It’s hard to believe that it has been over two years since the monumental launch ofElden Ring. This was FromSoftware’s biggest release by a wide margin, expanding their soulslike structure to exploration like never before. While we didn’t think its open world design would mesh well with the developer’s multilayered dungeon design, it ended up working out perfectly, creating an instant classic that was compared to the likes of games such as Ocarina of Time. It wouldn’t be a modern FromSoftware game if there weren’t expansive DLC, though, but unlike the Souls games,Elden Ring’s expansion has taken longer to develop. Thankfully, it was worth the wait.
Welcome to the realm of shadow, where yet another Erdtree resides, but it’s more corrupt than the one in the Lands Between. Here, Miquella has retreated to where there are new threats, allies and the potential for a “good” time. This holds an immense amount of content, taking us somewhere between forty and fifty hours to complete nearly everything the realm holds, with only a second playthrough sealing the deal through different choices in how side quests are approached. It’s an incredible value that will no doubt give fans significantly more to do for years to come.
Elden Ring: How to Unlock Every Ending
This guide is here to help you decide which ending you want to pick and how to achieve it.
New but Familiar
FromSoftware has come up with a good means of approaching power in the expansion. Players can’t just over level an existing current character and bum rush the final boss. Instead, there are fragments from the Scadutree that need to be found to boost the amount of damage that’s dealt and negated. Same is applied to summons through Revered Spirit Ashes. All of these can be found in the massive new map, meaning if you want to get more powerful, it’s not about the grind, it’s about the adventure.
Bosses make up a good chunk of the enjoyment ofElden Ring, and for the most part,Shadow of the Erdtreesucceeds in this department. There’s a focus on quality over quantity, as in the base game, there were just too many bosses. Even in the mini-dungeons, the quality of the boss fights is leagues better. With that said, there are only a handful of main bosses that would be comparable to the level of enjoyment we felt inElden Ring. Still, they are well constructed and hold a vast challenge depending on your play style.
Speaking of which, FromSoftware has also implemented brand-new weapon types, including great katanas, light greatswords, perfume bottles and hand-to-hand arts, just to name a few. These add a whole new level of enjoyment to experimenting with the different play styles as they come with their own unique animations and weight to their attacks. Our personal favorite is hand-to-hand arts, as it’s a fast-paced, martial arts-oriented combat style that makes it feel like you’re in a kung fu movie. Light greatswords also have a fluid and satisfying animation that I can never go back to standard swords. Regardless, there’s a little bit here for everyone as you’ll want to rebuild your spec multiple times throughout the expansion.
Open World Focus
The biggest gripe we have withShadow of the Erdtreeis the uneven flow of progression, with it heavily favoring the open world over anything else. While this is a well-crafted new area with secret areas spread throughout like we haven’t seen from FromSoftware – heck, the majority of the content requires exploration in parts one wouldn’t expect – it means the more linear and interwoven designs of castles and manors are thrown to the wayside. It’s less about progressing through shortcut ripe halls and dungeons and more about riding your spiritual steed, Torrent, around the numerous plains and cliffsides.
Belurat is the closest thing we’ve got to Stormveil Castle, but that’s about it. Shadow Keep, Castle Ensis, The Manse and the few other core locations are small. Most of their sizes are closer to Castle Morne, with Shadow Keep standing out as one of the larger ones, but only because everything intersects there. Even then, the bulk of it is in a one, multi-floored room that has little variety in its design outside the first floor. Everything has been put mostly into the world itself as FromSoftware has built a diverse realm to explore. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s a little empty in many unexpected spots, making going off the beaten path to find every nook and cranny feel less rewarding.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree: Global Release Time
Get yourself prepared to fight in the long-awaited Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
Visually Refreshing
FromSoftware has created a beautiful world that’s almost the complete opposite of that of the base game.Elden Ringwas a beautifully disturbing world, whereas in this, there’s a huge emphasis on color palette and lighting sources, and it shows. Just the southernmost area alone shows a completely different side to the developers, having some of the most artistically alluring themes. The balance between the stilted grey of the world and, say, the luscious red flower beds that sprawl across the land is a sight to see.
That’s not to say this world is overflowing with lush fields and eye-watering locales, as the realm of shadows is still a broken-down mess filled with monsters and corruption. There are still areas with scarlet rot, for example, and Belurat, arguably the best castle in the expansion, is ruined due to monsters and conflict. There are just more scenic views that are ripe for screenshots.
Closing Comments:
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeis one of the best expansions FromSoftware has made, but it does come with a drawback when compared to the main game. It’s apparent the focal point of the expansion is the open world, with the iconic Souls interwoven dungeon design mostly being tossed to the wayside. Still, what the developers have been able to build is an impressive new area filled to the brim with exploratory potential. That’s on top of the new weapon types and magic that will be sure to spice each and every playthrough, forcing many Larval Tears to be used. And this wouldn’t be a FromSoftware game if it weren’t for the bosses, and there are a handful that standout above all else, with the focus being on quality over quantity. When compared toElden Ring,Shadow of the Erdtreedoesn’t quite live up to its lofty expectations. As a standalone experience, though,Shadow of the Erdtreeisan absolute treasure that only helps to enhance the enjoyment ofElden Ringas a whole.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Version Reviewed: PC
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
