Elden Ring is what happens when FromSoftware wants to make a game using everything they have mastered, and it's wonderful. What's especially wonderful are the horrors that await you beyond that veil of fog on the map - who knows where you might end up later on in the game.
Well, sometimes, you might end up there a little earlier than expected. Whether you're the curious sort and enjoy some exploration, or if a pesky trap teleported you somewhere the sun doesn't shine - a cave, for instance - you will undoubtedly end up in an area that you definitely should not be in yet. I know I did.
5 The Tutorial
Right off the bat, this game is hard. Even though I have finished every other Souls title, I still can't help but feel that tension in a new and mysterious location. I don't know where I am, what anything is, or what wants to kill me.
So of course, here is the first place you wake up in the game. Well, this is the start, so it'll be easy - right? No. There's always a boss that wants to beat your Tarnished behind into the soil, and you will deal with it. Then you'll get taken to the actual tutorial.
4 Some Crystal Cave And- Oh Is That A Giant Bug?
So there I was, looting to my heart's extent. Oh, what's this mist coming out of the chest? It engulfed me, and suddenly, I awoke in a cave full of crystals, goblin things, and some massive bugs that really, really wanted to kill me.
Needless to say, I ran for the exit and didn't look back. When I saw on my map that I was in the middle of somewhere undiscovered, I knew it was time for me to leave. Not now, thank you.
3 How Did I End Up In The Capital?
Another lovely chest with teleportation mist - who keeps putting those there? Anyway, the big words "Leyndell, Royal Capital" came up on my screen as soon as I awoke and that was enough for me to know that this is not where I should be early in the game.
Still, I couldn't help but take a peek over the balconies to see what the area looked like. Intimidating ruins and the Erdtree looking bigger than ever, and also a ridiculously sized dragon. I swear, if that thing starts moving...
2 Caelid - Just Look At It
The sky is red. Hell no.
I mean... it's red. I'm just exploring, venturing to the east to see what's there. Suddenly, everything became the color of blood, trees were no longer blooming, and there were mutated birds and giant dog things. This horrific land is one I knew I was going to come back to later, but I certainly wasn't looking forward to it. It's red, it's dead, but unless it holds some redemption, I am not interested.
1 Whatever This Place Is
Just... what? Yes, another teleportation chest. I open it, the mist comes out, and oh boy here we go again. Fine, let's see where it takes me. What I was expecting was a scary landscape, a big monster, or even a nasty cave of nasty creatures - you know, the usual horrors.
What I wasn't expecting was to see the world being torn apart by tornados and way too many winged creatures soaring around the skies. Even now, I still haven't been back there, and I don't feel like I'll ever be ready for it.