Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree review: triumphant DLC feels like a sequel
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree MSRP $39.99 Score Details Pros
- Old formula still feels fresh
- Giant new map
- Great new weapons
- Challenging boss fights
- Cryptic story is an acquired taste
- Returning camera issues
Every time I had a difficult time with a boss in Elden Ring, I would just venture off to see what else I could do in The Lands Between. When I stumbled across an undiscovered Site of Grace to save my progress, I knew that I’d found something new that was going to let me come back better prepared to face to the foe I was stuck on. Whether that’d be a new boss or powerful equipment, I’d be making some progress in my quest to get stronger and finally overcome any challenge. That was Elden Ring’s biggest strength. The immense discoverability in its open world combined with the feeling of progress made me never feel like I was wasting my time.
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It was a feeling that I thought I’d never get again — until now. Elden Ring’s new DLC, the predictably excellent Shadow of the Erdtree, renewed that sense of wonder with, well, more content. With a gigantic new map to explore, new weapons, and fierce bosses that acted as a final exam for my skills, Shadow of the Erdtree provides a strong reason to return to a generational masterpiece.
The story is for the sickos
The basis for Shadow of the Erdtree’s story involves Miquella, someone who was referenced in the main Elden Ring game but was never directly met. The player is whisked away to the Land of Shadow to uncover its dark secrets and how it involves Miquella. Throughout the Land of Shadow, players come across different NPCs that spout cryptic lore that add a lot to the world-building.
I won’t lie and say I knew what was going on. FromSoftware games are the kinds that players need YouTube essays and explainers to understand their stories. That didn’t
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