After an unfortunate accident involving my mount and a cliff edge, I got lost in Elden Ring last night. But in a game like this, getting lost is often the best way to find something interesting, which I did. While fleeing from some poisonous bog monsters, I spotted a wooden elevator in a cave. I descended and found myself in a labyrinthine mine stuffed with crafting materials—and, unfortunately, some pickaxe-wielding enemies that were way stronger than me.
Luckily there was a summoning pool nearby, and I had a Furlcalling Finger Remedy to hand—a curiously named item that reveals gold summon signs in the world, allowing you to call other players in to help you overcome tough challenges. I invited a fellow Tarnished into my game and it was clear immediately that they were familiar with this dungeon. Off they crept, expertly navigating the first chamber, calmly back-stabbing the miners.
I helped out with a few sword swings, but it was a token gesture. I was low level at this point, so my puny blade wasn't doing much damage. As we made our way through the tunnels, my co-op buddy, a complete stranger, would occasionally stop and point at secrets or show me places where I could drop off an elevator and grab hidden items. If I couldn't figure out what they were trying to silently communicate, they waited patiently for me to figure it out.
When I first arrived in this dungeon, and got my ass handed to me by its monstrous residents, I was ready to leave and come back later when I was stronger. But with this helpful Tarnished leading the way, I managed to make it all the way through and ended up with an inventory full of armament-upgrading smithing stones. I mean, I didn't do much myself, but it was amazing how confident it made me feel having a veteran player around.
Elden Ring, and other FromSoft games, feel oppressively bleak and hopeless when you're on your own. But with a friend in tow it's a completely different experience. Some purists insist on doing everything solo without ever relying on the game's co-op systems, but I'm the opposite. I would never have finished Dark Souls 3 without using summons for bosses, and I would have given up on Elden Ring a long time ago if it wasn't for these spectral samaritans.
After making our way through the dungeon, scooping up every item and defeating every enemy, it was finally time to face the boss—a giant club-wielding troll made of stone. Usually the sight of a boss's health bar appearing on the screen gives me the fear, but with this player on my side I was primed for battle. That is until the troll swung its club and killed them instantly. They were low on health and must have mistimed a roll. I was on my own.
I'd like to say I puffed out my chest, readied my sword, and triumphantly vanquished the boss on my own. That would have been a great end to this story, but this is a FromSoft game. The troll absolutely destroyed me with one mighty swing of its club, and I was out of healing flasks, having foolishly quaffed them all earlier. I could have called in another summon and tried again, but I decided to just leave this dingy place and come back another day.
I don't blame my silent, patient friend for what happened down there. Everyone makes mistakes in these games, no matter how skilled they are. But I had a moment of clarity when I was left there on my own with that hulking great troll looming over me. You can't always rely on other people in Elden Ring. They might be there to help you out of a tight spot, but if the shit hits the fan—which it tends to do regularly in these games— it's all down to you.