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00:00:00 – 00:12:40
Jake Baldino reviews "Elden Ring" on the "Before You Buy" show, highlighting its challenging, expansive open world from FromSoftware. The game, enhanced by George R.R. Martin's contributions, appeals to both new and veteran players. Players control a Tarnished character aiming to become the Elden Lord. The game features varied character builds and strategic combat mechanics reminiscent of "Dark Souls," with additional elements from "Sekiro" like the guard counter attack. Exploration is a key aspect, supported by new features like Ashes of War and Spirit Ashes, and the mount Torrent. The open world encourages organic discovery and growth, sprinkled with beneficial content including dungeons and NPCs, making it more approachable. Jake praises the game's artistic visuals and environments but notes minor tech issues on PC. He concludes by commending the game's balance of exploration and classic gameplay, affirming its success. He closes with a call for viewer feedback and support for the channel.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, Jake Baldino provides his initial impressions of “Elden Ring” on the “Before You Buy” show. He highlights that “Elden Ring” is challenging, features FromSoftware’s signature gameplay, and boasts a unique and addictive open world. Jake mentions the game’s appeal to both newcomers and veterans, praising its massive scope and compelling boss battles. The footage shown is from the PC and PS5 versions and aims to be spoiler-free. Jake explains that players control a Tarnished character tasked with becoming the Elden Lord. He notes that while the story has FromSoftware’s characteristic vagueness, it is easier to grasp and enriched by contributions from “Game of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin. Finally, he touches upon character building, where players start with a class as a baseline and develop from there.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses character development, combat mechanics, exploration, and replayability in the game being reviewed. Players can allocate points to different attributes such as strength, endurance, or dexterity to create varied character builds like knights, magic users, or assassins, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. The combat is described as challenging and deliberate, similar to “Dark Souls” but with added elements like a jump button and a satisfying guard counter attack influenced by “Sekiro.” New features like Ashes of War and Spirit Ashes enhance gameplay by providing special skills and summonable allies, respectively. The game emphasizes exploration with vast areas to discover, hidden bosses, dungeons, and NPCs, supported by the mount named Torrent and strategically placed checkpoints. The overall gameplay blends traditional RPG mechanics with an immersive world full of secrets, appealing to both newcomers and veterans.
00:06:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the unique and freeing nature of the game’s open world, which encourages exploration and organic discovery over formulaic quest tracking. Players can sprint away from difficult encounters and return stronger, promoting a sense of learning and growth. The world is filled with meaningful, beneficial content, including optional and legacy dungeons, which offer great rewards and surprises. This makes the game more approachable for newcomers by providing just enough challenge and convenience, such as closer bonfires and minimal penalties for dying. The speaker emphasizes the addictive nature of combining traditional “Dark Souls” elements with a vast, interesting open world that enhances the experience through discovery and compelling adventure.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the reviewer discusses the nuanced and engaging nature of the game, highlighting its surprises and enjoyable elements without revealing too many spoilers. They praise the game’s artistic direction, unique visuals, and immersive environments, while noting minor issues like pop-in textures and occasional performance slowdowns on PC. The game is described as vast and dense, retaining the core appeal of FromSoftware’s previous titles while innovatively expanding on the formula. The reviewer appreciates the balance of exploration and classic gameplay, deeming it a significant success for 2022, and encourages viewers to share their own experiences.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, the presenter, Jake Baldino, addresses viewers ahead of a game’s release, seeking their thoughts and feedback on character builds, weapon types, and any unusual discoveries. He expresses gratitude for the viewers’ support and emphasizes the importance of liking the video. Additionally, Jake encourages subscribing to the channel, which is nearing seven million subscribers. The segment ends with a thank you and a promise to see the viewers next time, accompanied by dramatic music and a dragon roar.