Why Elden Ring Deserved Game of the Year Over God of War Ragnarök

Elden Ring — FromSoftware’s epic fantasy role-playing recreation — was topped Recreation of the Yr at The Recreation Awards 2022 earlier right now, heading off severe competitors from Santa Monica Studio’s action-adventure extravaganza God of Conflict Ragnarök. There have been some eye-catching titles like Horizon Forbidden West, A Plague Story: Requiem, Stray, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 within the fray for gaming’s high honour this yr, however actually, it got here all the way down to the PlayStation unique and, properly, Elden Ring. To my delight, the latter received, and deservedly so. The 2 video games, each unbelievable in their very own proper, signify the most effective that fashionable video video games have to supply. However solely considered one of them actually embodies the essence of the medium.

There was a scorching minute, the place it did really feel like God of War Ragnarök — essentially the most nominated title at The Recreation Awards 2022 — would sweep the awards. Earlier than the proceedings winded all the way down to the principle course, Ragnarök had already triumphed in six classes, together with Finest Narrative and Finest Efficiency. And as is the case with all awards exhibits, recency bias is at all times in play. (There is a cause we have a factor known as the Oscar season.) Ragnarök launched final month, whereas Elden Ring got here out in February. And regardless of its sustained brilliance, reminiscence can play methods on you. Ultimately, FromSoftware took house the evening’s two largest awards — Recreation of the Yr, and Finest Recreation Path, capping a outstanding yr for the Japanese builders.

Elden Ring vs God of Conflict Ragnarök: open-world strategy

Between Ragnarök and Elden Ring, the latter is the one which pushes video games into new territory. The open world style has been much-maligned lately — Elden Ring took it aside, after which remade it in its personal picture. It rejected the trimmings of the style, and utterly did away with goal markers, limitless map icons, meaningless map actions and facet quests, and actually blew open the open world. There are video games which have accomplished this earlier than, most notably Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, however Elden Ring builds upon it. The place Breath of the Wild rewarded exploration, the exploration is the reward in Elden Ring.

Take as an illustration Elden Ring’s map. In most open world video games, maps aren’t actually a cartographic illustration of the lands the participant wanders in. They’re only a guidelines. All they impart is “Go right here, try this. Now this manner, try this once more.” However Elden Ring’s map encourages, no, calls for gamers to take a look at it. Actually take a look at the rock formation north of your location, or these ruins to your west. There are not any icons telling the participant what they’ll discover there, however there’s a feeling that will probably be one thing good.

Elden Ring’s map invitations gamers to take a better look.

That’s uncommon in video video games. Only a few video games are courageous sufficient to ask you to your individual private journey, with out feeling the necessity to develop into your information. Simply take a look at fellow Recreation of the Yr nominee, Horizon Forbidden West, an open world journey that’s persistently scared handy management over to the participant. Its innumerous map icons handhold you in your each tour, diminishing the marvel of an in any other case good recreation. (To not be pulled astray — however Ragnarök, whereas not totally open world, has a map, too. That mentioned, all through my playthrough, I by no means actually wanted it and it felt purely aesthetical.)

Elden Ring vs God of Conflict Ragnarök: storytelling

Elden Ring and Ragnarök additionally stand at reverse ends of the storytelling spectrum in video video games. Ragnarök, winner of Finest Narrative at The Game Awards, certainly tells a compelling story, one that’s private and visceral. It takes on complicated themes of fatherhood and coming of age, and grapples with prophecy and destiny, delivering a Hollywood blockbuster-style ending for its Norse saga. It’s a good story. However additionally it is conventional.

Ragnarök options a number of the greatest writing in video video games all yr, however its narrative shouldn’t be too dissimilar to a movie or a novel. It takes gamers on a experience, however by no means palms them the reigns. That’s the place the true energy of online game storytelling lies. Participant company distinguishes the medium from different types of artwork. Elden Ring excels there. It helps you to write your individual story. There may be, after all, an supposed narrative within the recreation informed via arcane merchandise descriptions and scattered lore. And curious minds can at all times head over to YouTube to search out what they missed. However the tales you make up, as you trawl the Lands Between, are those that stick to you.

Recreation of the Yr nominee A Plague Story: Requiem is pushed by its narrative.
Photograph Credit score: Focus Leisure

That is to not say that conventional storytelling at all times pales as compared. Simply take a look at narrative-driven video games like The Last of Us, or A Plague Tale: Requiem, the latter a fellow Recreation of the Yr nominee. These video games inform unforgettable tales — however video games that current a clean web page, for gamers to fill in what they like, signify the true potential of the medium as a unique artform that movies and books can not replicate.

Performing out the wasteland mercenary fantasy in Fallout: New Vegas and mythologising my actions and selections within the Mass Effect trilogy are a few of my favorite gaming recollections. In Elden Ring, you could possibly be a chivalrous knight serving to maidens throughout its perilous panorama, or a debonair renegade conquering beasts and beauties. Or, in the event you’re actually good, you could possibly simply be a naked dude with a gigantic club and go round boinking the sport’s lethal bosses within the head. The selection is yours.

Elden Ring vs God of Conflict Ragnarök: the true Recreation of the Yr

To be honest, that is partly the character of role-playing video games equivalent to Elden Ring. I will not maintain the truth that God of Conflict Ragnarök shouldn’t be an RPG in opposition to it. It’s, like I mentioned, a special recreation. It affords a curated expertise that blends visceral gameplay with emotional depth. And inside the margins of its spectacular fight sandbox, it’s surprisingly versatile. However Elden Ring takes the street much less travelled — and permits gamers to search out their very own treasure. The place Ragnarök excels in bombastic moments, Elden Ring workouts restraint, nearly as a recreation mechanic, and stands as a real champion of the medium.