There’s never a wrong time to replay Elden Ring. FromSoftware’s multi-award-winning open-world action RPG has all the makings of a modern classic, and its vast world is teeming with danger and breathtaking beauty.
Since launch, I’ve replayed Elden Ring three times and have 100% completed everything it has to offer. After I finished the PS4 version, a friend bought me a copy for Steam on PC. Then, another friend gifted me the PlayStation 5 version. Each of those experiences has been just as fantastic as the last. The game's powerful opening moments kept pulling me back in every time.
Has Elden Ring's Intro aged?
No. The Elden Ring intro remains a gold standard in FromSoftware's openings. After creating our character, whether it’s a wrinkly, old Squidward Tentacles cosplay or a Berserk-inspired Guts lookalike, the cinematic intro begins. I still remember the first time I saw it. It struck that perfect balance between the esoteric and the wondrous. I had no idea what to expect, but I knew this was a Soulslike game, and it was out to kick my ass.
The Lands Between was once a place of civility, filled with thrones and lords. Then came the catastrophe: Marika broke the Elden Ring. The narrator’s voiceover immediately sets the tone: we’re stepping into something epic, something grand.
This whole world feels like it’s destined for us, the Tarnished.
Did Elden Ring's Tutorial Work?
Elden Ring's Tutorial is a mix of seriousness and humor, and it still works to this day. After waking up in the game’s first church, we’re greeted by a dead maiden. A few cautious steps forward, and boom, our first boss encounter. Well, kind of. In typical Souls fashion, this one’s meant to kill us. As someone who’s played all the Souls games, I knew what to do: I simply surrendered to the inevitable.
That first YOU DIED became one of many to come.
Who was Elden Ring's first boss?
The Soldier of Godrick was Elden Ring's first boss... kinda. After that brief moment with Melina and the best boi Torrent, we awaken beneath a mausoleum. This is the true tutorial, where we finally learn which button does what. After dispatching some fodder enemies, we meet the game’s actual first boss: the Soldier of Godrick.
A true devotee of Godrick the Grafted, this guy lunges in, fearless, sword drawn, ready to end the Tarnished. Sadly for him, he didn’t see my Glintstone Pebbles coming. Down he went. It was a hilarious moment, similar to what EA and Respawn did with Rick the Technician in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Has Limgrave Changed since 2025?
Not much has changed in Limgrave in 2025, the magic is still there. After ascending a long elevator, we reach a towering door. The moment I opened it, I knew I was in for something special. The word Limgrave appeared on screen, and the Erdtree loomed majestically in the distance. I had no idea where to go, but the game smartly placed landmarks in plain view.
From the ambient music to Varre’s “maidenless” insult, my journey had officially begun, and the world has truly captured my attention. It was the right kind of pain: torturous, mysterious, occasionally funny, and compelling, within just the first hour.
After soaking in the sights from the Erdtree, I finally made my way to the nearest landmark… and found a massive warrior on horseback.
And oh. I’m going to be here for a long time, aren’t I?
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