Summary
One aspect ofElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreethat arguably exceeds the base game is its myriad optional dungeons dotting the Shadow Realm. Like inElden Ring, the map in theShadow of the Erdtreeexpansion offers players plenty of hidden nooks and crannies stuffed with optional dungeons to explore, each housing their own rewards and challenging encounters within. Aside from Shadow of the Erdtree’s dungeons generally being more intricately designed and worthwhile than many of the base game’s optional locations, they also incorporate a surprising amount of required jumping, transforming proceedings to action-platformer territory in some cases.
Having a dedicated jump button has always setElden Ringapart fromprevious FromSoftware titles, where jumping was possible but was more cumbersome than other third-person action games.Shadow of the Erdtreetakes the ability to readily jump on command to a whole new level through the implementation of a greater platforming focus in many of the game’s optional dungeons, including several instances where players need to make a seemingly fatal leap of faith to continue delving into a dungeon’s depths. It’s an interesting addition to theEdlen Ringformula that results in some unique, if not slightly frustrating, traversal through the Shadow Realm.
Shadow of the Erdtree Transforms Jumping From an Ability to a Necessity
Players have always been able to jump inElden Ring, but the degree to which players needed to engage with the ability in the base game was somewhat limited. While the mechanic is somewhat necessary to navigate the broken pathways and twistingbranches of the Haligtree, it was much less necessary in the standard interior and exterior spaces except where players could utilize Torrent’s handy double-jump. Right from Shadow of the Erdtree’s outset, it becomes readily apparent how much more important jumping is in the DLC compared to the base game, whether on-foot or mounted on Torrent.
The tilerooftops of the Belurat Tower Settlementare rife with opportunities to jump and scale from building to building to discover secret items, but perhaps no other location in the DLC’s first major region illustrates how important jumping is than Belurat Gaol. This optional dungeon has not one but three separate jumping-centric platforming challenges and hidden pathways to worthwhile items that transform what would be a fairly standard optional dungeon into a platforming gauntlet. And it’s a trend that continues well into many other optional dungeons, including Dragon’s Pit’s leap of faith to face the true boss enemy of the location.
Much of Shadow of the Erdtree is Seemingly Just Out of Reach
The necessity of jumping carries over fromShadow of the Erdtree’s interior spacesinto its exterior ones as well, with the map of the Shadow Realm littered with cliffside gaps and chasms that entice players to find a way to cross them somehow. This gives way to plenty of hidden pathways connecting the regions of the Shadow Realm’s map, so long as players can find a safe route to reach places that appear impossible to get to at first. Jumping, as it turns out, is just as important on horseback as it is on foot, and the visual cues ofShadow of the Erdtree’s environmental design invite players to daringly try jumps that could very well lead to premature death.
But the rewards for throwing caution to the wind and engaging withShadow of the Erdtree’s new emphasis on jumping are many, including some of the DLC’s best equipment and some truly engaging encounters that players might otherwise miss if they never stray from the beaten path. It’s not uncommon to find community messages near these spots with players complaining about the need for jumping, butShadow of the Erdtree’s new and surprising focus on platforming helps to differentiatetraversing the Shadow Realmfrom traipsing around The Lands Between.
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.
