Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is extra of the identical. Admittedly, that is an uninspiring solution to focus on one of the vital extremely anticipated releases of 2024, however that does not make it any much less apt. The necessary factor to recollect is the “identical” we’re getting extra of is what established Elden Ring as a genre- and generation-defining masterpiece.
Consider it or not, I have never stopped enjoying Elden Ring because it was first launched in February 2022. Even with each cave explored, dungeon conquered, and demi-god felled, the hunt to develop into Elden Lord presents new methods to maintain me engaged. There’s all the time a recent mixture of weapons, objects, talismans, and magic to experiment with, and every construct can change how the sport is performed in important methods.
However I would be mendacity if I did not admit that each new playthrough additional diminishes one thing that’s very important to the magic of Elden Ring, and From Software program’s video games general: a way of discovery. At a sure level, the highway to changing into Elden Lord turns into well-trodden and acquainted, even when the means used to stroll it is not.
Shadow of the Erdtree’s most enjoyable function, then, is its potential to revitalize that sense of discovery by as soon as once more enveloping us in a wierd, uncharted world that’s teeming with role-playing alternatives, hard-fought battles, and narrative revelations, all of that are earned by exploration that locations an emphasis on participant company. And primarily based on what I’ve performed, the DLC resides as much as that potential.
That sense of discovery pervades each side of Elden Ring and its DLC, and to painstakingly lay out the small print of what I noticed and skilled would considerably rob others of that. I’ll as a substitute deal with explaining a few of the necessary mechanical modifications and additions, in addition to what the expertise felt like.
However earlier than that, somewhat little bit of setup: Shadow of the Erdtree, simply as most of From Software program’s DLC for its earlier video games did, goals to contextualize the occasions of Elden Ring. On this case, Shadow of the Erdtree shifts the narrative to middle on Miquella, a key character who’s in Elden Ring (in a fashion of talking), however whom the participant by no means meets in any significant capability. Miquella is incessantly referenced and adorned with reverence by quite a few figures in The Lands Between, however by the point the Tarnished arrive to stake their declare as Elden Lord, he has tried to develop a brand new divine tree by watering its seed along with his personal blood, leaving him in a form of stasis. He is then ripped out of his Haligtree by his half-brother Mohg and positioned in a cocoon in Mohgwyn Palace, the seat of a brand new dynasty that Mohg is making an attempt to create beneath the auspices of an Outer God known as The Formless Mom.
For 2 years now, we have been led to consider that the lengthy, emaciated-looking arm that’s limply hanging from a crack within the cocoon positioned on an altar at Mogwhyn Palace belongs to Miquella. There was some debate as as to whether that is truly the case, on condition that, regardless of being depicted as resplendent, Miquella has sometimes been proven as having a slender body and being small in stature. And with the introduction of Messmer, the Impaler, one other demi-god little one of Queen Marika and potential brother to Miquella, the reality turns into much more cloudy. Both means, there weren’t any solutions provided in my play session as, after interacting with the arm, I used to be immediately and abruptly transported to the Land of Shadow. On condition that From Software program has nearly all the time used some type of cutscene to transition the participant from one main space to the following, or to sign a change within the state of the world, I believe it is a secret that From Software program is selecting to maintain till the DLC is offered.
Shadow of the Erdtree is critical in measurement, however I used to be solely given entry to a small nook of it. The ultimate model will pit gamers in opposition to 10 new bosses that, like in the principle sport, do not all should be overwhelmed to progress to its conclusion–it’s all the way down to the participant to find out how thorough they’re of their conquests. It additionally introduces 100 new weapons and eight new classes of arms to bear. The nice information for Elden Ring sickos like me is that each one of those may be taken again into The Lands Between, which has large implications for brand spanking new builds and additional bolsters how replayable the sport as an entire is–I think about we’ll be enjoying Elden Ring for years extra to come back.
The house of the Land of Shadow I might discover had three key areas: Three Paths Cross; Citadel Ensis; and Beaurat, Citadel Settlement. All of them match into the framework of Elden Ring’s dungeons, with Three Paths Cross being an space with caves and small buildings to find and discover, form of just like the early elements of Limgrave. Citadel Ensis, in the meantime, is a medium-sized dungeon akin to Redmane Citadel, and Beaurat is a Legacy Dungeon like Lyndell or Stormveil Citadel. Connecting them collectively is an unlimited open space that I used to be free to discover to my coronary heart’s content material and, for somewhat bit, I did.
My journey started in what was primarily a gravesite nestled in a darkish nook of the Land of Shadow. It was harking back to awakening within the Cemetery of Ash in Darkish Souls 3, however the DLC shortly jogged my memory that Elden Ring is a sport constructed on open areas. Rising from my place to begin, I seemed out onto an unlimited panorama layered with particulars. Immediately forward of me was a discipline pockmarked with ethereal gravestones, signaling the dying that seemingly swept by it prior to now. Additional out, I might see bigger buildings awaiting, and, within the distance, a big tree harking back to the Erdtree however not fairly… proper. And draped over all of it is a baldachin: an ever-present reminder that that is an enshrouded land and a spot the place Queen Marika rose to godhood and the Golden Order that governs The Lands Between was born.
I instantly summoned my trusty steed, Torrent, and took off by a discipline of golden reeds, realizing that it evoked the sense of being in an afterlife-like realm. In that second, I felt one thing that I hadn’t in the course of the many hours I had performed Elden Ring since my first playthrough: overwhelmed. The Lands Between, vicious and uncompromising in its brutality as it’s, is like dwelling now. I do know precisely the place to go and what I will discover there, so to be on this planet of Elden Ring and really feel fully out of my depth once more was an intoxicating feeling–a world of alternatives awaited as soon as once more. I took off and finally discovered myself at a Web site of Grace, which was considerably sudden, on condition that I assumed that these checkpoints would not be current since, technically, the occasions predate the Golden Order and Steering of Grace that shepard the Tarnished in The Lands Between. They’re right here, although, however with a couple of small modifications.
If Shadow of the Erdtree’s high quality as an entire is per what I performed, From Software program is on the cusp of reaffirming Elden Ring as one of many biggest open-world video games ever made
Firstly, sitting at a Steering of Grace now presents a brand new menu possibility: Shadow Realm Blessing. That is what has been recognized amongst followers as a brand new character-progression system that permits the DLC to introduce new energy and issue curves in order that gamers with a whole lot of hours do not stomp every part within the Land of Shadows from the outset. Your endgame character from the core sport will not be as highly effective within the new space, so that they’ll should be upgraded utilizing Scadutree Blessings, that are objects that may be discovered after which provided up for a lift within the harm a personality offers and might negate. And there’s additionally the Revered Spirit Ash Blessings, which bolsters summoned spirits and spectral steed skills so in addition they deal and negate extra harm. Nonetheless, each of those do not have an effect exterior of Land of Shadow.
Within the trailers for Shadow of the Erdtree, there are what look to be floating runes that signify Miquella, which many assumed would operate because the DLC’s model of the Websites of Grace. That is technically true, in as a lot as they’re a substitute for the Steering of Grace, which tells gamers which path to move in by a faint, golden path of power that factors to key areas. From Software program has chosen to take the hands-off method to directing the participant a step additional by making the trail ahead even much less outlined. Within the Land of Shadow, the Tarnished is following within the footsteps of Miquella, tracing his path by to get a greater understanding of the place he has been, the place he’s going, and what his motivations are. These crosses, as they’re referred to within the sport, are a breadcrumb path that mark locations that Miquella has been. When interacting with one, I used to be met with a message, “I abandon right here the primary of the flesh of my physique,” confirming that Miquella is leaving indicators for his followers. So far as I might inform, these crosses did not present any additional steerage. Even discovering them is all the way down to the participant’s initiative as they weren’t ample just like the Websites of Grace are, so I wasn’t stumbling upon them usually. I did obtain a drawing of the place a couple of extra had been situated, however finding them was all the way down to taking a look at what was successfully instructions on a serviette and making an attempt to match it to the environment.
This was the primary instance of From Software program trusting its gamers to know what is predicted of them and rise to the problem. What I like about Elden Ring is that it’s prepared to do the naked minimal to information the participant and belief that curiosity and tenacity will propel them to get the place they need and must go, in addition to overcome the numerous challenges introduced alongside the best way. The much more hands-off method to signposting progress right here was satisfying to me as a result of it meant that I could not assist however bump into issues that I nonetheless am eager about days after getting a style of the DLC. I narrowly escaped being crushed and set ablaze by the wandering wicker giants stuffed with burning our bodies, unintentionally acquired knocked about by these pleasant wanting ghost worms from the trailer (they develop into very unfriendly in case you assault them), and found a mausoleum housing a Blackgaol Knight that kicked my ass in a means that felt prefer it was designed to place me in my place and remind me that I’m certainly nonetheless a lowly Tarnished in these lands.
Though my try to defeat him grew to become a bit Fringe of Tomorrow-like, it did give me a very good probability to experiment with some weapons. One in every of them was the Eager Milady (do not snigger), a greatsword that may be very gentle relative to most others within the class. It was fascinating to make use of as a result of the sounds it made because it got here crashing down on enemies and collided with structure gave it the identical weighty really feel as different greatswords, however it moved a lot faster than it ought to and I used to be far more nimble whereas wielding it. There was a wierd distinction between what I used to be listening to, seeing, and feeling. This new class of weapons appears to serve a center floor that individuals like me, typically pulled between energy and dexterity builds, will admire.
I additionally experimented with the Dryleaf Arts, that are the hand-to-hand fight strategies new to the DLC. Those that have performed Sekiro and keep in mind the Senpou Temple monks can be acquainted with the fundamentals of this combating model, which is suited to close-quarters fight the place fists and ft can fly. This model felt higher suited to one-on-one engagements, save for a particular whirlwind kick that did assist in opposition to mobs of enemies. I would be the first to throw my fingers up and say I nearly actually wasn’t utilizing it properly, however I shortly determined that this was a mode I would discover as soon as I used to be extra acquainted with the lay of the land–I wanted the security of a really lengthy, very heavy sword till then. Claw-based weaponry behaved equally, however with the added bonus of with the ability to inflict bleed harm. The bear-claw that I wielded felt somewhat extra able to crowd management however, once more, I wasn’t assured sufficient to keep it up. It is primary, however I caught with my greatsword that I might launch a fireplace projectile from after which follow-up with elemental strikes.
That greatsword helped me maintain my very own as I ventured into Beaurat, Citadel Settlement, which felt like a city beneath a spell. Its environment was heavy, with distant groans and the foreboding, gradual sounds of footsteps—although they might have simply been in my head. A waterfall of contaminated sewage was prominently seen, displaying how decrepit it had develop into. Mages positioned on overhead bridges fired off spiraling magical projectiles that tracked me as I tried to hurry previous them to security, and warriors that fought in crusades of yesteryear emerged unexpectedly to push again my progress. Knights that shrugged off my sweeping, heavy assaults (clearly they’re all in regards to the poise stat) pressured me as I fought to make it to the following Web site of Grace, the place the boss awaited.
What struck me alongside the best way had been the little touches that present how, earlier than Marika and Messmer’s struggle, there was a tradition within the Land of Shadows that lived in peace–thrived, even. I noticed echoes of individuals residing abnormal lives at one level and located the spirits of denizens mourning their losses and cursing Messmer for destroying their peaceable lifestyle. There was a noticeably sorrowful tone to what I performed, with numerous key NPC characters expressing their disdain for Marika, her progeny, and their actions in service of snatching energy. Many of those characters reference connections to figures that we have met in The Lands Between, making a tangible connection between the narrative threads in a means that can be wealthy materials for the lore-hunting group to mine.
As I approached Citadel Ensis, I used to be besieged by a troll, besides as a substitute of pulling a carriage like in The Lands Between, it was garbed in a regal cape, indicating that maybe they held the next stature at one level. Contained in the fortress, I used to be met with a barrage of glintstone magic from sorcerers who appeared to be the identical as these representing the Olivinus and Karolos Conspectus’ within the Academy of Raya Lucaria. This treacherous endeavor took me alongside snaking pathways and thru dimly lit caverns, with a good quantity of precarious platforming essential to make progress. At occasions it felt like I used to be infiltrating utilizing stealth–that is till I unwittingly pulled a bunch of enemies in my path and the jig was up. And, as soon as once more, awaiting me in an enviornment on the finish of the highway was a boss that had a reputation I am deliberately omitting due to what it might imply. I need the lore-obsessives to have the identical “oh snap!” second that I did.
I’ll say this boss completely mopped the ground with me–repeatedly. Actually, I did not handle to beat a single boss or mini-boss. I got here painfully shut on a number of events however by no means sealed the deal on any of them. That is partly due to time stress that meant I could not take the time essential to get a method down and execute it, but additionally as a result of they’re simply straight-up troublesome. The dancing dragon boss that has been prominently featured in trailers is extremely aggressive and surprisingly troublesome to hit, regardless of how giant it’s, primarily as a result of it stays cell and has quite a few elemental assaults that compelled me to disengage and create distance between us. There was a majesty to the best way it moved that jogged my memory of Darkish Souls 3’s Dancer of the Boreal Valley, however with sudden, chaotic motions changing her elegant, dreamlike motion. Evidently, each skirmish was thrilling even when I used to be bested every time.
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Past all this, From Software program has additionally made a few quality-of-life modifications, too. Most notably, there’s now a “Current Gadgets” tab within the stock and newly acquired objects are denoted with an exclamation level, so no extra fumbling round looking for that one merchandise you simply picked up. This addition will even carry over to the bottom sport and I do not know what it says about me, however this was genuinely one of many issues I acquired most enthusiastic about.
I wasn’t capable of get a very good grasp of simply how massive the entire DLC expertise goes to be, however it appears appreciable. I used to be gated from progressing into a bigger landmass, and Spirit Springs (which you now should unlock by searching for stacks of stones to work together with) had been referenced, so there’s clearly going to be a large landmass to discover.
So, sure, Shadow of the Erdtree is extra of the identical Elden Ring gameplay you realize with new weapons, objects, and areas to take pleasure in. However that’s one thing that no different sport has provided and no different developer has delivered. If Shadow of the Erdtree’s high quality as an entire is per what I performed, From Software program is on the cusp of reaffirming Elden Ring as one of many biggest open-world video games ever made.