Eternal Ring

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
62

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 13
  3. Negative: 2 out of 13
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. GamePro
    90
    Aside from a few minor frustrations, this game is definitely one you should put some time into.
  2. Electric Playground
    70
    It will likely satiate role-playing game aficionados who would step over their own mother for something to play on their PS2, but don’t expect Squaresoft-quality gameplay.
  3. GamerWeb Sony
    70
    Manages to be an entertaining RPG that navigates its flaws fairly well. There's nothing classic here.
  5. Happy Puppy
    70
    Dozens of magical rings will have you wishing you had more than ten fingers, but the poor enemy AI will have you occasionally flipping one of them at your screen.
  6. GameSpot
    66
    As you may expect from this genre developed by From Software, there is a good story integrated into the game, but somehow your character, Cain, lacks personality and the ability to interact with the rest of the characters in the game.
  7. IGN
    65
    I have a hard time mustering a tremendous degree of excitement for Eternal Ring, because despite some of its more interesting ideas and scenes, it still tells a fairly pedestrian story through fairly pedestrian action.
  8. TotalGames.net
    60
    Eternal Ring is a decent idea executed with some style. Alas, after a while, the novelty wears off and you don’t care enough about the tale to see it through to the end.
    All this publication's reviews
  9. All Game Guide
    60
    It captures the essence of "King's Field" and builds upon its foundation; which means those turned off by From Software's previous first-person RPGs will find little excitement here.
  10. PSX Nation
    50
    Dungeon-crawling, hack-and-slash, spell-casting, first-person RPG action at its console best, pretentious story and dated graphics not withstanding.
  11. Hot Games
    50
    This feels like what it is -- a rushed, early RPG that didn't receive the time or care needed to turn it into a fun game.
  12. Daily Radar
    50
    The gameplay is as expected -- slow, with a lot of exploration and some tough and sometimes frustrating enemies and puzzles.
    All this publication's reviews
  13. GamePen
    40
    These points don't raise the game from mediocrity, but they at least make some aspects of the game interesting enough to keep going... if you've got the patience and don't mind the boring parts.
  14. Game Revolution
    33
    Eternal Ring should be called "Please Make it Stop Ring." There are so many parts to improve - better action, deeper story, interactive environments, decent voice acting - that you might as well hope for a whole new game.

Awards & Rankings

38
#38 Best PS2 Game of 2000
10
#10 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2000
4
#4 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2000

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 18
  3. Negative: 4 out of 18
  1. 666dame
    Jul 11, 2014
    2
    To be completely honest, this game shouldnt really go under the banner of a RPG, unless you class picking up rings and equipping them as anTo be completely honest, this game shouldnt really go under the banner of a RPG, unless you class picking up rings and equipping them as an "action" rpg.

    Before you commence be ready for plenty of dying for the dumbest of reasons (falling from a small ledge, walking into water etc), and having to start from the beginning over and over, a dire combat system, awkward controls, average music. If you can see past these points and want to finish the game, it takes about 7-8 hours to complete.

    I actually purchased this game within 6 months of it's release, I played it non-stop for a few days until it was completed, and it has been gathering dust ever since, so no replay value for me. Even in 2002 the graphics could only be described as blocky, so imagine how they compare with current standards.

    Definitely one to avoid.    … Full Review »
  2. frederik1478
    Dec 11, 2022
    7
    a really fun experience to play the first fromsoftware game on the PS2

    The controls are really clonk its tank controls, but all the enemies    a really fun experience to play the first fromsoftware game on the PS2

    The controls are really clonk its tank controls, but all the enemies is slow enough, so it's still fair to fight them and bring good at it actually is fun.

    At the start of the game you will play a melee kind of game but halfway through you will realise this is a magic game when you have to flow it's much magic at enemy as possible.

    The game doesn't have too much music but the boss music is really good and satisfying to listen to and the graphics for the first year of PlayStation come out look solid enough.

    This game would be really fun to speed one. It is a really short game if you know what you're doing thought it's still fun and amazing game and I would recommend it if you want anyway interested in Kingsfield or fromsoftwares Origins    … Full Review »
  3. Tomplexthis
    Jul 7, 2022
    8
    I love this game through the nostalgia lens, but in a reviewer sense, it is rushed and ends fast, and abruptly. a good fun game, i wish hadI love this game through the nostalgia lens, but in a reviewer sense, it is rushed and ends fast, and abruptly. a good fun game, i wish had more to it, i wish From soft would remake this, and retell its world, and lore, this game had potential, and it opens up, and is over so fast. its fast, with not much outside grind, exploration, combat, no real story, audio bugs, alot of audio issues. But it was fun. and i liked it.

    i would recommend it, but then again, it is missing alot.. you just make rings, cast spells.
    it can be hard, but thats only in the starter secret dungeon, on the beach.    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »