A Challenging Return to the Lands Between

Shadow of the Erdtree offers a significant challenge for seasoned Elden Ring players. The expansion boasts stunning visuals, ranging from serene grasslands to atmospheric caves. It's a definite recommendation for those who enjoyed the base game and want to further refine their Soulsborne skills. While the story remains intriguing, it doesn't quite reach the same level of immersiveness as the original. The explorable areas are more focused compared to the sprawling landscapes of the base game, but they still provide enough content to keep players engaged.

Performance Hiccups and Limited Exploration

My main concerns with Shadow of the Erdtree lie in its performance and user experience. Frame drops occasionally occur during boss fights, even on powerful PCs. Given the game's 60 FPS frame lock, these performance issues are disappointing.

The sense of exploration is somewhat diminished compared to the base game. Getting lost can be an issue, and certain locations, like the Chalice area, feel misleading with limited content despite their initial promise.

AI Upgrades and Build Restrictions

The gameplay retains the core mechanics of Elden Ring, but the enemy AI receives a significant upgrade. Bosses have more refined timings, additional phases, and utilize double enemy combos effectively. While this sounds appealing on paper, it can restrict players to specific build strategies. The base game's strength was the freedom to approach challenges with different builds. This DLC seems to favor specific tactics, potentially hindering players who enjoyed the versatility of the base game.

Overall Impression

Despite the limitations, I had a good time with Shadow of the Erdtree. While frequent build changes weren't as enjoyable, the feeling of overcoming difficult challenges remains strong. The lack of Steam achievements is a surprise, as they often provide motivation for players to revisit content they might have missed.

Recommendation

I recommend this DLC for players who relish a challenge and don't mind adapting their playstyle. However, for those who prefer the open-ended approach of the base game, Shadow of the Erdtree might feel restrictive.

A Challenging Return to the Lands Between Shadow of the Erdtree offers a significant challenge for seasoned Elden Ring players. The expansion boasts stunning visuals, ranging from serene grasslands to atmospheric caves. It's a definite recommendation for those who enjoyed the base game and want to further refine their Soulsborne skills. While the story remains intriguing, it doesn't quite reach the same level of immersiveness as the original. The explorable areas are more focused compared to the sprawling landscapes of the base game, but they still provide enough content to keep players engaged. Performance Hiccups and Limited Exploration My main concerns with Shadow of the Erdtree lie in its performance and user experience. Frame drops occasionally occur during boss fights, even on powerful PCs. Given the game's 60 FPS frame lock, these performance issues are disappointing. The sense of exploration is somewhat diminished compared to the base game. Getting lost can be an issue, and certain locations, like the Chalice area, feel misleading with limited content despite their initial promise. AI Upgrades and Build Restrictions The gameplay retains the core mechanics of Elden Ring, but the enemy AI receives a significant upgrade. Bosses have more refined timings, additional phases, and utilize double enemy combos effectively. While this sounds appealing on paper, it can restrict players to specific build strategies. The base game's strength was the freedom to approach challenges with different builds. This DLC seems to favor specific tactics, potentially hindering players who enjoyed the versatility of the base game. Overall Impression Despite the limitations, I had a good time with Shadow of the Erdtree. While frequent build changes weren't as enjoyable, the feeling of overcoming difficult challenges remains strong. The lack of Steam achievements is a surprise, as they often provide motivation for players to revisit content they might have missed. Recommendation I recommend this DLC for players who relish a challenge and don't mind adapting their playstyle. However, for those who prefer the open-ended approach of the base game, Shadow of the Erdtree might feel restrictive.