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I love Elden Ring and it might be my personal favorite in the series due to how they’ve mostly refined many of the mechanical aspects of combat and it’s their most interesting world to me personally. But despite that, I can’t say confidently whether it’s any better or worse than their previous games aside from Dark Souls which I think is simply the best of all of them. I also heavily respect that it is more experimental than previous games by going open world and trying to balance that with traditional FromSoft design and think they did a fantastic job overall translating their traditional level and enemy design to larger more open areas (and the DLC does this even better), but much like the experimentation in Demon’s Souls, was very much hit and miss in most aspects. Coming back to this from playing the Elden Ring DLC, I’m going out on a limb in saying I don’t think the boss design had necesarilly gone backwards in Elden Ring, but it feels to me like 2 steps forward, 2 steps back and often comes down to how individual attacks are handled. It seems like they tried to appeal to all or most aspects that people like in the bosses. They wanted them to be quick and challenging but have implemented plenty of attacks that aren’t simply about dodging at the right time, but also about the direction and positioning of your dodge, having attacks that are better to run away from, jumping over sweeping attacks, and sheilds and parrying has become much more viable in bosses overall than in the last few games. The introduction of the stance breaking mechanic also adds another layer other than just trying to deal health damage and it feels like the developers want you to think more about trying new approaches, utilizing what you’ve learned from combat in the world and levels as well as the use of buffs and consumables. With that being said, there are still attacks that seem to have a definite intended approach and barely allow for any variation from the intended reaction and discourage outside thinking on the players part. The other aspect that really bothers me is how memorization of certain boss attack patterns and their timing is almost definitely a requirement for some. Memorization was never important to actually being able to beat bosses in the older souls games. Most if not all attacks were telegraphed well and could be reasonably responded to in at least a couple different ways. Memorization is a natural response to repeat exposure, such as in fighting a boss repeatedly in these games, and people have falsely equated that to being what was so satisfying about them and that seems to be what FromSoft has heard the most. These few attacks can cause significant damage to the experience make some of the otherwise exceIlent bosses drop greatly in quality. I think people are shitting on Elden Ring a bit because at first glance it definitely seems like a step in the wrong direction, but I think that mostly because the negative aspects definitely stand out the most in our minds. I also think there are aspects that seem more akin to what we had seen in the early games, just applied differently and to a faster combat system. Regardless of how you think the overall quality is, we shouldn’t let the drawbacks distract from the improvements. Just like how a game with it’s fair share of positive and negative results from experimental design, like Demon’s Souls, should not be entirely disregared for a few botched ideas. Otherwise, we would have never gotten this incredible series of games in the first place.

Even after Shadow of the Erdtree, this is is still the most important video in the souls community.

5:13 L take, god hand’s camera is perfect for what it was trying to accomplish lol

It’s telling how many comments on this video start with “I love Bloodborne/DS3/Sekiro/Elden Ring, but he’s right.” Matt seriously undersells just how good these games are compared to most other games today, where even when they clearly falter in areas that the first couple games excelled in they’re still more engaging and worth your time than almost anything else on the market. Demon’s Souls is unparalleled in how oppressive its world is and how unpredictable its mechanics are, but the other games are still incredibly immersive in their own right.

And here we are in 2024, Elden Ring Dlc demonstrates they trapped themselves in their own boss design mindset, to the point the only evolution is speeding up everything so that the average zoomer can say "this boss was impossibile but i did it after 8 hours straight of tries" and feel a false sense of satisfaction once again.

One good thing that came from the release of this game is Good Blood’s insane video about it.

Riven is back! Time for a revisit maybe?

While there's a number of points here I disagree with, this is still really insightful as a look at these games from someone else's perspective.

Everytime i play Elden Ring i think of this video. I only started having fun on that game after i abandoned my Claymore Strenght build that i used in all Dark Souls games, and started for the first time exploring with spells.

elden ring is so ass....

9:25 how is this boss more interesting to fight than any modern souls title lmao, all he does is back away and punish it’s so boring.

It's fun to keep coming back to this video when a new souls game/dlc releases.

Okay a few things The Mudokon pop poster isn't a new design for New n Tasty, it was in the original Abe's Oddysee for other reigions. And second, the pilot slig mask and, I'll choose to call it, Lens mask that became standard in Munch are actually different designs. With the lens mask I believe dating back to the original concept art and was not new for Exoddus.

i still dont get the over the shoulder camera trend 90% of games have now

Lol pin pointed Elden Ring DLC waaay before Elden Eing even, respect

I come back to this video after every FROM release to see the recent comments of people basically saying... "Yep!". I think this is the perfect video essay. Points succinctly made with the right amount of supporting examples and no bloat. Please do what you do best and return to video essays, Matthew.

Even Severance Blade of Darkness in general has better combat than Souls. The very idea in that game where you can literally use footwork to evade enemies instead of endlessly rolling is genius. I can't believe nobody tried to copy and enhance Severance's gameplay even further to this day.

This video becomes more and more poignant with each release of a new Fromsoft souls title. This fights are becoming incredibly dull and the combat leaves a lot to be desired, every new boss fight consist of the enemy flailing and generating an explosion at half health. I know people like to argue in favor of the difficulty and if I'm being honest I don't find the fights to be that hard even when done solo, it's all just a matter of memorization, reaction and patience. My main issue stems from just how boring and routine the fights are becoming, there's not a single boss in Elden Ring that left a significant impact on me in either gameplay or presentation. I really hope they find a way to address this issue and maybe return to a more unique boss experience that doesn't revolve around the same tired gameplay, otherwise I'll probably just stick to whatever Team Ninja or NEOWIZ are working as both developer's projects provide better core action combat in regards to soulslikes.

I know the head on a stick thing doesn't matter, and it matters even less 10 years later but I think the point of that scene is abe and the audience's horror at what's happening, making it a cute cartoon DOES make more sense in context but it makes the emotional impact of the scene lessened because it's a cute cartoon instead of a horrifying genocide, it's the difference between a more emotional story and one that makes more sense but if we are really obsessed with making sense then giving the bad guys arms would have made sense

And the real twist of the knife: this game sold gangbusters, reviewed extremely well, won Game of the Year, and inspired a sequel that only made superficial improvements. AAA will not save itself

After finishing the Elden Ring DLC, I realized this video aged like a fine wine.

This feeling more relevant nowadays in the discussion surrounding Elden Ring and Erdtree DLC, well is too poisoned by "git gud" and "Skill issue" to even have a conversation.

DS combat is clearly RPG and not action but the series has moved towards becoming action game with RPG combat. ER is genuinely insufferable to play one way and cheesed the other

Every time From puts out another Souls content, this video just ages better and better.

I watched this again after finishing my elden ring dlc. I got to say, After all these years, this is still the best game critic video.

Don't fully agree but this somewhat explains why I've always found the RPG aspects of these games to be the least compelling bits as someone who came at them from a primarily action game background. The only one I've fully beaten is Sekiro as it's the most unabashedly action-gamey of all of them. Personally I would like From to branch out and to use their unique strengths to make more things that don't fit the soulsbourne label even if that means leaning even more into action gamey or a direction I have less personal interest in. If every game is too close to the previous one it's just going to get stagnant.

I wrote a summary of the video, with timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:37 BotW’s “Freedom” philosophy 4:17 The Great Plateau as a tutorial faithful to the game as a whole 5:23 The Shiekah Slate with generic abilities should make puzzle solutions less obvious (good), however the simplicity of Shrines often make solutions obvious/less satisfying (bad) 7:15 Puzzle-solving Motivation 9:13 Temperature system is great, but equipment system is bad (too easy). Many things are good to be convenient, but need more restrictions on equipment to increase survivalist aspect. Could also give permanent upgrades 12:38 - Combat has problems but is more engaging/impressive than most games because all of Link’s actions are available at all times 18:11 Improvements on open-world design 18:49 The world still lacks realistic depictions in key locations, environmental storytelling 22:37 Less common overworld/characters would be more interesting 24:28 Motivation, utility 26:31 The power of permanence 28:28 Restrictive moments are more satisfying within a world of freedom 30:17 The paraglider is overpowered, enemies are too easy to avoid 31:47 Enemy variety is OK, and their designs are great 35:40 Climbing is dull and overpowered (48:46) 36:15 inventory is too big (or is it?) 37:42 Players can tweak difficulty for themselves 38:59 BotW’s definitive feature is that all objects can affect gameplay (physics, state calculation) 40:07 The Zelda series had always been building towards these new gameplay mechanics 40:59 BotW’s art style is a crucial component to the gameplay with meaningful decisions behind it 42:30 UI details 43:20 Reduced soundtrack allows the world to speak for itself, but still well-designed music 45:30 Divine Beasts are extremely well designed, combining classic Zelda dungeon feeling with new freedom philosophy, but unfortunately each one is short and visually repetitive 46:38 More on Shrines: They can be created in large numbers, and reward exploration, but are too repetitive and puzzles less satisfying 48:53 Nintendo will also need to defy conventions FROM botw 49:09 Hyrule Castle is very threatening (good) while also emphasizing freedom and exploration 49:43 Story is nonlinear, nonlinear memories make it complex, but it honors the player’s freedom. Even the story itself has a subject of “freedom”. But the ending doesn’t feel as bittersweet as it should 52:01 Final boss phase 1: Item usage should be encouraged (but not mandatory), and clearing divine beasts should enhance, not reduce, the experience. Dark Beast Ganon fight is OK because the overworld is the main character. 53:32 Outro: BotW’s new formula has problems, but also extremely great moments - both of these coming from the unwavering commitment to freedom.

I'm enjoying the Elden Ring DLC, mostly for the exploration and lore, but I couldn't help but think of this video after the third spammy roll-catchy boss. In Dark Souls 3 I was already feeling fatigued by that style of boss, but at least there only 60% of the fight time was taken up by rolling. I felt they truly jumped the shark with the endgame of Elden Ring, where bosses like Maliketh would spam 15 attacks in a row that could two-shot you, and where the opening afterward felt barely long enough for a single heal. Well, if that was jumping the shark, the new DLC is double jumping it, and I haven't even attempted the final boss yet.

It's pretty funny that most of this critique applies directly to Elden Ring (though I do like Elden Ring, unlike DS2).

the prepare to die marketing ruined an entire generation of gamers

I think ive reached my breaking point with the er dlc. i think i did most thinks up until that band of the hawk fight but i just cant do it anymore. im just not having fun with all this. and yes its 100% a skill issue. these games just arent for me anymore i guess. or maybe i just install a mod that cuts enemy damage in half lol. i just miss the old days. like remember when we were complaining that artorias had too many anime moves? those were the days man.

I return to this video with a new comment because with Elden Ring DLC this video still rings true, especially with the bosses. So many people right now as I post this are arguing about the difficulty of the DLC and its bosses. My main issue with the bosses more so is that it's more of the same old shit. I'm just not finding the "learn pattern, dodge at right second, deal with the bosses bullshit spamming of infinite stamina and two hit kills" engaging anymore. I don't feel a sense of accomplishment when I beat them, I just feel like I pulled an annoying pain away from my body. I really hope whatever FromSoft does next is something new, something that will ignite that Demons Souls energy again with new ideas and just subverting expectations. However, due to Elden Ring being such a huge success, I sadly doubt they'll be willing to do it and just make another Soulslike and critics and people will give it more 10s. Because apparently now you can't say any criticism of these games anymore, when I remember a time when people would regularly shit on these games. But while I, along with many others saw what was special about them, it feels FromSoft might have forgotten. FromSoft excel at their art, level design and just core function as working as a team. But now it feels like they're kinda playing stuff safe and expected and I never thought that would really happen.

I think you're seriously underselling the amount of unique encounters in dark souls 1

Please make a video expressing your opinions on Elden Ring, even if you recount many of the points from this video. It's been 7 years and your fans would love to hear you voice your opinions on where the series is now.

I'm not sure how you'd apply a Super Metroid-style walljump to a 3D game without having a dedicated walljump button.

With every new FS content I come back to this video and I realize how insightful Matthewmatosis was. It's so sad that the devs themselves, including Miyazaki, don't get what's so great about the Soulsborne games, and they keep doubling down on their mistake with every new game or IP.

"So Matt, have any advice for the new Elden Ring DLC?" Matt: 7:14

Whelp. I finally beat this game and the Valkyries. The Valkyrie queen is the best boss of any god of war game. I think I hate Atreus. I give the game a 7 out of 10. This video gets a 2 out of 10 fir being pretentious

The final boss for the DLC of Elden Ring feels like a massive shitpost. The phase 2 for that fight is genuinely mindboggling. What the fuck were they thinking? Even with mimic tear I was struggling lmfaooooi

This game is delightful. I thought it was easy to dismiss after Cave Story, because it seems so unassuming and slight. Cave Story is hardly heavy on story, but much more so than this game, and both the funny and emotional moments of that story I thought were very well done. Kero Blaster obviously isn't the same thing, but once you give it a try it becomes clear that it's just as fun. This recommendation is what got me to try it out and I'm happy I did.

do soulstorm!

Demon's Souls, Dark Souls 1, Bloodborne and Sekiro are the games that Fromsoftware prioritized their visions in instead of what the fans want.

If only we had listened.

I return after the release of Shadows of the Erdtree. From has fallen deeper into samey rollslop boss design.

With the release of the Elden RIng DLC what a perfect time to revisit this video, Saying as how Elden Ring is just a culmination of all the things mentioned in this video.

I just noticed the flagpole with wings running away from Mario, literally moving the flagpole.

Well you were right about voice acting sounds forced and awkward.

I’d love to hear your opinion on Elden Ring, Mr matthew

The corpses crowded against the New Londo gates were probably people wanting to flee the city and getting trapped there by the keepers of the Abyss when they decided to flood the whole underground area.

23:43 I liked how quiet they were in the original because it helped set the scene. Clearly they weren’t allowed to even speak to each other and that added to the brutal situation they were in.