Hold your tomatoes. Before you toss them (and angry social media comments) at me, just hear me out. There has been ample discussion in the gaming community ever since Nintendo held its Switch 2 Direct. After the hype settled, I tallied up which games I was most looking forward to, and one was Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition. I never took interest in this punishing game before, and surprisingly, all it took was its arrival to the Switch 2 to convince me to give it a shot. Why is that?

FromSoftware’s epic creation, Elden Ring, released back in 2022 to high praise and deserving accolades. It’s challenging combat and gameplay is reminiscent of Dark Souls, and many praised the collaboration with George R. R. Martin. While I haven’t played it, I can see why it’s a masterpiece, and one that only powerful consoles can shoulder. If it’s so great, why haven’t I played it?

Simply put, I have a different taste in games, and Elden Ring just didn’t seem to catch my attention compared to the scores of other games that released at that time. And honestly, the punishing battles and “get good” toxicity really turned me off (the latter is by zero fault of the developer). The game reminded me of an epic fantasy novel that is 500-plus pages, with so much information–much of it dry–that I just didn’t have the time or patience to sit down and pull hair from my scalp for hours.

Somehow, like witchcraft, Nintendo was able to tease out strands of interest from within when I saw the trailer for the Tarnished Edition. It was the first third-party trailer in the Direct, and it was an impressive get to say the least. Nintendo is willing to put money where their mouth is, betting on the Switch 2’s power.

Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition includes the base game, Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, and even extra weapons, armor, weapons, and customization features.

While I am still intimidated by the game, and I’m sure it won’t run as beautifully as compared to on the PlayStation 5 Pro or Xbox Series X, I feel that the Switch 2 will be serviceable for someone like me. I also was attracted to the fact everything comes in the one edition–including the hearty DLC. Granted, the Tarnished Edition will likely be available on other consoles eventually; however, the primary reason I’ll be buying it on the Switch 2 is because of portability. I know Elden Ring will require lots of time and patience, and the thought of cozying in bed for some reason makes it more welcoming. Will the experience be as good in handheld? I think most out there would shout “NO”, but remember, we all have different gaming preferences, and if this is what it takes for me to experience Elden Ring, then why get mad about it?

Check out the amazing trailer for Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition:

What draws you to a game you’ve initially had no interest in? Did the Switch 2 entice you with its third-party line-up? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.

Pow Block Podcast – A Nintendo Podcast by Boss Rush

Nintendo Pow Block is the weekly Nintendo Podcast for Boss Rush Media and The Boss Rush Network. Each week, Edward Varnell and Corey Dirrig, as well as their friends from around the internet dive into the week that was in the world of Nintendo, including news, rumors, new games, discuss weekly pickups, and fan favorite segments like Question Block where they answer community questions, what they’ve been playing in Playing with Power, and their latest food quests in Snacktendo! New episodes every Monday on YouTube and podcast services.

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