1. The article discusses the negative impact that the "awful ruins" in Elden Ring have had on the game's overall experience for some players. The author argues that these ruins, which are scattered throughout the game world, are often repetitive, uninspired, and a missed opportunity to further develop the game's rich lore and environments.

2. The author highlights specific examples of these "awful ruins," such as the numerous underground areas that feel like "copy-pasted" versions of each other, and the lack of meaningful rewards or unique encounters within these spaces. They suggest that these repetitive elements detract from the sense of exploration and discovery that is often praised in Elden Ring.

3. The article concludes by acknowledging that Elden Ring is an exceptional game overall, but argues that the developers could have improved the game's pacing and sense of progression by putting more effort into the design and content of the ruins and underground areas. The author suggests that addressing these issues could have further elevated Elden Ring's already impressive world-building and gameplay experience.