A new screenshot of FromSoftware's Elden Ring features a terrifying masked figure haunting the action role-playing game. FromSoftware's track record of beloved action games includes titles such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. As the developer's newest project, Elden Ring promises to evolve the "soulslike" genre even further by featuring a massive open world like Breath of the Wild for players to journey through.
The open-world nature of Elden Ring will help the action RPG stand out amongst FromSoftware's prior works. Players will be able to ride a helpful mount across the game's large central area, with horseback riding and fighting adding depth to exploration and combat. Six kingdoms will branch off from this open-world hub, and on-foot traversal will make these linear levels familiar to Dark Souls fans. Emphasis is also being placed on character customization, with players able to chose their own class, appearance and weaponry to suit their unique needs. Recent previews of Elden Ring have praised the upcoming title's diverse locations and varied gameplay styles.
A new Elden Ring screenshot, posted to the game's Twitter account, presents a disturbing and apparently bloodthirsty masked individual. The intimidating figure is seen staring directly at the viewer, while a mangled and bloody corpse lies directly behind it. This same character has actually appeared in a previously-released Elden Ring screenshot as well, with the killer wielding a flail as it moves to finish off an injured knight. The tweet's message reads, "In the wake of the Shattering, a blight claimed the mind of many a creature and man. Beware their chaotic frenzy." The message suggests that some enemies in the game will be humans who were driven insane by the fantastical events of Elden Ring's backstory. Whether the masked figure is simply an enemy type, or a more unique non-player character, remains to be seen.
Alongside the creepy masked figure shown in the screenshot, Elden Ring will feature many other enemies for players to encounter and overcome. The game's six kingdoms are ruled by six demigods, and each of them will serve as powerful bosses that players must defeat on their quest. Alongside these six encounters, there will also be bosses that players encounter in Elden Ring's open world. The recent preview of the action role-playing game saw the player wandering the open world before being suddenly attacked by an enormous dragon. More commonplace non-boss enemies, such as magic-wielding warriors and bizarre chain-armed creatures, will also appear to challenge the protagonist.
FromSoftware's Elden Ring promises to deliver the in-depth combat and detailed worldbuilding that fans have come to expect from the esteemed developer. However, the open-world title will apparently push the envelope and raise the soulslike genre to even greater heights. The intensely creepy masked enemy revealed by FromSoftware is likely to play a role in both aspects of the game. Whether it is an enemy type or a uniquely murderous non-player character, the masked figure will no doubt challenge players' combat abilities and give insight into the world of Elden Ring.
Elden Ring will release on January 21, 2022 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Source: Elden Ring/Twitter