Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Expanding on Elden Ring’s already impeccable legacy in meaningful and spectacular ways, Shadow of the Erdtree is another triumph from FromSoftware. Some of the series’ best boss battles, visually stunning vistas and a leaner yet equally deep narrative lend this expansion the right to be considered one of the best pieces of DLC money can buy.

The world of Elden Ring is fascinating, and while there are a few interesting side quests (mainly involving Needle Knight Leda and her entourage), the DLC’s ending is underwhelming and there was a missed opportunity to weave it into the main game. I do hope we will receive additional DLC in the future, and Shadow of the Erdtree is a must play for anyone who enjoyed Elden Ring.

In short, it's no surprise that Shadow of the Erdtree has received mixed reviews and I've had mixed experiences with it. Shadow of the Erd Tree is a double dose of everything that's good about Elden Ring, plus a dose of FromSoftware isn't-so-great stuff. And 25 hours of play is clearly not enough for me to form an impression of such a contrasting gaming experience. The game is interesting, exciting, but I think that we already need something new.

Plenty of the elements will be familiar to those who toiled away in the base game, but there's more than a ton of new stuff to justify your time. And if you, somehow, for some reason, jump into this DLC with no knowledge or basis in Elden Ring, you would be playing the ultimate version of 2022's best game. It nearly demands you play it on its terms (methodically, carefully, wonderfully) but doing so rewards your efforts with another couple-dozen hours of joy. Sadly, souls-like games have once again been ruined by the king reclaiming their crown. Shadow of the Erdtree is not just the best DLC of the year so far, one of the best DLCs ever, one of the best gaming experiences of the year. It is also one of the best gaming experiences ever. It also, not for nothing, did the impossible: it returned the feeling of playing Elden Ring for the first time, for the last time.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree manages to compliment the base game in some good ways. The sense of scale is otherworldly and the levelling system does allow all players to have a place at the table. It does seem lacking in proper dungeons but the wealth of new gear makes the price justifiable. At times, the map can feel barren but the new bosses provide a stern challenge with plenty of flamboyance. It definitely feels quantity over quality but there was enough here for me to really enjoy.

FromSoftware a en effet injecté du Sekiro dans son Elden Ring, et ce n'est plus du tout la même tournure. Bien sûr qu'à force de persévérance, vous allez y arriver, mais ce sera dans la douleur, rarement dans le plaisir. Certains aiment quand les plaies sont ouvertes, d'autres beaucoup moins. Heureusement, le titre a d'autres arguments qui militent en sa faveur, comme ces nouveaux territoires à explorer, sa centaine d'armes à tester, ses nouveaux adversaires avec qui croiser le fer, et d'autres qu'on a déjà vu des dizaines de fois dans les précédentes productions du studio japonais, FromS étant écolo-frriendly, on commence à le savoir. Entendons-nous, Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree reste un très bon jeu et un DLC de grande qualité, mais pour son déséquilibrage global, il est forcément moins intéressant que le Elden Ring qu'on a connu il y a deux ans.