In the well-grooved traditions of FromSoftware, the Japanese developer's latest title has a reputation for being a difficult game. While Elden Ring offers a mighty challenge its open world does allow players the chance to take it on more freely, giving them a large play area that could almost perhaps resemble the world of another famous fantasy landscape... that of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
While someone has already recreated parts of the Peter Jackson movie trilogy with Frodo and Sam journeying in the Lands Between — a new video has emerged that arguably betters that attempt. A YouTuber has spliced Viggo Mortenson as Aragorn into Elden Ring and the result is pretty astonishing.
The creator - eli_handle_b.wav - spent around two weeks making the video, using tools such as After Effects Roto brush and Mocha Pro. But the amount of work clearly shows in the finished one minute and eight-second film. It may not be very long but through superb cutting, editing, and scene choices eli_handle_b.wav has made something truly evocative.
The filmmaker starts us off with Aragorn lying down as Brego nuzzles his face, a scene taken from The Two Towers, before our hero awakes and then opens a door (you know the one) in the way only Aragorn can open a door: manly, sweaty, as if in slow-motion. Observant watchers will notice Elden Ring locales have been woven into the background, but then things start getting decidedly The Lands Between.
Aragorn walks steadily, looking every bit the Strider that he is, as he looks up at the magnificient Erdtree, which happens to recall the White Tree of Gondor if you squint. We get Aragorn taking it to the Tree Sentinel, chopping down that mofo on horseback. Aragorn reads player messages, guiding his hand across those lit-up words, as if he was searching for signs of Pip and Merry.
Aragorn does not fear death as he walks like a bossman into a Fog Gate. Meanwhile, the King Elessar "Elfstone" Telcontar "Strider" Aragorn son of Arathorn and eventual High King of the Reunited Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor faces off against the likes of Margit the Fell Omen, and charges alongside Spirit Ashes, and breaks a toe kicking Alexander the Iron Fist.
There are plenty of iconic Aragorn moments that Lord of the Rings fans will swoon over, while those who are loving Elden Ring can appreciate how smoothly the YouTuber has spliced it all together. It's an impressive piece of work, so do give it a watch.