Many who had a chance to get into Elden Ring early have suggested players keep notes about their journey, but it isn't necessary to have fun in FromSoftware's latest. The suggestion stems from Elden Ring's lack of a quest log, which leaves details of the game's various tasks to be ed. Players who want to follow every cryptic thread muttered by an NPC might want to heed the advice of keeping notes, but it really isn't a necessity, as Elden Ring is rewarding even without completing its side quests.
Some players even have Elden Ring journals with art to supplement their immersion. For most, the journey through the Lands Between will be a long one, and FromSoftware's games are very good at having the main character be a stand-in for the player themself. Detailed notes not only help some players keep track of NPCs they've met and side quest opportunities they've been given, but also provide an opportunity for the immense undertaking of the game to become more tangible for people who want the extra layer of engagement.
The daunting reputation that has come to surround FromSoftware games due to their difficulty has created this perception that they are ultra-serious games that only certain gamers can enjoy, but that's very far from the truth. Even those who didn't like Dark Souls might enjoy Elden Ring because of its approachability. FromSoftware's games may be difficult and obtuse, but Elden Ring provides some very basic forms of entertainment that don't require diligent note-taking.
Elden Ring Doesn't Have To Be Serious To Be Enjoyed
The stakes posed by Elden Ring are incredibly dire; the Lands Between have fallen into ruin after the Shattering, and the Tarnished (including a guy literally called the Dung Eater) have come to slay the six demigods and reunite the shards of the Elden Ring. While some of the tougher bosses require similarly stern concentration, there's also room to revel in the spectacle and frequent silliness of the game. For the most part, players are just running around and beating up monsters, fighting giant beasts like Flying Dragon Agheel and the Ancestor Spirit with comically oversized weapons while rolling like mad in full plate armor. Some nobleman named Diallos may want help avenging his slain servant in the mountains far to the north, but the player's Tarnished is busy finding Elden Ring's Golden Seeds or trying to get their Runes back from a huge lobster that popped out of the ground.
Elden Ring has plenty of storylines, and many of the minor ones could more easily be tracked with a notebook, but the general trajectory of the game just has players killing a bunch of enemies so that they're eventually powerful enough to fight six specific bosses. The game's score is beautifully somber, and really adds to the lonely atmosphere, but the illusion is partially broken by every tortoise in the game having a message from another player nearby that just says, "dog." Any amount of time spent playing co-op - the best way to level up in Elden Ring - will reveal that a lot of players have embraced the light-hearted aspects of gameplay. Taking notes might help one assist all the tortured souls in Elden Ring, but it's perfectly fine to listen to NPCs ramble, forget about them, and maybe stumble into a side quest somewhere down the road.
