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Every once in a while, there's always a game that combines impeccable gameplay, fantastic worlds, a perfectly matched soundtrack, and a unique design. That's a true portrayal of From Software's Eldon's Ring of Law, which brings all the best of the last decade's work into this ARPG. This ridiculously large, open world piqued my curiosity, captivated me with puzzles, hidden elements, and secrets, and gave me an unexpected sense of satisfaction in this extraordinary experience. Never stepping into this world until the end, every step is like a note in a self-written and self-directed epic suite, which makes me reminisce endlessly. This journey through darkness and distorted fantasy is an endless exploration of jaw-dropping sights that only grow more fascinating as the journey comes to an end.
The Narrow House is a world of exploration and discovery, and while a clear route has been shown to those seeking guidance, surprises are often encountered when drifting aimlessly. I often mark the next place I want to explore on the map, but I always deviate from the route and find a completely new area or a distinctive boundary. Eldon's Ring of Law is not a theme park-style open world, and there are no tourist brochures for the rides here, so you can miss them if you're not careful — whether it's important areas, bosses, dungeons, and earth-shattering secrets, you may pass by and add a lot of fun to your journey to find them. Even after 55 hours of playing, I knew I had missed a lot of content. I am not troubled by this, but more interested in continuing to explore. This sprawling world is filled with a variety of characters and quests, as well as dungeon adventures as small as the catacombs reaching multi-story tombs. While the journey begins with small caves, mines, and other dungeons, these adventures become more complex. What started as a two-room exploration gradually turned into a complex teleportation puzzle, or an unusual way to interact with the environment, such as using a teleportation trap to advance or find hidden walls.
Even the most straightforward dungeon dungeon quests have hidden boss rooms and treasures for the curious adventurer. Going to places that aren't accessible on a standard route in a fanciful way really feels fresh, and there's more than one area that's stunning when you arrive. When looking down on the new area for the first time, the feeling of letting the world go our own way is mesmerizing. Although some open-world locations in different regions do not differ much from the outside, such as churches, ruins, and golden trees, their internal features are enough to keep you exploring for hours. From mysterious castles to haunted magical places, the world is full of things you'll never forget.
One of the things that makes the most sense to me is the high degree of customization of the characters. You can use a variety of skills and upgrade mechanics to create your own image. Washing points and rigging allows you to fine-tune your character, encourage you to experiment boldly, and arm yourself with a wide variety of props and techniques. While the game offers vastly different options for each player's way of fighting, melee combat techniques are more sophisticated and diverse than From Software's predecessors. The game uses a hidden hard straight system that encourages players to seize the opportunity to shoot, and when you face a formidable enemy, the battle flow does not encourage you to use the same attack routine all the time.
This magnificent open world is full of different flavors and atmospheres, as well as all kinds of surprising discoveries. However, legend has it that dungeons often have multiple external entrances. These elaborate dungeons are like a labyrinth in a dream, and The Eldon's Ring of Law has prepared a different way for you to navigate these areas. For example, in a large dungeon, I found a very different final boss route, and on my return I found a fork in the road to another area, and encountered a large number of battles, bosses, and loot. Sometimes, the entrance to certain areas is just where you last pass, but there are often more attractive routes on the way to this location.
Although some monsters and bosses are designed to be reused, the size and volume of Eldon's Law Ring are still not to be underestimated, and repeatability is not a big problem. Throughout my process, I met about 100 bosses. This is not an exaggeration. At the end of the small dungeon, you will occasionally encounter some bosses that feel ordinary and repetitive, such as cave trolls or lava dragons, but the overall diversity of boss battles is so high that the final enemy of the exploration tour is completely unknown. I might encounter a skinned knight, or I might fight a giant.
Large bosses usually exist at the end of the legendary dungeon, and fighting them is as exciting as challenging a demigod. These wonderful pinnacle battles are undoubtedly the most prominent highlights of this adventure, combining tension with the satisfaction of victory. Another feature of Eldon's Ring of Law that sets it apart from all previous From Software games is the best and most challenging boss battle. While this is an optional hidden boss, it keeps me up at night, challenging this beautiful and terrifying opponent over and over again. After finally defeating this opponent, I sat in the dark, dressed in my pajamas, and let out a triumphant roar, just wanting to experience this refreshing feeling again. This example is a testament to how powerful the Eldon Circle of Law has to be; I would turn off the game from time to time, run off to do something else, and open the game again in a few minutes. Try the brain-wrenching puzzle again, hit a boss again, and find a hidden route.
Eldon's Ring of Law fascinated me with its extreme challenge and appeal, and it also made me enjoy a feast of endless exploration and artistic creativity. Eldon's Ring of Law represents a quintessence of various game elements and is a truly fascinating and unforgettable special piece. Eldon's Ring of Law is not only the best game of the year, it's also one of the best games ever.
—————— Total: 10 out of ——————
Translation: Stark Young
Edit: Tonkotsu ramen