Welcome back to “The Backlog,” a weekly column where I review video games based on a certain genre each month. As the first edition of the semester — and the only one for the month of August — I thought it would be fitting to cover what I consider this summer’s biggest game. Even though it’s not a standalone title, “Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree” is undoubtedly the biggest video game expansion to come out this year.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was forced to stay indoors and switch to being at home. Because of this, video games flourished, becoming popular among those who weren’t previously die-hard gamers. Originally released in Feb. 2022, “Elden Ring” took the world by storm as FromSoftware’s latest hit. Anybody familiar with the “Dark Souls” franchise might immediately recognize the studio, as they’ve essentially created the genre of “Dark Souls”-esque games. These types of games involve difficult bosses, the freedom to create different character builds and a revival system that allows you to continuously try again.
My family and I weren’t immune to the influence of “Elden Ring,” but I’d like to note that I am immensely bad at “Elden Ring.” I took a very long time to defeat the boss, Margit because I adventured throughout Caelid way more than I should have, especially since I was under the recommended level. To the dismay of my brother, I refused to use any weapons besides two katanas because I thought it looked cool. Even though I am not an especially skilled player, “Elden Ring” has still been a fun experience for me, and I appreciate how long it’s taken me to progress through it.
“Shadow of the Erdtree” released this year in June and is “Elden Ring”’s only DLC so far. Even though it’s an expansion, I’d argue that it’s almost another game entirely. The Lands Between comprise the main area of “Elden Ring,” and include eight distinct regions. The location of the DLC, the Land of Shadow, is about the size of one or two of these regions combined. Yet the amount of content stuffed into the map is immense, leaving players with a lot to find and fight.
What makes “Shadow of the Erdtree” memorable is the amazing boss fights. “Elden Ring” contains unique and powerful enemies, each one having their own gimmick and lore. FromSoftware took what they learned from “Elden Ring” and dialed it up to 11 in “Shadow of the Erdtree.” As the game is very lore heavy, it’s difficult to avoid spoilers. But there is one boss I believe is worth mentioning and comparing. In the main game there is a secret boss, Dragonlord Placidusax. In summation, you go backwards in time to fight one of the most powerful dragons to exist. As a two-headed dragon with powerful attacks, players adored this secret boss fight.
To harken back to this fan-favorite, the DLC includes another optional boss, Bayle the Dread. In a way, this drake is the equivalent of Placidusax, as they injured each other in a previous, epic match. That doesn’t stop them from being difficult opponents, but what makes Bayle even more memorable is his biggest hater. Even those who haven’t played the game might know the quote: “Curse you Bayle!” An NPC that quickly became a favorite among fans is Igon, a drake warrior you find crying out, screaming his vengeance towards Bayle. In some boss fights you can summon NPCs to aid you. Even the most summon-hating gamers gave Igon the chance to use his hail of harpoons on Bayle.
One of my favorite bosses of the DLC, albeit one of the easier ones, is the Divine Beast Dancing Lion. This creature is essentially the first big boss you come across, but I think it’s a great way to reintroduce players to “Elden Ring.” The design of the creature is both terrifying and graceful, resembling Chinese lion dancing, where performers wear a giant costume and act parts of the creature’s body. The fear I felt when the Dancing Lion gave me nearly no time to summon my mimic tear was jarring, but it quickly became my favorite boss fight with its use of lightning, wind and frostbite.
Even though the new bosses, weapons and ashes of war (special moves) are a big part of the DLC, I adore the environment most. The opening brings back the feeling of playing “Elden Ring” for the first time, coming into a land which has seen many deaths and wars, yet somehow retains a sense of beauty and adventure. This feeling is perfectly captured at the Gravesite Plain.
By just walking through you come across new enemies immediately. One of my favorites is the Furnace Golem, which you’re likely to notice off in the distance. Trying to take on one of these things is like fighting an oven with arms and legs. It carries a lot of weight and if you’re not careful, they’ll easily kill you.
The world of “Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree” is vast, and I could go into more detail about all the different fights and weapons you can use. It’s mostly meant to be a single player experience, and it’s a fitting way to interpret the mystery of the Land of Shadow. I will not rate a game solely on my ability to complete it, as “Shadow of the Erdtree” is meant to be a difficult experience for those who’ve finished the main game 10 times over. The best way to experience it is to play it for yourself.
Rating: 5/5 Scadutree Fragments
