I allocated two and a half hours to Elden Ring today and spent most of time running around Stormveil Castle… in a circle. I haven’t reached the big bad yet, and I’m probably twice or more the level expected to be in order to beat him. Yet I feel I have no chance. Why? The Jr. Bosses and foot soldiers destroy me. The essence of the game suggests you become very skilled at doing one thing and raising one state, but that is antithetical to who I am so I end up okay at everything and not good enough at anything. This is not the ideal build, and maybe I will respec at a later date, but it seems like I won’t.
I love the way the game looks and I see evidence of all the fantasy George RR Martin has read throughout his life. There are moments (few) where it feels like him, but mostly it is just a pretty game and pretty difficult to get through easily. Still, fun to a point. Frustrating to another.