A lot goes into making games as expansive as Elden Ring. It’s not uncommon for things to be moved around and even entire sections to change during development. The idea is to create a memorable experience for the player that is also entirely cohesive.
That’s why the recently discovered cutscenes from the start of Elden Ring are confusing fans. While they are different from what we got in the retail version, many feel they are much more fitting for the events that take place at the very start of the game. How were these cutscenes restored? Let’s find out.
Elden Ring’s Alternative Beginning Makes More Sense to Fans
The restored cutscenes come from Sekiro Dubi on YouTube. The video starts by showing the version we have all played, starting from the Chapel of Anticipation before ending up in the Stranded Graveyard cave. Here, Melina and Torrent approach you briefly before the player is given control to begin exploring.
Their presence here is a little strange, considering the door is closed and the area is on another level compared to the beach outside. Sekiro Dubi states that the reason for this is that the cutscene is out of place. He claims the cutscenes are usually named after the map they play on. The Stranded Graveyard map ID is M18_00, but the Melina cutscene is labeled S60_43.
Sekiro Dubi then refers back to the map labeled M60_43_35_00 from the Elden Ring network test, where a note in Japanese states “(Disable) Respawn Point For Game Start.” This would point to the very start of the game being Sandy Beach under the Seaside Ruins. Torrent and Melina would find you washed up by the beach and then help you begin your journey.
The YouTuber even went ahead and restored the unused voice lines in the recreated cutscene, where Melina addresses the player, stating, “She is sure to seek the Elden Ring.” There is also a second version of this opening with a different first line.
Players Would Have Had a Slightly Different Route to the First Grace in Elden Ring
After waking up on the beach, players would navigate through the Stranded Graveyard and then follow the same path as in the retail game. While the player would end up in the same area and fight the same bosses, continuity-wise, it makes more sense. After all, after falling from a cliff, washing up on a beach is more likely than inside a cave.
There’s a lot of cut content in Elden Ring, such as the entire questline of Kale the merchant. It’s only by digging through the game files that we understand everything Elden Ring may have contained.
It’s inevitable for some content to end up on the chopping block, and we can’t expect 100% of the game to remain after development cycles. But it is strange as to why certain decisions were made regarding small instances, such as the game start point.
Do you think the game should have begun on Sandy Beach? Let us know in the comments below.
