If Elden Ring was the must-have Souls Like, the DLC was eagerly awaited. Offering additional content to an already ultra-complete game was unthinkable. And yet, here it is at last, after 2 years of waiting, we’re back in this exciting and infuriating universe!
Beyond the shadows.
As with Elden Ring, Shadow Of The Erdtree won’t directly tell us the whole story. But you should know that you’ll begin your adventure in the Kingdom of Shadows. Yes, a new map with a new starting point. Except that you won’t be starting from scratch.
We keep our character and all the stuff. And we’re off to discover this new map, which won’t spare you. You’ll have to find Miquella, a demi-goddess whose mother is none other than Marika. It’s in this context that you’ll meet new people and, above all, put your skills to the test.
The biggest problem with the story is that, even once the DLC is finished, you don’t fully understand what’s at stake. The story is even more discrete than in the past, which means that after the first game, you’re left asking yourself a thousand questions. But some might say that’s the point of the game.
Not a big map… But deep.
As for the scenery, there’s no denying it. They’re far from being totally exclusive, in the sense that you quickly get the impression that you’re redoing some old areas. This is where the game really shines. It hides all its potential underground. You’ll pass through a door and suddenly find yourself 50 km deep in scenery that’s as sublime as ever.
Once you’ve arrived in the Chateau Noir, you’ll be able to go anywhere on the map. And let’s face it: you’ll be going in the opposite direction to where the game wants to take you. Because you’re about to discover the game’s full potential.
Because it’s a shame, but the straight-line DLC is super short. Force yourself to travel. And break a couple of controllers in the process. Because the difficulty… will make you cry.
Gameplay at its best.
In terms of gameplay, the DLC doesn’t change a thing. There are new spells, weapons and summons. But you’ll also find two new items that you’ll need to collect in order to go above the maximum level. These will improve your attack and defense or your magic in general.
And you won’t want to miss out. Because the difficulty here is undrinkable. Not insurmountable. But you’re going to have to get your reflexes back. The bosses and secondary bosses are truly challenging. The basic enemies are no exception.
Right from the start, you’ll be greeted by small enemies who aren’t PV bags. They’re real life point eaters. Then suddenly, a furnace will send you a message: you’re going to suffer.
It’s in this sense that we love Elden Ring, and especially this DLC. It’s an eyeful and a mouthful. And we want more. Because the end of this DLC leaves us with a big question: what now? Is that it? Give me a real ending. And that’s a shame. Because everything’s great except for the aftermath, which leaves us with a huge void and so many questions.
In the end, Shadow Of The Erdtree is an exemplary DLC. The kind of DLC you want on all your games. A game within a game. A must-have. A major challenge and an even more scattered Lore. Can’t wait for From Software’s next announcement!
