Elden Ring vs. Dark Souls: A Deep Dive into Open World Design
Yes, Elden Ring is significantly more open world than any of the Dark Souls games. While the Dark Souls series features interconnected maps with a degree of exploration, they ultimately funnel players down a relatively linear path. Elden Ring, on the other hand, unleashes players into a massive, sprawling world called the Lands Between, allowing for unparalleled freedom of movement and exploration from virtually the beginning. This difference is not just about size; it’s about design philosophy. Dark Souls prioritizes meticulously crafted, interconnected levels, while Elden Ring embraces a vast, interconnected world ripe for discovery.
The Scale of Freedom: Elden Ring’s Open World Advantage
The core difference lies in how the games present their worlds. Dark Souls‘ levels, while brilliantly designed and interconnected, still function like elaborate mazes. There’s often a clear starting point and a distinct path, albeit a challenging one, to the next area. Elden Ring throws this convention out the window. From the moment you emerge into Limgrave, you’re given the reins to explore in almost any direction. This freedom isn’t just an illusion; the game world is designed to accommodate it.
Consider the ability to summon Torrent, your spectral steed. This alone opens up vast stretches of the map that would be incredibly tedious or impossible to traverse on foot. This freedom of movement, combined with the sheer scale of the Lands Between, fundamentally alters the gameplay experience.
Density vs. Linearity: A Tale of Two Worlds
While the sheer size of Elden Ring is impressive (estimated to be around 79 square kilometers, or 30.5 square miles), it’s the density of content within that space that truly sets it apart. Unlike some open-world games that prioritize vast empty spaces, Elden Ring is packed with dungeons, castles, caves, hidden bosses, and countless secrets waiting to be uncovered.
The Dark Souls games, while not as expansive, also excel in world design. The interconnected nature of their maps is a hallmark of the series. However, the focus is on guiding the player through a specific, albeit challenging, path. Elden Ring gives you the tools to forge your own path, encouraging players to explore and discover at their own pace. The “Legacy Dungeons” in Elden Ring feel more like the familiar linear levels of Dark Souls, offering a familiar and focused experience within the broader open world structure.
Design Philosophy: Guiding the Player vs. Letting Go
Ultimately, the difference between Elden Ring and Dark Souls‘ world design boils down to a shift in philosophy. Dark Souls guides you through its world, challenging you with its intricately designed levels and demanding combat. Elden Ring empowers you to explore its world, rewarding your curiosity with hidden treasures, challenging encounters, and a sense of discovery that is unparalleled in the Soulsborne genre. This difference isn’t about one game being “better” than the other; it’s about two different approaches to world design, each with its own strengths and appeals. Check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for more on how games impact learning and engagement.
FAQs: Unraveling the Mysteries of World Design
1. Is Dark Souls 1 an open-world game?
While Dark Souls 1 features a highly interconnected world, it isn’t considered truly open world. Players progress through a series of interconnected areas, but the path is largely linear, with limited opportunities for free exploration compared to Elden Ring.
2. Is Elden Ring the biggest open-world game?
No, Elden Ring is not the biggest open-world game. Games like No Man’s Sky, Minecraft, and Arma 3 offer significantly larger playable areas. However, Elden Ring excels in the density and quality of its content within its open world.
3. Is Elden Ring harder than Dark Souls?
Generally, Elden Ring‘s bosses are considered more challenging than those in the Dark Souls series. However, the open world provides more opportunities to level up and find powerful equipment, potentially making the overall experience more manageable for some players.
4. Is Elden Ring too hard for beginners?
Elden Ring can be challenging for newcomers to the Soulsborne genre. However, its open world allows players to explore and level up at their own pace, making it potentially more accessible than some of the more linear Dark Souls games.
5. Is Skyrim or Elden Ring bigger?
Elden Ring is significantly bigger than Skyrim. Its map is estimated to be more than twice the size of Skyrim‘s.
6. Is Elden Ring’s map bigger than GTA 5’s?
Yes, Elden Ring‘s world map is larger than Grand Theft Auto 5‘s.
7. Is Elden Ring easier than Skyrim?
While Elden Ring offers more flexibility in terms of character progression and exploration, it is still significantly more challenging than Skyrim due to its demanding combat and intricate boss encounters.
8. Is Dark Souls much better than Elden Ring?
Whether Dark Souls is “better” than Elden Ring is a matter of personal preference. Dark Souls excels in its interconnected world design and challenging but fair combat. Elden Ring offers a massive open world with unparalleled freedom and a sense of discovery.
9. How long does it take to beat Elden Ring?
The average playthrough of Elden Ring focusing on the main objectives takes around 58 hours. Completing all aspects of the game can take upwards of 133 hours.
10. Which Souls game is hardest?
Determining the “hardest” Souls game is subjective. However, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is often considered the most challenging due to its unique combat mechanics and emphasis on parrying and timing.
11. What is the easiest class in Elden Ring?
The Vagabond is generally considered the easiest starting class in Elden Ring due to its high health, strong armor, and access to a reliable weapon.
12. Should I play Dark Souls or Elden Ring first?
If you’re new to the Soulsborne genre, starting with Elden Ring might be a more accessible entry point due to its open world and freedom of exploration. However, the Dark Souls games offer a more focused and linear experience that some players might prefer.
13. Why is Elden Ring more popular than Dark Souls?
Elden Ring‘s popularity can be attributed to its open-world design, which appeals to a wider audience. Its improved accessibility, combined with the challenging but rewarding gameplay that the Soulsborne series is known for, has made it a massive success.
14. Is Elden Ring basically Dark Souls 4?
No, Elden Ring is not Dark Souls 4. While it shares many similarities with the Dark Souls series in terms of gameplay and mechanics, it takes place in a completely different universe and features a unique story and world design.
15. Which Souls game is easiest?
The “easiest” Souls game is very subjective and depends on the play style of the player. Many claim Elden Ring is easier than most Dark Souls games, and that Demon Souls is the second hardest Souls game after Dark Souls 2.
In conclusion, while both Elden Ring and Dark Souls offer compelling and challenging gameplay experiences, their approaches to world design are fundamentally different. Elden Ring embraces a vast, open world with unparalleled freedom, while Dark Souls prioritizes meticulously crafted, interconnected levels. The choice between the two ultimately comes down to personal preference and what you’re looking for in a Soulsborne game.