Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree - Review

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree - Review

When I gave Elden Ring two years ago, I gave it a perfect score of 10. It wasn't just because it's an outstanding game, but because it set a new standard for open-world games. Elden Ring excels in encouraging exploration, rewarding curiosity, and offering various ways to tackle its challenging combat encounters with a plethora of weapons, spells, and builds. Now, From Software has returned to push the boundaries once more with their new DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree. Although it doesn't drastically deviate from the base game, this expansion manages to capture the same magic as the original, packed with more content than many full-priced games. Its vast new realm is brimming with secrets, new discoveries, an abundance of build options, and some of the toughest and most memorable boss battles ever seen in the Souls genre.

Heading into Shadow of the Erdtree, I thought my level 150 character, decked out with fully upgraded gear and maximum flasks, was invincible. But the Realm of Shadow quickly humbled me. Even though you only need to defeat Radahn and Mohg to access the new areas, you'll want to be over-prepared for this brutal new arena. 

Shadow of the Erdtree boasts over 40 bosses, including 10 significant showdowns that reward you with a Remembrance upon defeat. While the map might not seem huge at first glance, it's densely packed with layers of exploration, from ruins in the sky to deep underground paths. Hidden ladders and secret areas abound, leading to entirely new sections to discover.

The main goal is to follow the footsteps of the demigod Miquella, marked by large crosses that subtly guide you without holding your hand. Along the way, you'll encounter seven new NPCs, each with their own questlines that intertwine with the main story and can influence later boss battles. Even with my limited knowledge of Elden Ring's extensive lore, I appreciated the fantastic revelations towards the end of the story.

It took me around 25 hours to beat the final boss of Shadow of the Erdtree, but I can see myself spending another 15 to 20 hours on a single playthrough. There are still optional bosses to defeat, areas to explore, weapons and skills to experiment with, and sidequests to complete. Shadow of the Erdtree is essentially a miniature version of Elden Ring, offering a compact yet full experience tuned for end-game characters.

Exploration and discovery remain delightful thanks to the stellar art design, varied areas, and rewarding secrets. The DLC introduces eight new weapon types, including throwing knives, beast claws, and giant odachi samurai swords. My favorite is the light greatsword, Milady, with its regal moveset. However, despite the fun new weapons, I found my old build from the base game to be more powerful, but the new options still added a refreshing variety.

Shadow of the Erdtree features a ton of new spells, Ashes of War, Spirit Ash summons, and talismans, enhancing the range of playstyles. There's a talisman for two-handed attacks, another that decreases spellcasting time but increases damage taken, and many more. I wished Larval Tears were more plentiful to respec my character freely, as I ran out by the end of the campaign.

The Realm of Shadow is structured similarly to The Lands Between, with multiple regions to explore. You can follow the initial Miquella Cross to a legacy dungeon, or take alternative paths to different challenges and bosses. This freedom of exploration and the brilliant open-world design make Shadow of the Erdtree feel liberating.

Shadow of the Erdtree is the only expansion for Elden Ring, and it’s a perfect one. It captures everything I loved about the original in a tight, dense package that rivals standalone games. It's filled with secrets, treasures, challenging bosses, and new gameplay elements, alongside some significant lore revelations and spectacular visuals. This DLC is one of the best expansions I've ever played, maintaining the high standards set by the original game.