Elden Ring — FromSoftware’s epic fantasy role-playing sport — was topped Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2022 earlier immediately, averting critical competitors from Santa Monica Studio’s action-adventure extravaganza God of War Ragnarök. There had been some eye-catching titles like Horizon Forbidden West, A Plague Tale: Requiem, Stray, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 within the fray for gaming’s prime honour this yr, however actually, it got here right down to the PlayStation unique and, properly, Elden Ring. To my delight, the latter received, and deservedly so. The two video games, each unbelievable in their very own proper, symbolize the most effective that trendy video video games have to supply. But solely certainly one of them really embodies the essence of the medium.
There was a sizzling minute, the place it did really feel like God of War Ragnarök — essentially the most nominated title at The Game Awards 2022 — would sweep the awards. Before the proceedings winded right down to the primary course, Ragnarök had already triumphed in six classes, together with Best Narrative and Best Performance. And as is the case with all awards exhibits, recency bias is at all times in play. (There’s a motive we have a factor referred to as the Oscar season.) Ragnarök launched final month, whereas Elden Ring got here out in February. And regardless of its sustained brilliance, reminiscence can play tips on you. In the tip, FromSoftware took house the night time’s two greatest awards — Game of the Year, and Best Game Direction, capping a exceptional yr for the Japanese builders.
Elden Ring vs God of War Ragnarök: open-world method
Between Ragnarök and Elden Ring, the latter is the one which pushes video games into new territory. The open world style has been much-maligned in recent times — Elden Ring took it aside, after which remade it in its personal picture. It rejected the trimmings of the style, and utterly did away with goal markers, infinite map icons, meaningless map actions and facet quests, and actually blew open the open world. There are video games which have performed this earlier than, most notably Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, however Elden Ring builds upon it. Where Breath of the Wild rewarded exploration, the exploration is the reward in Elden Ring.
Take as an example Elden Ring’s map. In most open world video games, maps aren’t actually a cartographic illustration of the lands the participant wanders in. They are only a guidelines. All they convey is “Go here, do that. Now this way, do that again.” But Elden Ring’s map encourages, no, calls for gamers to have a look at it. Really have a look at the rock formation north of your location, or these ruins to your west. There aren’t any icons telling the participant what they may discover there, however there’s a feeling that will probably be one thing good.
Elden Ring’s map invitations gamers to take a more in-depth look.
That is uncommon in video video games. Very few video games are courageous sufficient to ask you to your personal private journey, with out feeling the necessity to change into your information. Just have a look at fellow Game of the Year nominee, Horizon Forbidden West, an open world journey that’s persistently scared at hand management over to the participant. Its innumerous map icons handhold you in your each tour, diminishing the marvel of an in any other case good sport. (Not to be pulled astray — however Ragnarök, whereas not absolutely open world, has a map, too. That mentioned, all through my playthrough, I by no means actually wanted it and it felt purely aesthetical.)
Elden Ring vs God of War Ragnarök: storytelling
Elden Ring and Ragnarök additionally stand at reverse ends of the storytelling spectrum in video video games. Ragnarök, winner of Best Narrative at The Game Awards, certainly tells a compelling story, one that’s private and visceral. It takes on advanced themes of fatherhood and coming of age, and grapples with prophecy and destiny, delivering a Hollywood blockbuster-style ending for its Norse saga. It is an efficient story. But it’s also conventional.
Ragnarök options a few of the finest writing in video video games all yr, however its narrative is just not too dissimilar to a movie or a novel. It takes gamers on a journey, however by no means palms them the reigns. That is the place the true energy of online game storytelling lies. Player company distinguishes the medium from different types of artwork. Elden Ring excels there. It allows you to write your personal story. There is, after all, an supposed narrative within the sport informed via arcane merchandise descriptions and scattered lore. And curious minds can at all times head over to YouTube to search out what they missed. But the tales you make up, as you trawl the Lands Between, are those that follow you.
Game of the Year nominee A Plague Tale: Requiem is pushed by its narrative.
Photo Credit: Focus Entertainment
That’s to not say that conventional storytelling at all times pales compared. Just have a look at narrative-driven video games like The Last of Us, or A Plague Tale: Requiem, the latter a fellow Game of the Year nominee. These video games inform unforgettable tales — however video games that current a clean web page, for gamers to fill in what they like, symbolize the true potential of the medium as a unique artform that movies and books can’t replicate.
Acting out the wasteland mercenary fantasy in Fallout: New Vegas and mythologising my actions and choices within the Mass Effect trilogy are a few of my favorite gaming reminiscences. In Elden Ring, you may be a chivalrous knight serving to maidens throughout its perilous panorama, or a debonair renegade conquering beasts and beauties. Or, when you’re actually good, you may simply be a unadorned dude with a huge membership and go round boinking the sport’s lethal bosses within the head. The selection is yours.
Elden Ring vs God of War Ragnarök: the true Game of the Year
To be honest, that is partly the character of role-playing video games reminiscent of Elden Ring. I will not maintain the truth that God of War Ragnarök is just not an RPG towards it. It is, like I mentioned, a unique sport. It affords a curated expertise that blends visceral gameplay with emotional depth. And throughout the margins of its spectacular fight sandbox, it’s surprisingly versatile. But Elden Ring takes the street much less travelled — and permits gamers to search out their very own treasure. Where Ragnarök excels in bombastic moments, Elden Ring workouts restraint, virtually as a sport mechanic, and stands as a real champion of the medium.