How far have you ever made it in a online game earlier than you realized you have been taking part in it wrong?
I began Elden Ring on launch day in 2022. I made all of it the way in which to the Hearth Big and Commander Niall earlier than I came upon my construct was busted… in 2024. Two years and 200 hours of gameplay later.
Anyway, I fastened it, AND I’M NOW THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD!!
No, I nonetheless kinda suck. Clearly.
However why was I having such a tough time, and why did I spend 200 hours taking part in a recreation I’m dangerous at? Study from my story.
First, some context: I’m not good at video games. Some persons are stunned by this. And different persons are like… In fact you’re dangerous at video games… you’re a video games journalist…
ANYWAY, that is essential. As a result of I’ve at all times beloved video games, however I didn’t develop up with consoles. I played PC video games like Age of Empires 2 and Fable… 2. And whereas my brother spent many hours getting proficient at Counter-Strike after we have been teenagers, I spent a whole lot of time doing missions with my real-life associates in Metropolis of Heroes. Gender!
All this to say, in my ripe previous age, dexterity is one thing I battle with. Which doesn’t imply I don’t have enjoyable; it simply implies that individuals get mad once they have to look at me play!
I had a whole lot of appreciation for what FromSoft was bringing to the desk, although, particularly after my coworker Pat made an entire massive video about how a lot trendy motion video games have been influenced by Darkish Souls’ design.
However I had no hands-on expertise with FromSoft video games themselves.
So when I began taking part in Elden Ring, it didn’t shock me that it was DIFFICULT! FromSoft video games are onerous; it’s one of many few issues I knew getting in. Additionally that this one had a horse. Kinda.
I countered the issue by adopting an aggressively resigned mindset. I was gonna die. So what. I will die… and I will die once more… and I will persevere, as a result of that’s what these video games are about… most likely?
However I ended up making issues much more troublesome than needed, and all of it stemmed from my assumptions about what it means to play a FromSoft recreation “correctly.”
I wasn’t naturally nearly as good at it as individuals who had already played FromSoft video games, and I let that drive me… to insanity.
Take a look at the video above to search out out all of the myriad and extremely dumb methods I managed to extend the issue of an already troublesome recreation. And for those who’re not subscribed to Polygon on YouTube… do this! You’ll see extra movies from me, and from people who find themselves higher at video video games than me.
