC and I’m frankly looking forward to never playing this game again.

Bloodborne is still the best.