Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
- Game mechanics – 90%
- History – 90%
- Music – 90%
- Graphics – 90%
Summary
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree lives up to the expansion name by giving us more of what we liked about the base game but with new features in gameplay, world and content. It really makes you feel like the first time you explored the Between Lands while also presenting new and fearsome challenges. Although I must warn that it is much more difficult so it is more recommended for those who have already spent dozens of hours in this title and even they will suffer.
- Genre: Action RPG
- Platform: PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Premiere: 06/21/2024
- Publisher: Bandai Namco
- Developer: FromSoftware
Since its launch Elden Ring enjoyed a lot of popularity. For years we saw how its biggest fans found different ways to enjoy its vast world that is already packed with content. Fortunately now it is FromSoftware itself who gives us a new challenge.
Shadow of the Erdtree is the long-awaited DLC for this beloved open-world soulslike that will give players much more to enjoy this mythology. Thanks to Bandai Namco I had the opportunity to play it before its release and let me tell you, prepare to love it but also to suffer as much as the first time.
What you should know about Shadow of the Erdtree
What is Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree about?
Shadow of the Erdtree is a story that happens right after the players of Elden Ring They defeat the fearsome Mohg, Lord of Blood. On one side of the mysterious cocoon with Miquella’s arm sticking out of it, we meet the enigmatic Leda, who has a proposal for us.
She invites us to join her company as we head to the mysterious Land of Shadow to follow in Miquella’s footsteps. Unfortunately this land suffered the ravages of Messmer’s flame and is still the scene of the war between two factions. It is clear that the path to finding Malenia’s brother will not be easy.
The story of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree It works as an interesting expansion of what we already saw in the base game. Especially for focusing on Miquella who was always a very present but at the same time mysterious figure. This DLC finally gives us an opportunity to learn more about this son of Marika and Radagon.
Just like in the base game, you shouldn’t expect the story to be presented to you with extensive cutscenes. Rather, it is the world and its objects that tell you what is happening and give more depth not only to this area, but also to the beliefs of the Middle Lands. It’s an interesting story, but we know many won’t come here for the narrative.
The gameplay remains the same with some differences.
Who played Elden Ring You already know what to expect in terms of gameplay from this DLC. Everything remains the same, with the ability to equip ourselves with different clothing to increase our defense, put a weapon in each hand or a sword and a shield, as well as the ability to replenish our health with the always useful jars of tears.
The main difference we find in Shadow of the Erdtree is found in a couple of new items to strengthen ourselves and our spirit ashes. One of these new additions are Scadutree Fragments. These work to increase our strength and at the same time reduce the damage we receive from the rivals we find in the Land of Shadow.
Other new improvement tools at our disposal are the revered Spirit Ashes. These serve to further improve our spirit ashes. You will surely remember that they are these invocations that you can call against bosses or in very specific sections to help you fight. In Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree It has this other way of improvement apart from spirit tuning to get stronger. Both these and the Scadutree fragments are really necessary to be able to cope with what this DLC holds.
Of course, the rune system to level up remains, so you don’t miss the hours of grinding and the desperation of losing them when encountering an unexpected boss. I must also highlight that these items only improve our damage and our summons in the Land of Shadow, their effects do not return to the base game.
Although Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree It doesn’t change the gameplay much, it makes up for it in other aspects. Particularly with the great offer of new weapons, armor and ashes of war that is made available to us in the Land of Shadow.
Your Elden Ring arsenal is about to get a lot more extensive
It seems that with Elden Ring: Shadow of the ErdtreeFromSoftware let their imagination run wild to give us new weapons, armor and enchantments. It doesn’t matter if you are a mage, a knight of shield and sword or a mastodon who enjoys imposing greatswords, there is something new for every taste.
Of course, to get more out of your new weapons, we have new ashes of war. These are special techniques that we can perform in the middle of battle and that can be really useful against groups of enemies or very powerful bosses.
If it seems to you that I am very vague in the descriptions, it is on purpose, since I consider that a large part of the charm of Elden Ring It is discovering things on your own and equipping yourself with what suits you best. Still, I must say that I was very delighted with what I found in Shadow of the Erdtree.
It’s not just about new and creative designs for all these objects. It is also evident the care and thought that went into certain weapons whose ashes of war animations are truly spectacular. You’ll probably be like me and have a new favorite weapon once you finish exploring this new area.
Finally, there are also more objects that can give us advantages when exploring this DLC. Well Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree adds new talismans to equip as well as new combinations of Wondrous Physik to try out in battle.
Although it was clear that we would not have a map the same size as the base game, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Still, it gives us plenty to explore. Once again they give the player enormous freedom of where to go and it seems that every part of the way is full of new features.
Since it is a totally new area, we once again have to find the map fragments that reveal the points of interest. A small difference is also added when it comes to marking the path to follow the main story. This time we not only have the grace light beams, but also the Miquella crosses that represent where she was when visiting this area. Obviously when wanting to follow him, these serve as crumbs to be able to find his whereabouts.
Just like in the base game, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree rewards players who go beyond the established path. There are more caves, new dungeons and open areas full of enemies. Of course, the hidden bosses also return that will make you work to recover your runes.
The great offer in terms of what we can explore is also benefited by the creativity of the designs of the new areas. I particularly found the initial area very beautiful. But also once we advance we find dark forests, dungeons flooded with magma and magical flowered fields. It’s not simply recycling what we’ve already seen, they went further to give more value to this expansion, while making it feel unique and worth exploring.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is a journey for the most committed
Something I should say about Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is that it feels considerably more difficult than the base game. Of course, this was already evident with the requirements to enter, since it is necessary to defeat both Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood, a couple of the most difficult bosses in the game. Not to mention that you don’t find the latter precisely by chance.
This already tells us that you must reach the DLC with a build of quite a few levels. Even so, upon reaching Land of Shadow Get ready to suffer as if it were the first time you enter this FromSoftware title. Furthermore, it’s not like they introduce you little by little to their dangers; immediately after arriving you already have enemies that look simple but will finish you off in no time. This is where the importance of the new improvements with shards and ashes comes in.
Although some enemy types are repeated, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree It gives us a whole wave of new designs and also new behaviors. You may already know all the attack patterns of all the inhabitants of the Between Lands, but prepare to have your game changed in this DLC. From new types of birds to chubby soldiers, don’t get carried away by appearances as they are all deadly if you let them.
Not to mention the bosses. Some have already come out live and in full color in the trailers, but if those just seemed impressive to you, wait until you find some of the most advanced ones in the game. Here I want to highlight that although there is a boss that returns from the base game, it does not feel similar at all and this is proof of FromSoftware’s great creativity for challenging but creative and above all unforgettable boss fights.
Should you try Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree?
My best compliment to Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree That is to say, it feels like version 1.5. It’s not a sequel in any way but in some ways it feels like one because it gives us the elements we loved from the original while adding its own touches, new ways to play and a huge amount of content.
You can really spend hours exploring, dying, upgrading, and taking on everything in front of you to get a great sense of satisfaction when you make progress. Of course, it also invites you to explore even the most unexpected corner in search of that thing that will help you get to the end.
One of the most present discussions about Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree was their price of $40 for an expansion. After playing it I think it’s absolutely worth it.. At no time will you regret having purchased it, especially if you are a big fan of the base title.
One last warning before we go
Even if it seems like a pretty good expansion to me, I must give a warning. Due to the requirements to enter the DLC, my recommendation is to buy it until you have already defeated Radahn and Mohg. I say this because This expansion is very difficult and really more recommended for those who have already spent hundreds of hours perfecting their technique and leveling up their character.
Perhaps someone more casual could give up in the first moments and not get the full benefit of these 40 dollars. For all the veterans of FromSoftware games I just have to say that don’t hesitate to go on Miquella’s trail, you won’t regret it. Don’t forget to tell us in Discord what did you think.
We played Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree on PlayStation 5 with a code provided by a Bandai Namco representative in the region.
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