Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is the GOAT of Expansions – Review

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As a seasoned gamer and longtime fan of FromSoftware, I must say that Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is an absolute triumph! The boss battles are nothing short of breathtaking – from the Divine Beast Dancing Lion to the final boss who had me cursing at my screen for hours on end (and I mean that in the best possible way).

Reflecting back, my time spent in Elden Ring a couple of years ago remains one of my most challenging gaming months. I breezed past Margit, a challenge many casual gamers found daunting at Elden Ring’s initial hurdle. Within mere hours of reaching the ending, I vanquished the final boss. Over the course of that month after its release, I invested well over 100 hours exploring The Lands Between, eventually moving away from FromSoftware’s masterpiece.

Stepping into the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, I was well-prepared. My arsenal brimming with various build options, an array of potent weapons at my disposal, and backed by years of Soulslike gaming experience, even the infamously challenging Sekiro, I stood ready to tackle whatever the DLC presented me.

I was not ready.

Let me clarify, although Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is a different game, it retains the fundamental mechanics and unique qualities that made the original game stand out. The sense of discovery remains strong as you traverse through a vast, enchanting new world. Encountering unknown enemies and figuring out their patterns continues to evoke the same thrill as Elden Ring. And nothing beats that “aha!” moment when you finally solve a complex puzzle.

However, the Shadow of the Erdtree isn’t for those who shy away from challenges. Although the Realm of Shadow bears some resemblance to The Lands Between, it is significantly more demanding. Whether you’ve just finished the main story and are delving into the DLC or have been preparing tirelessly for this moment, your skill level is probably similar.

In the expansion for Elden Ring, you’re transported to a previously veiled realm shrouded by the Erdtree – a destination Miquella summons you to after you engage with his remains behind Mohg. Your mission is to traverse Miquella’s journey to encounter the deity-like figure and solve the enigma surrounding the Shadow Realm. The world harbors a deeply moving past, one that’s partially revealed through snippets of lore and puzzles – much like the base game itself.

In “Shadow of the Erdtree,” you don’t absolutely need to delve into the game’s history and lore, but doing so enhances your experience. Many key characters in the core game have intricate histories, and uncovering these stories deepens the connection between the original storyline and this extension. The narrative style and the vastness of the Realm of Shadow make “Erdtree” feel like a sequel rather than an expansion.

Similar to Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree’s world is intricately designed, filled with numerous branching paths, concealed routes, and enigmatic areas that beckon exploration. You might be traversing the primary route in search of Miquella when a foreboding forest catches your eye, its allure tempered by the knowledge of the perils lurking within. This expansion manages to recapture the spirit of freedom and thrill The Lands Between provided, yet avoids feeling overly repetitive. The fresh locales it presents offer a welcome change after countless hours of delving into the original map’s depths.

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I had concerns about FromSoftware’s ability to preserve the essence of the original game when developing a new expansion. While they successfully added DLC to both Bloodborne and Dark Souls 3, the linear structure of these games makes it easier to introduce new areas, but creating an entire open world map is much more complex. However, FromSoftware has managed to pull it off brilliantly, and this is evident in the awe-inspiring bosses featured in the expansion.

In a class of their own within the gaming industry, FromSoftware’s boss encounters are truly exceptional, as demonstrated by Shadow of the Erdtree. From the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, an early challenge on your adventure, to the challenging final boss that humbled me more times than I care to remember, it appears that a significant portion of the game sales revenue was invested in crafting boss battles that feel more spectacular than ever – and I couldn’t be happier about getting my behind kicked.

For some players, the challenge increase from The Lands Between to the Realm of Shadow might feel abrupt. Although you can potentially defeat bosses with a Level 1 character through sheer luck and skill, the optimal approach is to gather Scardutree Fragments scattered throughout the world. These fragments provide DLC-exclusive stat boosts, making the expansion less challenging as you level up. While it might seem monotonous to collect more resources, it ensures a more balanced experience for players who start the Realm of Shadow at level 100 compared to those who’ve invested hundreds of hours into The Lands Between.

Besides the challenging final boss, who seems excessively powerful and requires a prolonged battle of endurance to defeat, none of the DLC content appears unjustifiably difficult. Overcoming any hurdle can be achieved with some persistence or by discovering hidden items or locations within the game world that provide the extra help needed for advancement. Intriguingly, there’s a special item designed explicitly to aid in combating the final boss, and it’s definitely not found along the common path.

As a gamer, I must admit that while I’m deeply engrossed in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, there’s one aspect that feels familiar—almost too much so. It’s as if I’ve stepped into an extension of the original game. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a criticism, but it’s worth noting that the core mechanics remain unchanged, offering more of the same exhilarating experience.

Without a doubt, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree stands out as an exceptional expansion for any game in recent memory. Essentially serving as a near sequel, the Realm of Shadow delivers more of the superb gameplay, stunning bosses, and challenging environments that FromSoftware is known for. It skillfully rekindles the enchantment of the original gameplay, while neatly concluding the story in a thought-provoking manner as FromSoftware brings one of the last decade’s most significant games to a close. In essence, it’s an extraordinary piece of DLC that deserves high praise.

Review
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree sticks to the tried-and-true formula of the base game, delivering an excellent new realm filled with secrets to uncover, terrifying bosses that will prove how bad you are, and a ridiculous amount of lore that will keep you satisfied until the end of the story. A masterpiece in every sense of the word.
10 out of 10

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2024-08-27 19:45