Mass Effect 2 stepped up the story from the first game, innovating even further by using the Mass Effect 1 save file to influence the second game, so while players could go in without having played the first game, having done so provided an extra bonus. Without that, though, the story is still incredibly well-acted, written, and designed. Best of all, it's welcoming for new play

Many players will be recruited into Elden Ring 's Volcano Manor society after encountering Rya, a hunched over, suspicious-looking woman who will teleport players directly to the red-lit halls of the Volcano Manor estate itself. After two completed assassination quests, Rya strangely becomes a lot more friendly and trustworthy after revealing her true form and identity – a humanoid shawl-wearing serpent named Zorayas. Zorayas proudly expresses the belief that she's the daughter of Tanith, the leader of Volcano Manor, "born by the grace of a glorious king." If the player talks to the gold-masked Tanith, however, the Volcano Manor's head will refer to herself as Zorayas' "adoptive mother" and laments how she "hardly deserves the sweet child." Later on in Zorayas or Rya's complete questline, she tells the player about a strange sight she saw – a slithering serpent figure just like her who wandered into a side room and never came

In the opening cinematic of Elden Ring , players are presented with both a narrative and a goal of reclamation and restoration; according to the hoarse-voiced narrator, Elden Ring 's Golden Order was a splendid thing that once united the Lands Between in peace and plenty. Then the Elden Ring was shattered and Golden Order torn about by the civil war of power-hungry Demigods. Within this worldview, the player character and other Tarnished protagonists are prodigal heroes, chosen by the grace of the Greater Will to dethrone the unworthy Demigods, claim their Great Runes, and build a new Golden Order as the Elden L

This is just one of many examples of how Elden Ring does map diversity better than Skyrim , something that could become even more apparent through rumored Elden Ring DLC . While Skyrim 's many unique cities and natural vistas are impressive, Elden Ring Nightreign legendary weapons Ring 's man-made settlements, fantasy landscapes, and varied topography will constantly surprise players even after dozens of hours of gameplay. Elden Ring 's variety plays a major role in its satisfying, deep exploration as w

Certain NPCs in Elden Ring 's open-world, however, claim this narrative is a lie – that the Golden Order and the Two Fingers who speak for the Greater Will are a dogmatic force of oppression seeking to use the Tarnished as pawns. Players who see reason in these arguments may find themselves aligning with the Demigod known as Elden Ring 's Lunar Princess Ranni , who seeks to replace the Age of the Erdtree with an Age of Stars. Others may gravitate towards the words of Tanith, leader of the Volcano Manor, who sends players out on missions to assassinate fellow Tarnished. This begs two questions; why are the member of the Volcano Manor enemies of the Golden Order and what twisted blasphemies have they embraced in order to gain the power to rise against the Erdt

Dark-fantasy worlds are often presented in a way that lives up to the subgenre's name. Locales are more grounded, bleaker, and have a grueling atmosphere. However, Elden Ring has introduced a new level of vibrancy to its world. In an interview with Miyazaki on PlayStation's official blog , he said that the more "lush" environments were intentional, "though not necessarily to make the game bright

From these four Elden Ring items' essential descriptions , it's possible to piece together a sold picture of Rykard's original motivations and current agenda. The blasphemous serpent Rykard fed himself to was an immortal being, capable of resurrecting from death; by becoming one with it, Rykard would similarly become immortal, able to challenge the Erdtree over and over until he defeated it. Furthermore, Rykard and the serpent he was part of could grow more powerful with every new victim devoured. And so the Volcano Manor – both as a place and an institution – became a vessel for feeding Rykard's appetites. The wheeled machines called the Abductor Virgins would drag new bodies or recruits to join Elden Ring 's Volcano Manor , while the finest assassins of the Manor were invited to have "audience" with their lord, who would devour them and add their strength to his

Later, Sir Gideon Ofnir reveals that Miquella is sleeping and residing in his dream. Gideon comments that as long as Miquella continues to sleep in his cocoon " all will be well. " That ominous warning from Gideon brings up the question: what if Miquella wakes up at some point in Elden Ring 's st

Skyrim 's exploration holds up, but Elden Ring offers the overall better experience for adventurous players. There are shockingly few non-optional areas in Elden Ring , which supports a sense of unbound, unguided exploration. This approach to map design is deepened by just how vertical and condensed the actual topography of the game is. While many open-world games, even some of the most critically acclaimed like Breath of the Wild , will often feature large stretches of empty land, this is not the case in Elden Ring . Many of the game's most important and expansive locations are hidden just out of sight, and players can easily miss entrances to caves, dungeons, and other secret areas by not closely examining each bush, building, and cliffside. This leads to a feeling that anything can happen whilst exploring the Lands Between, whereas a game like Skyrim will typically overtly draw the player's attention to the most important areas, making for a more passive experie