Ron322

Father’s Day came and went. While I ate hearty, I also rested well. By Monday, I was revitalized. Taking time to reorganize what I want to do while also taking care of responsibilities was refreshing. I got back into doing some sketch drawing like I was 15 again while also reading Vinland Saga. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve watched Seasons 1 & 2. I look forward to Season 3. There’s truly something special about reading its story in manga form. I’ll write a separate blog on that, I promise.

While streaming Elden Ring on Twitch for my Deflect Counter run, I felt something familiar. Something I haven’t felt since 2021-2022. I realized each generation in gaming has a gem that takes my heart. There’s one game I’ve put hundreds of hours into it. At some point, that time to put the game down to move on arrives. As that feeling draws nearer, it’s like saying goodbye to a great teacher. I first experienced this with Super Mario Bros. 3. I then felt it with Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Final Fantasy VII did this to me at least twice. Once was during the PSone era. The other time was a few years ago when I streamed it.

Fast forward two generations (sorry Final Fantasy X, you didn’t do for me what VII did), Persona 5 Royal happened. To date, that game got over 300 hours from me. It’s also the only game I got a platinum in. That game came in my life during the explosion of the pandemic. It was also during a time where I was mentally on the verge of a Shattering. The game was the turn based RPG I had avoided but when finally in my hands, it stole my heart. From reflections of modern social commentary (both eastern and western) to subjects that touched on mental health, it checked the boxes that Final Fantasy VII did when I was a teen. The first run was off-stream and was about 165 hours but it was the NG+ run I did for my streaming that the feeling of closure arrived. I felt that sense of goodbye.

Then along came Elden Ring. If I left it at simply my NG+2 run and my NG+3 revisit of DLC bosses, that would’ve been it. Learning about the Deflect Hardtear and Guard Counter builds happened. I felt the urge to go one last time. This last ride has been giving me the same feelings that I felt by the end of Final Fantasy VII and Persona 5 Royal. I draw near and feel like one big goodbye is approaching. Even with enjoying Persona 3 Reload, Bloodborne and Dark Souls 3 haven’t quite accomplished this. Those games were awesome and easily up on my list. Thing is, Elden Ring is a generational treasure. While Miyazaki said it’s pretty close to his ideal dark fantasy RPG, there will never be anything like it for years or even generations to come. It’s gonna be a very triumphant yet heartfelt goodbye. Thankfully, touching grass isn’t the issue here. It’s the moving on part that is tricky. Thankfully, I bought the softcover version of Grace Given, published by Tune & Fairweather. This way, long after I put the game away, I can open up this book and read it. Whether bedtime or needing to just dissociate from the world a little, hearing SmoughTown’s voice in my head while reading this work will be refreshing.

I enjoy other games and books but Elden Ring is something I’ll never forget. The next time you’re on your Playstation 5 or XBox Series console and have the nerve to say “there’s no games to play here”, stop being an unwashed maidenless turd and play Elden Ring. Forget 2K, Call of Duty, Minecraft or Genshin Impact; play this game.