It wouldn’t be a From Software release if people weren’t whining about the difficulty. Like how the anti-gaming crowd get riled up every time a new ‘Grand Theft Auto‘ game rolls out. It’s a tale as old as time.
And the only response is the same as it’s always been: git gud.
Outdated internet drama aside: when it comes to DLC, From Software’s pedigree is every bit as beloved as the games themselves. ‘The Old Hunters‘ propelled ‘Bloodborne‘ to all-time classic status. ‘Artorias of the Abyss‘ is the best content of the original ‘Dark Souls.’ ‘The Ringed City‘ brought ‘Dark Souls III‘ and the trilogy’s story to a spectacular conclusion. These DLCs are some of the best in the industry, both in terms of quality and bang for your buck.
‘Shadow of the Erdtree‘ had a hell of a high bar to reach for. At least for me. ‘Elden Ring‘ is From Software’s most successful game to date, so my expectations were higher than ever before. Particularly because this DLC was nearly as pricy as the base game itself!
Especially since this came out the day before my birthday. It was like From Software made it just for me. I normally don’t care for my birthday; my ideal celebration is none at all. Having an actual reason to care about it was a refreshing change of pace.
Because who needs a therapist when you’ve got ‘Elden Ring‘?
In my excitement, I took the weekend off from work, dusted off my launch-day character, and prepared for my journey to begin anew. When the promised day came, I set everything aside and spent the whole weekend in the Land of Shadow. For two short, delightful days, it was just me and the DLC.
How did it turn out? Ignoring the salty quitters who complained that it was ‘too hard’ and tried to review bomb it: it was fantastic! I loved every minute of it!
Seriously, what did you guys mean ‘it’s too hard?’ That’s why we’re here!
Calling ‘Shadow of the Erdtree‘ a DLC feels like an injustice. Hell, I don’t even know if we can call it an expansion! This is basically a sequel attached to the original game! It took me forty hours to finish it, and I know there’s still a ton of content that I missed! In terms of monetary value, this thing puts most full releases to shame!
Unlike the base game, the Land of Shadow focuses less on vast horizontal expanses and more on verticality. A large portion of exploration is all about seeing a place far above/below you, then finding a way up/down to it. It felt awesome to finally find the path that connects to that cool area you’ve been searching for hours to reach. It reminded me of the interconnected design of Dark Souls 1, though it isn’t so compact or tightly designed. Honestly, I enjoyed exploration far more than the boss fights! Especially since the areas in this DLC are jaw-droppingly gorgeous! The art direction is crazy!
That said, the boss fights are still awesome! They’re absolutely brutal, yes, but that’s the From Software charm. Long and flashy as their attack chains are, there’s always a way to dodge them. Even if there are some I still haven’t figured out (cough cough Consort cough cough). There was only one fight that I genuinely disliked, and that was only due to some wonky hit boxes and unfair movement abilities.
Fuck you, Gaius. I’ll see you in hell.
Of all the bosses, I enjoyed Bayle the Dread the most. All because of the now iconic hype man: Igon. Fighting a crippled fell dragon was already cool, but doing so alongside Captain Ahab was one of the most memorable moments I’ve ever had in a video game! Giving NPC summons dialog is such a cool way to increase the hype of the boss battles and further flesh out the new characters! I’m honestly surprised they’ve never done this before now!
Then there’s the Promised Consort. A boss so hype and brutal that he’ll get an article all his own soon enough. Both him and Messmer. These two are some of the best bosses From Software have ever done!
It certainly helps that the music is fucking PHENOMENAL!! My god, dude, the composers at From Software are brilliant! Every single track, from the quiet ambient tunes to the sweeping orchestras and choirs behind each boss battle, is a delight for the ears!
Finally, there’s the new additions to the lore. The revelations present in this DLC completely change everything we thought we understood in the base game. Marika’s past, the truth behind Miquella, the grim history of the Land of Shadow, it’s all huge! Granted, I still only understand about half of it, but it’s a cool half!
Messmer is my favorite new character (second only to Igon, for obvious reasons). His story was a perfect blend of dark violence and somber tragedy. A good man made a monster by his own mother, who promptly abandoned him. Yet he loved her still, right up to the moment you, the player, take his life. Only then does he realize he has been used and betrayed, and with his last breath, he curses her name. It’s a brilliant story for those willing to dig for it.
Even if they turned my favorite jars into existential nightmares.
‘Elden Ring‘ was already a masterpiece. With the addition of ‘Shadow of the Erdtree‘, it has been cemented as one of the best games of all time! An amazing world, jaw-dropping boss fights, an incredible story, and I didn’t even mention the awesome new weapons! This DLC was nothing short of amazing!
Now it’s over. We’re not getting anymore ‘Elden Ring.’ The game is now content complete. Unless we eventually get a sequel, this is the end of the journey.
And I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
I’ll see you all for the next one.
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