Do I recommend this game? Yeah. Yeah, I do. As a fan of FromSoftware titles (with my favorite title being the first Dark Souls) I really do recommend it. Plenty of things have changed over the years from one FromSoftware title to the next. Here we have their latest title and I can't help but say it feels as if it were a love letter to themselves from themselves. It's much of the same thing at face level but the game really does a great job at keeping the formula of the game fresh and exciting. I'd like to say the game feels streamlined (not to be confused with being linear) but in a way that you'll find yourself picking it up quickly and much easier than you would other FromSoft titles. I have to mention that the exploration fits perfectly into the balancing equation of moments where you're either stuck, lost, or simply just don't know what you want to do in-between more major events. Stuck on an area? Mark it on your map and come back later! Take Torrent (your stead) on a joy ride across the Lands Between. Explore and come across new areas, equipment, and more! There are so many QoL changes it's nuts. Durability? Who needed it? Online with friends? Super easy in comparison to older titles! Can't forget the addition of item crafting, what open world game doesn't have it? Honestly when I'd first heard there had been item crafting within the game I was pretty concerned. I figured it would be over complicated or become an obnoxious grind after a while. Thankfully I can say it's streamlined enough that running around aimlessly collecting ingredients is both as easy and entertaining as it can be rewarding. I could go on and on. I've mindlessly indulged myself in plenty of open world titles and for some reason FromSoft's delivery to that genre of game just works. It's feels far too natural. I'm just really impressed with everything and I've really only just scratched the surface of it all. It has been a beautiful and dark adventure thus far!

So yeah, I really do recommend this game whether you're a Souls vet or not! It has the challenge you'd expect of any other FromSoft title but eases you in with just a hair of slack thanks to all of the QoL improvements and new additions! The Lands Between are your oyster!

Do I recommend this game? Yeah. Yeah, I do. As a fan of FromSoftware titles (with my favorite title being the first Dark Souls) I really do recommend it. Plenty of things have changed over the years from one FromSoftware title to the next. Here we have their latest title and I can't help but say it feels as if it were a love letter to themselves from themselves. It's much of the same thing at face level but the game really does a great job at keeping the formula of the game fresh and exciting. I'd like to say the game feels streamlined (not to be confused with being linear) but in a way that you'll find yourself picking it up quickly and much easier than you would other FromSoft titles. I have to mention that the exploration fits perfectly into the balancing equation of moments where you're either stuck, lost, or simply just don't know what you want to do in-between more major events. Stuck on an area? Mark it on your map and come back later! Take Torrent (your stead) on a joy ride across the Lands Between. Explore and come across new areas, equipment, and more! There are so many QoL changes it's nuts. Durability? Who needed it? Online with friends? Super easy in comparison to older titles! Can't forget the addition of item crafting, what open world game doesn't have it? Honestly when I'd first heard there had been item crafting within the game I was pretty concerned. I figured it would be over complicated or become an obnoxious grind after a while. Thankfully I can say it's streamlined enough that running around aimlessly collecting ingredients is both as easy and entertaining as it can be rewarding. I could go on and on. I've mindlessly indulged myself in plenty of open world titles and for some reason FromSoft's delivery to that genre of game just works. It's feels far too natural. I'm just really impressed with everything and I've really only just scratched the surface of it all. It has been a beautiful and dark adventure thus far! So yeah, I really do recommend this game whether you're a Souls vet or not! It has the challenge you'd expect of any other FromSoft title but eases you in with just a hair of slack thanks to all of the QoL improvements and new additions! The Lands Between are your oyster!