Summary
If there’s one thing that players can almost certainly count on, it’s having the conversation of difficulty in games being reignited following the release of a new FromSoftware title. Like clockwork, the release ofElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC almost immediately divided players on the subject of its challenge, with FromSoftware even going so far as to provide players with a helpful reminder of the importance ofShadow of the Erdtree’s Scadutree fragments and a useful map to their locations. Truthfully, though, regardless of how players feel about Shadow of the Erdtree’s approach to scaling and progression, there’s a case to be made thatElden Ringhas resolved the Soulslike difficulty debate for good.
Simply by nature of being an open-world game,Elden Ringalready sidesteps one of the more common reasons players abandon FromSoftware titles – skill checks or “roadblock bosses” – by abandoning the bottleneck of its more linear titles and allowing players to explore other areas and come back to previous challenges stronger. Further, the sheer amount of weapons and equipment that players have access to (along with the ease of respec-ing usingLarval Tears) means that a new build and accompanying change in strategy are never out of reach.Elden Ringand the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC prove that the flexibility FromSoftware affords players in their expression makes the difficulty discussion a bit of a moot point.
Shadow of the Erdtree Continues a FromSoftware Tradition to Appease Longtime Souls Fans
As a studio, FromSoftware has a longstanding tradition of crafting incredibly challenging DLC intended to be tackled in the late or endgame. Expansions likeBloodborne’s Old Hunters DLCorDark Souls 3’s The Ringed City are notorious for introducing some of the hardest bosses that FromSoftware has ever devised, andElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree is no exception. While the base game ofElden Ringis home to plenty of substantial challenges in its own right, the DLC takes things a step further, introducing several new boss encounters that each hold their own alongside the likes of Orphan of Kos, Sister Friede, or Malenia, Blade of Miquella.
The new bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree are a suitable challenge for even the most skilled veteran players, while also serving as a great excuse to try out new equipment and builds introduced in the DLC. Similar to the base game ofElden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree encourages players to experiment with various play styles and builds to overcome seemingly impossible challenges, and the ability to take a break from a boss and grind out runes to gain strength (or travel the Shadow Realm in search ofScadutree fragments) means players are never out of options when it comes to tackling a daunting boss.
FromSoftware’s Next Game Will Likely Continue to Strike a Balance With its Difficulty
Between its open-world format and the ability for players to use several new combat additions to their advantage (Ashes of War, Spirit Summons, and the like),Elden Ringstrikes what could be considered a delicate balance between accessibility and challenge. Make no mistake,Elden Ringis aFromSoftware gamethrough and through, and its Shadow of the Erdtree DLC provides a suitable endgame challenge like the studio’s other expansions, but it’s almost surely the most approachable experience for players new to FromSoftware’s unique and captivating gameplay. AndElden Ringhas the sales figures to back that sentiment up.
Thanks at least in part to its accessibility,Elden Ringwould achieve sales figures surpassing the entireDark Soulstrilogy in just a fraction of the time it took for that franchise to reach the same milestone. Similarly,Elden Ring’s successand welcoming of newcomers to the FromSoftware fold would crossover a bit intoArmored Core 6, which is now the best-selling game in that franchise by a large margin.Elden Ringoccupies a satisfying middle ground where its difficulty is concerned, and future FromSoftware games will likely continue to follow its lead in an effort to replicate its breakthrough success.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
