The best parts of Elden Ring were the parts where it stopped being Elden Ring. The legacy dungeons are where the game shines, and especially Stormveil is fantastic . Whenever I think of Elden Ring I think "God I wish the whole game was like Stormveil."

I don't think it's the most beautiful game ever, and I don't think it's the best game ever either. It's a very good game, a worthwhile experience (though just once - I don't really feel a desire to go back) and I think it deserves it's GOTY. We shouldn't overhype it though.

Have you played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? It's way up there on the beauty scale.

But nothing beats the Unreal intro where you fly through the castle. Maybe Minecraft.

What is left behind of Eldenring when you take away fighting? This is not a problem, the game can still be very good but I don't understand the obsession with it. Like Tetris it does only one thing. It feels like I love this one thing for 50+ hours or this game isn't for me.

It's a pretty game, but I think games needs to do more than look good to be beautiful and I honestly didn't find it all that engaging. I got all the way to Radegon but never bothered to finish because I just didn't care enough to complete the story.

My 1194 hours would tend to agree with you. Certainly the best game I've bought on launch