Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is the latest in the series of masochism-simulators from the fun-loving folks who brought us Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Now, if you’re familiar with those games, you already know what you’re getting into. If not, let me enlighten you: imagine being thrown into a pit of rabid wolves with a butter knife and a stern lecture on self-reliance.
Yes, if you love dying in inventive and brutal new ways, Shadow of the Erdtree has got your back with a truly massive (the DLC has more content than many full games out there) follow-up to 2022’s Elden Ring that is equal parts exhilarating and maddening.
Shadow of the Erdtree review
Shadow of the Erdtree takes place entirely in the Land of Shadow, a mysterious realm connected to the original game’s Lands Between by a withered arm falling out of an egg (trust me, it makes sense in-game… sort of). Like the Lands Between, the Land of Shadow is a sprawling landscape full of secrets, filled with the kind of intricate detail that makes you stop and admire the scenery, right before something monstrous impales you from behind.
While dying over and over in FromSoftware games should be no surprise by now, even the most hardcore Souls fans will be in for a challenge in Shadow of the Erdtree. For myself, it took a mere two minutes stepping into the Shadowlands, feeling like some kind of Elden Badass with my level 150 character, before I was quickly humbled by a towering giant that I can only describe as a flaming wastepaper basket on legs. If enemies are the soul (hah) of FromSoftware games, then in Shadow of the Erdtree they have truly outdone themselves with a collection of the most challenging and brutal bosses we’ve seen so far.
When it comes to bosses, you already know FromSoftware aren’t just trotting out some run-of-the-mill, bash-you-on-the-head brutes. Instead, you’re offered a smorgasbord of challenges that’ll have you sweating bullets. And while FromSoftware just loves to throw gigantic monstrosities your way (and don’t worry, the DLC’s got its fair share of absolute chonkers), I was delighted to see some bosses throw a different curveball altogether.
Take this one, for instance. Down at the bottom of the Belurat Gaol dungeon, there’s a fight that’ll make you feel like you’re reliving Count Dooku’s duel with Yoda in Attack of the Clones. You’re the slow, decrepit old geezer, and the boss? Demi-Human Swordmaster Onze: a tiny ball of furious energy, bouncing around the place, slashing at everything in sight with a massive katana like a hyperactive monkey on espresso. Compared to some of the other bosses FromSoftware has thrown at us, it’s not a particularly difficult fight, but I absolutely loved every second of it.
Now, if you’re after something harder, and a bit more traditionally in the style of the sadistic stable of FromSoftware, Messmer the Impaler is your man. This boss fight is the stuff of legends, an utterly brutal encounter that could well be FromSoftware’s magnum opus.
Imagine Malenia, but on steroids. In fact, Messmer makes Malenia look like the first goomba you stomp on in Super Mario Bros. This guy is relentless, merciless, and the ultimate test of your gaming mettle – oh and not to spoil anything, but he has two phases, and you know that’s pee-in-your-pants-time in a Souls game.
Full disclosure, I have yet to beat Messmer the Immortal. After a weekend playing the DLC and some 50+ attempts on him, I am suffering from what I can only imagine is the same level of PTSD as war veterans. So it is entirely possible there is an even more outstanding boss to come, but it will not change my opinion that this guy is an absolute masterpiece of boss design.
While the bosses may be the soul of FromSoftware games, the story and lore form the backbone holding everything together — and it would be criminal of me to finish this review without recognizing the effort put in there.
If you’re expecting a straightforward tale, you’re in the wrong place. The narrative of Shadow of the Erdtree is as dense and mysterious as ever, with lore scattered across item descriptions and cryptic dialogues. It’s like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle in the dark, but for those willing to dig deep, the rewards are ample. Like the original Elden Ring there’s a fascinating story holding everything together. The bosses aren’t just stomping you into the ground for the 100th time because they’re sadistic brutes. No, they’re driven by their own intricate narrative arcs and motivations, which makes it even more satisfying when you finally get to take their soul and unceremoniously turn it into a shiny new weapon.
It’s hard to imagine a better expansion to Elden Ring than Shadow of the Erdtree. I went in with sky-high expectations, especially since this is the only DLC we’re getting for the game. But somehow, FromSoftware has smashed through them and delivered a DLC that’s absolutely brimming with all the brilliance that made the original game a masterpiece, and then they’ve gone and topped it in several areas.
Yes, there are times when the difficulty spikes can feel a little too much, and there are moments where the game seems to delight a bit too much in your suffering (if you thought Sen’s Fortress from Dark Souls was bad, wait till you get to Scorpion River Catacombs). But then again, that’s part of the charm, isn’t it? It’s a test of mettle, a proving ground for the truly dedicated.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to die to Messmer the Impossible another 50 times.
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