A punishing return to The Lands Between that stands as one of the greatest pieces of DLC of all time
Publisher: Bandai/Namco Dev: From Software
One of the pillars of From Software titles over the years is just how quickly the game humbles you, and Shadow of the Erdtree is not an exception to that rule.
With Elden Ring being rightly regarded as one of the best RPGs ever, it is understandable that most of us will be walking into the realm of shadow with the Elden Beast’s Scalp, 100s of levels on the clock and the best loadout you can find. Well, if the first time you run into a mid tier enemy and he clips you for a quarter of your health doesn’t humble you, the first boss encounter you run into sure will as they can two tap even the most experienced players. That is the beauty of souls like games, the challenge ahead of you. Not only does this DLC open you up to a fresh challenge but the first time you walk into Gravesite Plain, you are hit with that same sense of discovery you were when you left the caverns in Limgrave.
Speaking of Limgrave, Miyazaki suggested in the lead up to release the Shadow of the Erdtree was similar in size and we can now say with conviction that this was conservative to say the least. The DLC is huge with around 7 new areas, 5 new map fragments to uncover and a verticality that almost matches the base game. It feels as though dungeons are around every corner with brand new spells and weapons littered through the map. As soon as you walk into this new world, any doubts about the £30 price tag are gone instantly, it is truly massive.
This massive variety in the map and dungeons comes with a host of new enemies and bosses. There are some familiar faces but for the most part bosses are brand new, especially the main line up. I won’t go into too much detail in fear of spoiling it but I will say that I heard about the “embrace of Mesmer’s flame” one too many times.
Boss fights, as well as the game in general is made a little easier by the addition of revered ashes and Scudatree fragments. These items are exclusive to the DLC that can be spent at sites of grace to give you a stat boost exclusive the the Shadow realm. The boosts felt minimal at first, but after an update, the they felt far more significant, with a clear buff every time they are upgraded. There is also a massive batch of brand new Talismans that prove essential in raising resistances for the varied boss fights across the DLC, they are as hard to find as ever sometimes but some are definitely worth going out of your way for. The same goes for the weapons, with some real gamechangers being added in including hand wraps for a brand new martial arts style and my personal favourite: fire and light magical swords.
It isn't all perfect though, some of the boss fights can feel a little unbalanced with a few hit boxes feeling off and the inclusion of some of the bosses from the original title being simply mystifying, the death bird was annoying then, they are annoying now. It can also feel like every boss is programmed to make your life a living hell when you go to heal as every time I went to pop a potion it felt like the boss simply decided it was time to lock in and ruin my day. These are few and far between though and honestly, it may just be a case of "GET GUD BRO".
All in, this DLC enters the pantheon of greats along with the Witchers' Blood and Wine, Elder Scrolls' Knights of the Nine and Cyberpunk - Phantom Liberty, really giving players a whole new game to sink their teeth into and when the original was as good as Elden Ring, it is a more than welcome return. It also adds to the mysterious lore of the original, adding yet another layer to this messy family drama. A true triumph if it came on its own but a truly astounding achievement for an optional add on, making one of the best games ever, somehow, even better.
RM RECOMMENDS
Pros
Excuse to come back to one of the best games ever
Massive new map section added
Host of new weapons, armour, talismans and spells
Mostly great new bosses to overcome
Cons
Some cheesed hitboxes on certain bosses
some returning bosses that weren't fun the first time
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