Igon is the very best character in Shadow of the Erdtree. He is the very best character in all of Elden Ring, in actual fact. He could be the very best character in any From Software program sport. And if you happen to’re the sort of one who makes “git gud” a cornerstone of your persona, you in all probability missed out on him.
You discover Igon on the base of the Jagged Peak, and at first, he is sort of a pathetic determine. He is already injured whenever you uncover him, and from his wailing laments, you study that he is attempting to kill an enormous and horrific dragon known as Bayle the Dread. Apparently, Bayle already kicked Igon’s ass and he can now not stroll, so being the very good particular person that you’re, you permit him crying on the aspect of the highway.
You might need thought Igon was a tragic, damaged man, however you have not but seen the depths of his resolve. Later, as you climb the mountain, you slay a couple of dragons who stand in your way–first one, alone, after which two collectively. After successful the battle towards two dragons directly, you hear laughter. It is Igon, and seeing your efficiency convinces him that you are the companion he is been ready for. He cuts off his personal finger–that’s how summoning NPCs works in Elden Ring–and provides it to you, begging you to summon his soul in your combat towards Bayle.
And reader, it is best to completely summon Igon within the combat towards Bayle.
There are these gamers who’re immune to utilizing summons, whether or not they’re NPCs, spirit ashes, or different gamers. The launch of Shadow of the Erdtree has rekindled quite a lot of dialogue across the observe, because of the notion amongst many who the DLC enlargement might be annoyingly troublesome. It does, at instances, really feel a bit uneven, particularly due to its half-baked Scadutree Fragment leveling system that is each wholly separate from conventional leveling and extremely depending on exploration and, to some extent, luck, in an effort to advance.
Summons are a launch valve on Elden Ring’s problem, providing methods to even the chances for gamers who’re perhaps much less expert, much less dextrous, or typically simply much less in a position to cope with a few of the sport’s more durable bosses. After which there are these individuals who by no means summon, who make it some extent to speak about how they by no means summon, and who break any potential to constructively talk about problem in sport design and the way it could be adjusted in order that extra individuals can bodily play and revel in a sport whereas nonetheless permitting that sport to convey the feelings and experiences the problem exists to create.
The unhappy self-importance and vanity of a few of these individuals precipitated them to overlook out on Igon. It is nearly like From Software program particularly used Shadow of the Erdtree to name out these individuals, as a result of like with Igon, there are a selection of factors within the DLC the place summoning a personality is crucial for advancing their specific story and contains fascinating dialogue and interesting moments you possibly can’t get another method.
None is so fascinating because the story of Igon, although.
The factor about Bayle is that he’s, like, the worst and most-evil dragon. He as soon as fought the dragon Elden Lord, the multi-headed Lord Placidusax, to a standstill. For those who performed via Elden Ring already, there is a good likelihood you discovered and killed Placidusax your self in Farum Azula, so you understand how tough that battle would have been. You possibly can see what it did to Bayle–he’s lacking half a leg and makes use of his tail to maintain himself standing, and he has a few Placidusax’s precise heads nonetheless buried in his again.
Igon made it his vow to kill Bayle, and even along with his ruined legs, he intends to complete the job. And whenever you summon him within the combat, he is available in screaming–“CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURSE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYLE”–with a monologue that is nearly equal to the roars the large Bayle himself is issuing as you problem him. Actor Richard Lintern (The Crown) makes his online game debut in voicing Igon and completely slaughters it.
The monologue is completely sudden, and it is what makes Igon unbelievable. He comes into this combat able to do homicide, actually too indignant to die. It was particularly enjoyable for me, as a result of as Igon was yelling his vow to destroy Bayle and the way we have been about to kick this dragon’s ass, I would already been within the combat for a superb minute or so, and I used to be midway throughout the world with a large dragon swinging me round like a canine with a chew toy.
I can not stress sufficient how a lot of an exceptional madman Igon is. This dude simply met me. I bumped into him on the backside of the mountain along with his legs thrashed, which instantly raises the query of, how did Igon, who wished to go combat Bayle, find yourself there, already injured? Did he go up towards the dragon alone? Did he get tossed there? Is that what occurred to his legs?
He takes a minute to lament his destiny and cope with the overwhelming ache, and you permit him. And then you definately discover him once more, the place he watches you kill a few dragons. Regardless of not having using his legs, he bought there forward of you, and he decides that your martial prowess means you are the one he desires to take him again into the combat towards Bayle, as soon as and for all. Shadow of the Erdtree’s Captain Ahab will cease at nothing to kill that damnable dragon.
Beating Bayle was the most effective moments of Shadow of the Erdtree for me, and at the very least half of it was as a result of, as Igon screamed within the background, he and I did it “with a hail of harpoons!” That is the stuff I really like about Elden Ring–the stuff that expands the world, that makes it really feel like extra than simply you wandering a useless civilization, killing whoever’s left. Combating Bayle with Igon was phenomenal, with him screaming his head off, contributing nearly nothing however hype your entire time, and heightened the hazard and depth of the battle all of the extra. The combat wasn’t diminished as a result of I had assist; it was enriched and expanded as a result of preventing Bayle meant one thing to Igon, and thus, it meant one thing to me. He has extra persona than most From Software program characters, and I hope they take a web page from his ludicrous bellowing and overbearing obsession to make extra memorable people like him in future video games.
It is fairly clear that preventing Bayle with Igon is the best way From Software program meant it to be skilled, and I am glad some bizarre gatekeeping and purity testing did not maintain that from me. Beating a difficult boss is cool, however I am going to keep in mind Bayle quite a bit longer due to Igon.