Elden Ring: A masochistic delight or frustrating nightmare?
Elden Ring reviews are all over the place, with opinions on the FromSoftware RPG’s difficulty varying wildly. Some users express frustration, while others revel in the challenge. Of course, opinions on Elden Ring overall are mixed as well, but the prevailing sentiment is one of perseverance and the rewarding feeling of overcoming challenges.
“Elden Ring: A masochistic delight or frustrating nightmare?” is the question that the Steam community poses in the discussion thread for Elden Ring user reviews. While many players have enjoyed the game and express appreciation for the story and lore, they also admit that they have had to put in a lot of effort to do so.
“I’ve had to quit twice because I was frustrated,” one user admits. “But the first time was because I was so pumped for the game, and the second time was because I knew it’d be a while before I could play it again.” They go on to admit that they’ve had to rely on a guide to enhance their enjoyment of the game, but they argue that it’s “better than quitting because you don’t have a way to beat certain enemies.”
Many other players offer similar advice, suggesting that exploring, leveling up, and finding better gear will make it easier to make progress. “I don’t know why people are surprised by this,” another user writes. “This is a FromSoftware game, I knew what I was getting into.” They also share some humorous comments, saying things like, “I gotta say, this game is detrimental to my mental health,” and, “Next time… just jump off the cliff.”
Some players offer advice to the original poster, who says they are considering quitting the game because it’s too difficult for them. One person remarks that they had the same experience with Dark Souls and encourages them to stick with it, noting that “the feeling of accomplishment you get when you beat a boss or finally get somewhere is amazing.”
Another user writes, “Since I played Bloodborne, I knew this game would be a challenge and I didn’t have to be afraid of it. I played the Souls series before and I know how to play this game.” They also emphasize the importance of leveling up your vitality and using throwing daggers for ranged attacks, while also suggesting that players explore uncharted areas and utilize consumables like Baldachin’s Blessing.
There are also plenty of users who express frustration, urging the original poster to quit if they’re not having fun. “I’ve never played a game where dying over and over again is so boring,” one user writes, while another says, “If a game is so frustrating that you wanna just quit, then you should just quit.”
Others criticize the repetitive nature of the game, recommending games like Baldur’s Gate 3 instead. “The repetitive nature of Elden Ring wears thin very quickly,” another writes. However, there are plenty of encouraging comments, reminding the original poster to persevere and not give up. One user reminisces about the joy of playing the game for the first time and wishes they could experience that again.
Many users engage in a lighthearted argument about the original poster’s intention to quit the game. Some offer suggestions for other games like Bloodborne and Sekiro, while others share personal experiences. “I’m using a metronome to time my dodges during boss fights and it’s pretty sweet,” one writes. Others express their excitement at the prospect of exploring new areas and reading through lore notes.
Some users mention graphics and performance issues, while another simply writes, “This game is so good.” There are also quite a few comments about how difficult Elden Ring is, but most are lighthearted and encouraging.
