Introduction
Elden Ring is one of the most highly anticipated games in recent years, created by the collaborative efforts of Hidetaka Miyazaki, the creator of the Souls series, and George R.R. Martin, the renowned author of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels. As the release date approaches, fans eagerly anticipate the chance to immerse themselves in the sprawling open world of Elden Ring, complete with its intricate lore, challenging combat, and atmospheric environments.
Elden Ring Gameplay Issues
Lack of Flask Variety
One of the major flaws in Elden Ring's gameplay design is the limited variety of flasks available to players. In the game, flasks are consumable items that restore the player's health. However, the lack of diversity in flask types can hinder the gameplay experience. Players are only given a single type of flask, which leads to a lack of strategic choices when it comes to managing their health during challenging encounters.
A wider variety of flask types, each with different effects or attributes, would have added depth to the gameplay. For example, flasks that temporarily boost the player's damage output or provide a temporary defense buff could have introduced interesting decision-making moments during combat. By including diverse flask options, players would have been encouraged to experiment with different strategies and playstyles, enhancing the overall replayability and enjoyment of the game.
Unbalanced Flask Mechanics
Another issue affecting the gameplay experience in Elden Ring is the unbalanced mechanics associated with flasks. While flasks are meant to provide a means of healing, their effectiveness is often inconsistent and can lead to frustrating situations for players. The current flask mechanics do not reward skillful play or encourage thoughtful resource management.
When a player consumes a flask, it instantly restores a fixed amount of health. However, the amount of health restored is not scaled based on the player's current health pool or other contextual factors. As a result, players with higher health pools receive a disproportionately smaller benefit from using a flask compared to those with lower health pools. This imbalance undermines the strategic value of resource management, as there is little incentive for players to carefully consider when to use their flasks.
Additionally, the instant and non-interactive nature of flask usage removes a layer of skill expression from the gameplay. Unlike other games where healing mechanics involve active timing or positioning, Elden Ring's flasks provide a quick fix without requiring any player input beyond pressing a button. This simplistic approach diminishes the sense of agency and engagement that players may seek from a challenging and immersive game like Elden Ring.
Frustrating Dependency on Flasks
Furthermore, the gameplay experience is hindered by the excessive dependency on flasks as a primary means of healing. In Elden Ring, the player's character heavily relies on flasks to sustain their health during battles. While this may seem like a reasonable mechanic at first, it can quickly become frustrating and repetitive over time.
In many instances, players find themselves in situations where they are required to repeatedly use flasks to regain their health, which interrupts the flow of combat and can feel like a tedious chore. This overreliance on flasks as the main source of healing creates a sense of monotony and limits the player's options for strategic decision-making during engagements.
Conclusion
While Elden Ring brings many intriguing elements to the table, such as its captivating world and challenging combat mechanics, the flawed design of the flask system impedes the overall gameplay experience. The lack of flask variety, unbalanced mechanics, and excessive dependency on flasks hinder the depth, strategy, and enjoyment that players could have otherwise experienced in the game.
As players eagerly await the release of Elden Ring, they hope that these issues will be addressed, either through adjustments or alternative mechanics, to enhance the gameplay experience and allow the game's many strengths to shine even brighter.
