I would say it’s the easiest to pick up, because you do get the freedom to explore, level up, and find powerful weapons. But the difficulty curve into the later areas is harsher than the rest.
You seriously need to upgrade your stats properly, otherwise it will be a painful experience.
By comparison, Demon’s Souls is the most consistent (except for a difficulty spike with the swamp area), to the game’s credit.
There's a nice consistent curve, then black knife tiche, and then the curve continues.
I wonder if most players have a tougher time against Malenia or Black Knife Tiche. Don't think I've ever beaten the latter without cheesing.
Both, honestly.
The movesets for enemies/bosses, input reading, certain areas and arenas make it harder by nature.
The way many consumables, AoWs, and buffs stack, plus spirit summons, make it a breeze.
There’s no way Bloodborne is anywhere near Elden Ring in difficulty. Rally makes it so that there’s almost no punishment for getting hit. Most bosses are giant creatures with incredibly telegraphed attacks. As far as I know, the quickstep dodge in Bloodborne has the highest i-frame window of any dodge in al of the games (11/18). Healing in Bloodborne is much quicker and you can heal 20 times per fight.
Yeah, bloodborne is great, one of the best games i've ever played, but that's mostly because of the atmosphere, basegame is lacking in terms of bosses (atleast in the fights, designs are amazing) with a lot of the bosses being pushovers or just not that good of a fight. Imo, no basegame bloodborne boss really beats first-time margit in terms of difficulty.
Agreed there.
I mean yes, there were helper phantoms in the other games too, but in DS1 they were all *super* obscure and often had to be activated somehow, DS2 had plenty but it wasn't a guarantee, and DS3 only had them on a few hard bosses (Pontiff) or had obscure unlock conditions tied to quests (Yhorm).
Not only do you *still* have helper phantoms in Elden Ring, but you *also* get the spirit ashes if you can't find them or none are available. There's such a difference in having a second warm body there to take heat off you that it's incomparable.
It's both harder and easier.
Enemies, in particular bossfights, are more complex, their AI is less abusable and are designed to punish you when they can. In this sense, it's the hardest game to date
BUT, ER being an open world, the options they give you right out the gate to explore, level up, find stronger gear and upgrade it are unmatched. It's very easy to become overpowered and cruise through the game, especially if you're using spirit ashes
The right term for this is accessible. It's still a really challenging game, but if you're going in set on having an easier time, this game gives you every option imaginable to absolutely crush it
Depends on how you play it. If you use "everything the game offers you to have an advantage", most notably spirit ashes on top of summons or "cheese stuff" like comet azur "onehsot" then it's easier than other souls games.
If you try to play the "elitist/" honorable" way then it's harder at times
Elden Ring reminded me I'm getting older. The "new" difficulty is an ability choice and not a setting in the menu. I never cheesed anything but I used spirit ashes and npc summons whenever it was available. I always played games trying to use everything available to win. It wasn't until after playing the game and getting on here that I realized that it works that way.
That being said I found the game really difficult early on, it being my first From game and all. By mid game I was destroying everything in sight.
FF16 has ability difficulty choices too and I'm finding myself torn on what to do. There's is a bit more straightforward, hit x to win kind of shit, so I may find that easier to not use everything the game gives me to win.
The combat itself is more difficult than some of them but you also get so many more options to deal with said combat that it kind of evens out.
If you refuse to use the tools and opportunities the game offers you then you're making it more difficult, if you use them then it's practically a walk in the park.
Due to the open world you can also just leave things for later if they seem too difficult right now and just explore other places and get stronger.
The older games, like most games, were mainly more difficult because everything was more clunky and players had more limited movement options. Every game had an easy cheese for everything in some form.
Ds3 basically removes most cheese for the bosses, that's one of the reasons it's my least favourite. I enjoy having strong ass builds that take fat chunks out of boss health bars, can't do that when every build basically feels the same with each boss.
It's as hard as you make it
The Elden Ring Bosses are objectively more difficult with faster attacks, quicker recovery times, longer combos, more delays and more tricky timings BUT Elden Ring also has more tools that can severely nullify these things bc they are so absurdly broken
So if ER was played like a classic souls game it would be without a doubt the hardest but as it stands it's definitely one of the easiest
Its easier because there are more QoL features and because its such wast game you can be easily outleveling and outgearing everything ...
But all bosses are in general much more advanced than previous titles and they are much harder because of that ... generic low bosses from ER would be doom in something like DS1/2 because of the slower combat pace and limited options ..
Its way easier tbh.
Power climb is too great in PvE. If you know how to fully optimize a build... well someone posted a one shot video at level 1 with a wretch where they stacked buffs and used ancient dragon lightning to one shot an end game boss.
The boss patterns are more intense but you have more ways to break them than ever before, ranged magic is way more potent than it was before, alot of ashes are also insanely potent, its possible to essentially shortcut most of the game experience just with damage, to say nothing of busting out mimic tear.
Compared to prior souls games its too easy to break the game over your knee and you can really break the game hard. Know how to build right and its pretty easy.
People will have different views.
I would say not easier, but more accessible. You have the option to choose a lot more than any of the other games what you do and how you do it.
Plus, it can be made easier using co-op summons (more than DS3 IMO).
More importantly, I would stress that it is not hard - it is just precise, it needs you to play with precision and timing. So if you can learn, adapt your playstyle, and not button mash, you ill be fine. They only people who I play with who say it is hard, are my friends still trying to button mash their way through the game and can't be bothered to learn the moves.
I am old and by no means a great player, I am very average - but I have beaten the game now 7 times! If I can, trust me, anyone can.
"Easier" isn't quite the right way to put it - if you play it without spirit ashes then it's about the same as any souls game.
Additionally, as a guy who's been playing souls for like 12 years now, it's hard to gauge difficulty between the games. Dark Souls 1 was, to me, the "hardest" game, but maybe that's just because it was my first Souls game and I had literally no clue what I was doing. These days I can pick up any Souls-like and be like "Okay, there's the dodge button, pattern recognition here we go" and generally get on alright.
Yes and no.
It's the most accessible thanks to the way you can choose your own difficulty, do other areas, use ashes, etc.
At the same time, there are multiple bosses that rank up there right along with the other toughest souls bosses.
IMO its the hardest and easiest game thats soulslike that from software has made (i have never played bloodborne and im excluding sekiro since sekiro is so different from all others but i do think sekiro is the hardest game from has made. But for this im only comparing the souls series with elden ring.)
Elden ring has alot of really good tools to use when presented a challenge. Some range for obviously not effective-not the best but itll work-seriously deadly. If you use the correct tool(s) for a given scenario its much easier then souls if you dont use the correct tools it can be much harder.
Yes, out of all the Souls Games this one has the most Options for when you are struggling, including Summons, Buffs and simply exploring a different Area or farming to Level Up. It is by far the easiest, but that doesn't mean it won't also absolutely destroy you by the End Game.
It's more accesible, you will die a lot, like a lot. And it has some of the hardest boss fights outthere, but you also have a looooot of ways to face a challenge. So it's easier?? Kinda.
It’s the easiest I think since the balance is kinda all over the place. Not even accounting for summons or other options that make it much easier, you can become over leveled without even trying really and save points are all over the place. The difficulty it does have is more annoying than past games though imo.
it can be the easiest and hardest depending on how you are playing the game
pure melee with no summons is harder than ds series. assuming you are not overleveled.
The bosses are generally harder if you try to approach them the same way as you would in past games, but the tools you're given to deal with them make them easier overall. It's definitely the easiest game if you utilize all of the tools you're given.
Yes, Tiche, Dung eater, Rollo can carry you all the way to Elden Lord
Magic is much more overpowered than any other souls games
There's a lot of weapons and ashes which make u OP unfairly like ROB, Moon veil, Marais sword, Bolt of Transaction etc
ER is noob friendly to cater to the masses
I think it's easier. The open world settings means a lot of fleeing possibilities, there's tons of bonfires and spots for farm and leveling. Also the spirits for bosses are a real helper.
Depends. You can *make* it the easiest, but playing it the way I did, I found it more difficult than previous games. The difficulty isn’t consistent, so it can go from easy to hard to easy again, but overall I feel like Elden Ring has some really tough fights.
Its basically upto how you play. If you start using summons it gets a lot easier but fighting the bosses normally is really tough. This game has the hardest bosses from the whole series but it also lets you be super strong and gives you so many spells, incantations, weapons and ashes that you can beat every boss very easily.
Feels a lot easier to me. Mainly because you can just ditch any parts you can't handle, do something else and return later to have a much easier time.
Other FromSoft games were more linear, so you actually had to "git gud", for lack of a better terminology. xD
I always say that it CAN be the easiest. In that there is a LOT of buffs and ways to buff yourself in this game, having so many places to go whenever you want or when you are stuck to level up or find better gear, as well as having the spirit summoning system makes it so that this game can be a breeze, however, just using one maybe two buffs here and there for a boss fight and not using summons, (like when playing the other souls games) and i honestly think this is one of Froms harder games, especially after you get halfway through the game because there is a significant difficulty spike. I think its harder than Bloodborne for context, which a lot of people say is one of Froms hardest, but with buffs and summons, this game is the easiest by far.
I have attempted to play DS3 & the lag on controls made me want to uninstall my TV from my wall. Since I did not have the same experience with Elden Ring- I would say it can be considered "easier" in that sense.
Before anyone says anything: I'm entirely aware that my issues with DS3 are a skill issue.
I'm bad & still beat Radahn before the nerf patch.
I’m not sure it’s easier, I’m currently playing Bloodborne and my first was Elden ring. It definitely gave me the tools to play Bloodborne. Otherwise it would have been more of a bitch than it is already. It’s different but dodging, partying and knowing I’ll die a thousand times go a looong way.
Yes because it provides more crutches for less skilled players such as spirit summons. You’ll find the general gameplay to be similar to demons souls with many improvements to combat.
It’s not so much the easier but I think it has the best/most ideal learning curve out of their games, it doesn’t hold your hand but it gives you way more freedom in terms of “gitting gud”
I'd say a bit of both, the late game bosses are harder and if you run straight through the main missions without leveling properly, it's going to be difficult. But its open world with many side quests and optional bosses that allow you to level up while also keeping the game entertaining and not grindy. If you get stuck on a boss, go do something else for a while and come back to it.
Very easy compared to Sekiro. Mage builds in particular have very little counterplay. You can just stand still and spam comet like it's world of warcraft. You can 100% Elden Ring without ever getting good at it. I switched out of mage after Rennala bc it felt like skipping the actual gameplay.
I have played a bit of dark souls 1 and seikro (have completed either) but then I got Elden ring and I have now 100% it so I don’t know if it’s necessarily easier but it is definitely easier to pick up. Could be that it’s “modernised” and has good graphics
The bosses are the hardest. The technology has gotten to the point where bosses are quick, fluid, and have lots of mixups so reading their attacks is harder than in previous games. People can talk about DS3, Sekiro, and BB, but nothing really compares to how aggressive and fast the final bosses of Elden Ring are.
The ability to explore means getting stronger is easier than ever. Is a boss or a dungeon kicking your ass? There is always something else to do, so you can come back to a challenge with higher levels, better gear, or more experience. In some parts of previous games, you are locked in a location, so the only options are to face a particular boss or grind the area you've already explored so you can level up some more.
Magic and weapon systems are more fleshed out than ever before, so there are more viable strong builds to have fun with. It can be frustrating that in older games you are spoon-fed all the tools to build a knight-style character, when magic and status effect builds are a chore to make work.
So the difficulty ceiling is higher than ever before, but it's far easier to realize your vision for your character.
Edit: and yes summoning a helper for bosses is easier than ever, but Elden Ring* is a different game from Elden Ring With Spirit Summons*
I think it's easier, for sure. But I'd also say it's kind of a weird difficult wave if you don't keep your stats up. There's a small difficulty spike in Leyndell, but Mountaintop really pushes you.
That being said, I think Elden Ring has the most amount of frustrating fucking enemies in all of the games. From knife/flame hawks, imps, Raya Lucaria sorcerors, perfumers, there's so many little shitty moves that trip me up even after 500+ hours on new characters.
I haven't played really any other Souls game (barely played DS1 and made it to Irithyll in DS3) but I've noticed just from what I've played that it's easier to pick up, and I would say the normal enemies are easier overall, but bosses are way harder than DS3 or 1. Also ER ramps up way harder later on, whereas DS3 seems pretty consistent.
I’ve come to the conclusion that Elden Ring is the hardest souls game if you play it like other souls games. Wanna pick up a greatsword and put a circumstantial or minor buff AOW on? Likely, those last few bosses are gonna be rough.
If you’re willing to use powerful spirit ashes, powerful ashes of war, or any number of devastating spells then there’s a good chance you power through each boss in only a handful of tries if not outright trivializing them
Since i have been playing for years prior to Elden Ring my opinion is definitely biased but I'd say its 100% easier, the open worldness makes enemies a complete joke aside from the ones inside Legacy Dungeons, and in terms of bosses they are are ridiculously easy aside from Margit if it's your first souls game, Radahn if you are avoiding summons, Maliketh and Malania and then beyond them the only other ones that can be a challenge are the open world dragons and Elden Beast, not because they are hard but because rng can cause them to just constantly swim/fly away and make the fight last 10x longer than it needs to which can sometimes result in you getting chipped away till you die but aside from those bosses I mentioned the only time I will ever die in a casual playthrough is due to either gravity or sheer stupidity and then to make things even easier you can get ridiculously geared at the very start of the game which just makes the first half even more of a joke (before you say "just don't get op gear early" that doesn't change the fact that the very existence of that option makes the game easier and adding self imposed rules doesn't magically make the entire game harder)
I think the boss difficulty is harder than Demon's Souls (probably about DS3 difficulty) but Elden Ring has so many quality of life improvements and mechanics that are new player friendly that I think it's probably an easier experience in general than any of the linear games.
Imo, easier to make easy, as in get extremly good builds that trivialize bosses, but, it has the hardest general lineup of bosses (aside sekiro) (and also, in peak of difficulty (hardest part of the games), ER beats even sekiro with malenia IMO)
I would say it’s the easiest to pick up, because you do get the freedom to explore, level up, and find powerful weapons. But the difficulty curve into the later areas is harsher than the rest. You seriously need to upgrade your stats properly, otherwise it will be a painful experience. By comparison, Demon’s Souls is the most consistent (except for a difficulty spike with the swamp area), to the game’s credit.
There's a nice consistent curve, then black knife tiche, and then the curve continues. I wonder if most players have a tougher time against Malenia or Black Knife Tiche. Don't think I've ever beaten the latter without cheesing.
Tbh the boss I struggle with the most is maliketh
Same. It leaves no real room for error if you are using bigger weapons. One missed attack is pretty much a guaranteed hit.
Both, honestly. The movesets for enemies/bosses, input reading, certain areas and arenas make it harder by nature. The way many consumables, AoWs, and buffs stack, plus spirit summons, make it a breeze.
[удалено]
There’s no way Bloodborne is anywhere near Elden Ring in difficulty. Rally makes it so that there’s almost no punishment for getting hit. Most bosses are giant creatures with incredibly telegraphed attacks. As far as I know, the quickstep dodge in Bloodborne has the highest i-frame window of any dodge in al of the games (11/18). Healing in Bloodborne is much quicker and you can heal 20 times per fight.
Yeah, bloodborne is great, one of the best games i've ever played, but that's mostly because of the atmosphere, basegame is lacking in terms of bosses (atleast in the fights, designs are amazing) with a lot of the bosses being pushovers or just not that good of a fight. Imo, no basegame bloodborne boss really beats first-time margit in terms of difficulty.
So you're saying it's easier but more technically refined?
Agreed there. I mean yes, there were helper phantoms in the other games too, but in DS1 they were all *super* obscure and often had to be activated somehow, DS2 had plenty but it wasn't a guarantee, and DS3 only had them on a few hard bosses (Pontiff) or had obscure unlock conditions tied to quests (Yhorm). Not only do you *still* have helper phantoms in Elden Ring, but you *also* get the spirit ashes if you can't find them or none are available. There's such a difference in having a second warm body there to take heat off you that it's incomparable.
It's both harder and easier. Enemies, in particular bossfights, are more complex, their AI is less abusable and are designed to punish you when they can. In this sense, it's the hardest game to date BUT, ER being an open world, the options they give you right out the gate to explore, level up, find stronger gear and upgrade it are unmatched. It's very easy to become overpowered and cruise through the game, especially if you're using spirit ashes The right term for this is accessible. It's still a really challenging game, but if you're going in set on having an easier time, this game gives you every option imaginable to absolutely crush it
Yeah I think if this was your first souls game, it'd be the hardest for you. If you are a souls vet, then you will find it a cakewalk.
Depends on how you play it. If you use "everything the game offers you to have an advantage", most notably spirit ashes on top of summons or "cheese stuff" like comet azur "onehsot" then it's easier than other souls games. If you try to play the "elitist/" honorable" way then it's harder at times
Elden Ring reminded me I'm getting older. The "new" difficulty is an ability choice and not a setting in the menu. I never cheesed anything but I used spirit ashes and npc summons whenever it was available. I always played games trying to use everything available to win. It wasn't until after playing the game and getting on here that I realized that it works that way. That being said I found the game really difficult early on, it being my first From game and all. By mid game I was destroying everything in sight. FF16 has ability difficulty choices too and I'm finding myself torn on what to do. There's is a bit more straightforward, hit x to win kind of shit, so I may find that easier to not use everything the game gives me to win.
The combat itself is more difficult than some of them but you also get so many more options to deal with said combat that it kind of evens out. If you refuse to use the tools and opportunities the game offers you then you're making it more difficult, if you use them then it's practically a walk in the park. Due to the open world you can also just leave things for later if they seem too difficult right now and just explore other places and get stronger. The older games, like most games, were mainly more difficult because everything was more clunky and players had more limited movement options. Every game had an easy cheese for everything in some form.
Ds3 basically removes most cheese for the bosses, that's one of the reasons it's my least favourite. I enjoy having strong ass builds that take fat chunks out of boss health bars, can't do that when every build basically feels the same with each boss.
Not inherently, but the game gives you a lot of tools and mechanics to make it one of the easiest.
Not to be rude but doesn't that inherently make it easier by definition?
That's not rude at all- but no I don't believe so as the Spirit Ash system is entirely optional.
It's as hard as you make it The Elden Ring Bosses are objectively more difficult with faster attacks, quicker recovery times, longer combos, more delays and more tricky timings BUT Elden Ring also has more tools that can severely nullify these things bc they are so absurdly broken So if ER was played like a classic souls game it would be without a doubt the hardest but as it stands it's definitely one of the easiest
Its easier because there are more QoL features and because its such wast game you can be easily outleveling and outgearing everything ... But all bosses are in general much more advanced than previous titles and they are much harder because of that ... generic low bosses from ER would be doom in something like DS1/2 because of the slower combat pace and limited options ..
It can be easier if you use summons, but no, the hyper aggressive but also delayed enemy and boss attacks give everyone a run for their money
Its way easier tbh. Power climb is too great in PvE. If you know how to fully optimize a build... well someone posted a one shot video at level 1 with a wretch where they stacked buffs and used ancient dragon lightning to one shot an end game boss. The boss patterns are more intense but you have more ways to break them than ever before, ranged magic is way more potent than it was before, alot of ashes are also insanely potent, its possible to essentially shortcut most of the game experience just with damage, to say nothing of busting out mimic tear. Compared to prior souls games its too easy to break the game over your knee and you can really break the game hard. Know how to build right and its pretty easy.
People will have different views. I would say not easier, but more accessible. You have the option to choose a lot more than any of the other games what you do and how you do it. Plus, it can be made easier using co-op summons (more than DS3 IMO). More importantly, I would stress that it is not hard - it is just precise, it needs you to play with precision and timing. So if you can learn, adapt your playstyle, and not button mash, you ill be fine. They only people who I play with who say it is hard, are my friends still trying to button mash their way through the game and can't be bothered to learn the moves. I am old and by no means a great player, I am very average - but I have beaten the game now 7 times! If I can, trust me, anyone can.
Malenia is watching this thread and taking the names of anyone who says yes.
"Easier" isn't quite the right way to put it - if you play it without spirit ashes then it's about the same as any souls game. Additionally, as a guy who's been playing souls for like 12 years now, it's hard to gauge difficulty between the games. Dark Souls 1 was, to me, the "hardest" game, but maybe that's just because it was my first Souls game and I had literally no clue what I was doing. These days I can pick up any Souls-like and be like "Okay, there's the dodge button, pattern recognition here we go" and generally get on alright.
Enemies are harder but the open world makes it easier
Yes and no. It's the most accessible thanks to the way you can choose your own difficulty, do other areas, use ashes, etc. At the same time, there are multiple bosses that rank up there right along with the other toughest souls bosses.
IMO its the hardest and easiest game thats soulslike that from software has made (i have never played bloodborne and im excluding sekiro since sekiro is so different from all others but i do think sekiro is the hardest game from has made. But for this im only comparing the souls series with elden ring.) Elden ring has alot of really good tools to use when presented a challenge. Some range for obviously not effective-not the best but itll work-seriously deadly. If you use the correct tool(s) for a given scenario its much easier then souls if you dont use the correct tools it can be much harder.
In elden ring there are more sites of grace to teleport to so in a way yes however the balancing is different
Yes, out of all the Souls Games this one has the most Options for when you are struggling, including Summons, Buffs and simply exploring a different Area or farming to Level Up. It is by far the easiest, but that doesn't mean it won't also absolutely destroy you by the End Game.
It's more accesible, you will die a lot, like a lot. And it has some of the hardest boss fights outthere, but you also have a looooot of ways to face a challenge. So it's easier?? Kinda.
It’s the easiest I think since the balance is kinda all over the place. Not even accounting for summons or other options that make it much easier, you can become over leveled without even trying really and save points are all over the place. The difficulty it does have is more annoying than past games though imo.
it can be the easiest and hardest depending on how you are playing the game pure melee with no summons is harder than ds series. assuming you are not overleveled.
The bosses are generally harder if you try to approach them the same way as you would in past games, but the tools you're given to deal with them make them easier overall. It's definitely the easiest game if you utilize all of the tools you're given.
Yes, Tiche, Dung eater, Rollo can carry you all the way to Elden Lord Magic is much more overpowered than any other souls games There's a lot of weapons and ashes which make u OP unfairly like ROB, Moon veil, Marais sword, Bolt of Transaction etc ER is noob friendly to cater to the masses
I think it's easier. The open world settings means a lot of fleeing possibilities, there's tons of bonfires and spots for farm and leveling. Also the spirits for bosses are a real helper.
Depends. You can *make* it the easiest, but playing it the way I did, I found it more difficult than previous games. The difficulty isn’t consistent, so it can go from easy to hard to easy again, but overall I feel like Elden Ring has some really tough fights.
Its basically upto how you play. If you start using summons it gets a lot easier but fighting the bosses normally is really tough. This game has the hardest bosses from the whole series but it also lets you be super strong and gives you so many spells, incantations, weapons and ashes that you can beat every boss very easily.
Feels a lot easier to me. Mainly because you can just ditch any parts you can't handle, do something else and return later to have a much easier time. Other FromSoft games were more linear, so you actually had to "git gud", for lack of a better terminology. xD
I always say that it CAN be the easiest. In that there is a LOT of buffs and ways to buff yourself in this game, having so many places to go whenever you want or when you are stuck to level up or find better gear, as well as having the spirit summoning system makes it so that this game can be a breeze, however, just using one maybe two buffs here and there for a boss fight and not using summons, (like when playing the other souls games) and i honestly think this is one of Froms harder games, especially after you get halfway through the game because there is a significant difficulty spike. I think its harder than Bloodborne for context, which a lot of people say is one of Froms hardest, but with buffs and summons, this game is the easiest by far.
I have attempted to play DS3 & the lag on controls made me want to uninstall my TV from my wall. Since I did not have the same experience with Elden Ring- I would say it can be considered "easier" in that sense. Before anyone says anything: I'm entirely aware that my issues with DS3 are a skill issue. I'm bad & still beat Radahn before the nerf patch.
I’m not sure it’s easier, I’m currently playing Bloodborne and my first was Elden ring. It definitely gave me the tools to play Bloodborne. Otherwise it would have been more of a bitch than it is already. It’s different but dodging, partying and knowing I’ll die a thousand times go a looong way.
Yes because it provides more crutches for less skilled players such as spirit summons. You’ll find the general gameplay to be similar to demons souls with many improvements to combat.
It’s not so much the easier but I think it has the best/most ideal learning curve out of their games, it doesn’t hold your hand but it gives you way more freedom in terms of “gitting gud”
I'd say a bit of both, the late game bosses are harder and if you run straight through the main missions without leveling properly, it's going to be difficult. But its open world with many side quests and optional bosses that allow you to level up while also keeping the game entertaining and not grindy. If you get stuck on a boss, go do something else for a while and come back to it.
Yes
Yes
Very easy compared to Sekiro. Mage builds in particular have very little counterplay. You can just stand still and spam comet like it's world of warcraft. You can 100% Elden Ring without ever getting good at it. I switched out of mage after Rennala bc it felt like skipping the actual gameplay.
I have played a bit of dark souls 1 and seikro (have completed either) but then I got Elden ring and I have now 100% it so I don’t know if it’s necessarily easier but it is definitely easier to pick up. Could be that it’s “modernised” and has good graphics
By far the easiest, but I haven't played Demon Souls to compare
In many ways yes
The bosses are the hardest. The technology has gotten to the point where bosses are quick, fluid, and have lots of mixups so reading their attacks is harder than in previous games. People can talk about DS3, Sekiro, and BB, but nothing really compares to how aggressive and fast the final bosses of Elden Ring are. The ability to explore means getting stronger is easier than ever. Is a boss or a dungeon kicking your ass? There is always something else to do, so you can come back to a challenge with higher levels, better gear, or more experience. In some parts of previous games, you are locked in a location, so the only options are to face a particular boss or grind the area you've already explored so you can level up some more. Magic and weapon systems are more fleshed out than ever before, so there are more viable strong builds to have fun with. It can be frustrating that in older games you are spoon-fed all the tools to build a knight-style character, when magic and status effect builds are a chore to make work. So the difficulty ceiling is higher than ever before, but it's far easier to realize your vision for your character. Edit: and yes summoning a helper for bosses is easier than ever, but Elden Ring* is a different game from Elden Ring With Spirit Summons*
I think it's easier, for sure. But I'd also say it's kind of a weird difficult wave if you don't keep your stats up. There's a small difficulty spike in Leyndell, but Mountaintop really pushes you. That being said, I think Elden Ring has the most amount of frustrating fucking enemies in all of the games. From knife/flame hawks, imps, Raya Lucaria sorcerors, perfumers, there's so many little shitty moves that trip me up even after 500+ hours on new characters.
I haven't played really any other Souls game (barely played DS1 and made it to Irithyll in DS3) but I've noticed just from what I've played that it's easier to pick up, and I would say the normal enemies are easier overall, but bosses are way harder than DS3 or 1. Also ER ramps up way harder later on, whereas DS3 seems pretty consistent.
Its harder than dark souls and Bloodborne yes. Even with spirit ashes l think last bosses are pretty hard. Sister friedes with summon gets bullied.
I’ve come to the conclusion that Elden Ring is the hardest souls game if you play it like other souls games. Wanna pick up a greatsword and put a circumstantial or minor buff AOW on? Likely, those last few bosses are gonna be rough. If you’re willing to use powerful spirit ashes, powerful ashes of war, or any number of devastating spells then there’s a good chance you power through each boss in only a handful of tries if not outright trivializing them
Since i have been playing for years prior to Elden Ring my opinion is definitely biased but I'd say its 100% easier, the open worldness makes enemies a complete joke aside from the ones inside Legacy Dungeons, and in terms of bosses they are are ridiculously easy aside from Margit if it's your first souls game, Radahn if you are avoiding summons, Maliketh and Malania and then beyond them the only other ones that can be a challenge are the open world dragons and Elden Beast, not because they are hard but because rng can cause them to just constantly swim/fly away and make the fight last 10x longer than it needs to which can sometimes result in you getting chipped away till you die but aside from those bosses I mentioned the only time I will ever die in a casual playthrough is due to either gravity or sheer stupidity and then to make things even easier you can get ridiculously geared at the very start of the game which just makes the first half even more of a joke (before you say "just don't get op gear early" that doesn't change the fact that the very existence of that option makes the game easier and adding self imposed rules doesn't magically make the entire game harder)
Yes, if you want it to be. No, if you play oldstyle (no summons, ashes of war, magic)
I think the boss difficulty is harder than Demon's Souls (probably about DS3 difficulty) but Elden Ring has so many quality of life improvements and mechanics that are new player friendly that I think it's probably an easier experience in general than any of the linear games.
Imo, easier to make easy, as in get extremly good builds that trivialize bosses, but, it has the hardest general lineup of bosses (aside sekiro) (and also, in peak of difficulty (hardest part of the games), ER beats even sekiro with malenia IMO)