Elden Ring, FromSoftware's acclaimed open-world action-RPG, took the gaming world by storm in early 2022. Seamlessly blending the developer's signature Souls-like challenging gameplay with a vast, detailed fantasy world, Elden Ring captivated players. Over a year later, fans are finally getting their hands on the game's first major downloadable content expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree.

Consistent with previous Souls-like DLC offerings, Shadow of the Erdtree promises to deliver the additional punishing yet rewarding challenge that has become FromSoftware's trademark. Early player reports suggest the DLC largely succeeds in this regard, introducing new brutal boss battles and dangerous environments for players to explore.

However, the DLC's difficulty does seem unbalanced at times, echoing pacing issues that plagued the base Elden Ring Runes experience. While many of the new encounters are exceptionally challenging, requiring careful observation, precise timing, and a willingness to learn from repeated failure, other areas and enemy groups may prove relatively straightforward for seasoned Souls veterans.

Bleeding Builds Remain Dominant

One area where Shadow of the Erdtree feels overly familiar is the continued dominance of bleeding character builds. Much like in Elden Ring's core campaign, players who invest heavily in arcane stats and bleeding weapons like the Hound's Fang will find themselves at a significant advantage over other playstyles.

The new DLC introduces several fearsome adversaries who are extremely vulnerable to bleeding damage, making a focused bleeding build one of the most effective ways to overcome the expansion's challenges. While this playstyle is not mandatory for success, it does feel like the path of least resistance in many encounters.

Similarly, the trusty Mimic Tear soul summon remains a powerful ally in Shadow of the Erdtree, able to absorb damage and deal it in equal measure. Keeping a fully upgraded Mimic Tear in your arsenal can provide a valuable safety net for the DLC's toughest boss fights, allowing players to learn attack patterns and try different strategies.

New Twists and Mysteries to Uncover

That said, the DLC does introduce some new twists and surprises that help differentiate it from the core Elden Ring experience. The new area players will explore, the Eternal City, features a more labyrinthine, interconnected level design that encourages careful exploration and rewards observant players willing to uncover all the secrets.

Staying true to Souls tradition, Shadow of the Erdtree's story is shrouded in mystery, and players must piece together the backstories and motivations of the new characters through item descriptions, environmental storytelling, and subtle dialogue. This sense of exploration and the thrill of slowly unraveling the DLC's greater mysteries is a significant draw for Souls fans.

Additionally, the DLC introduces several new combat encounters and boss fights that breathe new life into familiar Souls-like gameplay mechanics. One early highlight is a fight against a pair of lightning tree avatars, which forces players to position and time themselves carefully to avoid becoming overwhelmed.

Overall, Shadow of the Erdtree appears to offer the challenging, atmospheric Souls-like experience that buy Elden Ring Runes fans have come to expect from FromSoftware. While it may not be as game-changing as the base game, the DLC still provides a wealth of new content for players to enjoy.

Long-time Souls-like fans will likely find much to appreciate here, especially those who relish the thrill of overcoming punishing boss battles and uncovering the secrets of mysterious new corners of the Lands Between. However, players hoping for a major shake-up of the Elden Ring formula may find the DLC's difficulty curve and build viability a little too familiar.

Nonetheless, Shadow of the Erdtree is a welcome return to the world of Elden Ring, bringing more of the engaging worldbuilding, atmospheric exploration, and unforgiving combat that made the base game so popular. For those eager to brave the challenges of the Lands Between once again, the DLC represents a solid, if not particularly revolutionary, expansion of the Elden Ring experience.Now, MMoexp brings you the ultimate Elden Ring experience, allowing you to explore the FromSoftware deeper than ever before.