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- Shadow of the Erdtree has so much content that it can easily be called a standalone game.
- It marks yet another triumphant post-launch release for FromSoftware.
- All future DLCs will now be compared to this expansion.
Shadow of the Erdtree was promised to offer around 30 hours of playtime, but from what I have seen, it can easily offer twice as much. I have been playing the expansion for 50 hours already, and there is still more left for me to do.
So, I can see myself spending the next 10 hours just completing the whole DLC. For an expansion, the amount of content here is just ridiculous. What I’m trying to say here is that Shadow of the Erdtree is a DLC in name only.
In fact, I would say that it puts many single-player games to shame because of how much is being offered here and the overall quality of the content.
Why it matters: Many $70 AAA releases offer 20 hours of content or less. Several recent releases were even shorter, giving me the chance to appreciate FromSoftware further.
Shadow of The Erdtree Is A Standalone Title
FromSoftware really thought it could get away with making a standalone title and calling it a DLC. The developer must have thought we wouldn’t figure out that this is practically a whole game disguised as a DLC (I’m joking, of course).
Let’s consider the average length of modern AAA titles. The biggest RPGs offer about 50-100 hours of gameplay at most, and Shadow of the Erdtree can easily match this amount.
However, go on the other end of the spectrum, and you’ll find plenty of games that barely justify their asking price. For instance, Modern Warfare 3’s campaign was just 4 hours long, and its multiplayer was based on recycled maps last year.
Meanwhile, Xbox launched Hellblade 2 for $50 not too long ago, charging nearly $10/hour. Of course, these are very different types of games, but they highlight why I appreciate FromSoftware so much.
It’s not like the DLC is bloated with mindless content that you find in Ubisoft open-worlds, either.
The Best DLC To Ever Exist
In my opinion, Blood and Wine, Phantom Liberty, and God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla are some of the best DLCs you can play today.
Blood and Wine continues the excellence of The Witcher 3, Phantom Liberty revamps Cyberpunk 2077, and Valhalla neatly ties Kratos’ Greek and Norse stories. However, none of them can match Shadow of the Erdtree for me.
What I liked most about Elden Ring’s DLC was that it added new twists to the lore. I will only tell you that Miquella isn’t the kind person you think he is. Once you piece these revelations together, Shadow of the Erdtree becomes even better.
FromSoftware has already had plenty of successful DLCs. However, they seem minuscule by comparison. Elden Ring scored 96/100 on Metacritic, and Shadow of the Erdtree follows closely behind at 95/100.
Despite all the outrage over the difficulty, there’s no denying how great the expansion is.
The Bar Has Been Set Too High
The developer has really outdone itself this time. I was extremely excited about the DLC, but I have no clue how FromSoftware still exceeded my expectations. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with Shadow of the Erdtree.
Everything here is refined to perfection, and the bosses are a highlight. From the difficulty of the fights to the spectacle on offer, Elden Ring’s biggest and baddest foes have never been better.
These bosses have raised the bar for FromSoftware, and I can’t wait to see where things go from here. Shadow of the Erdtree also features hundreds of new weapons, spells, and incantations.
The team even found a way to balance out the difficulty, introducing a separate progression system. There is just so much to do in the DLC, and I’m already thinking about another playthrough before finishing my first one.
I am glad that the majority of the journalists didn’t give it a low score due to the difficulty, as the DLC is, in fact, difficult. FromSoftware went all out with the content and the difficulty. Therefore, the expansion isn’t for everyone. Sure, you can make a broken build and destroy the bosses, but where’s the fun in that?
Nonetheless, I believe that a new bar has been set for DLCs and expansions. This is just one more accomplishment for FromSoftware, but no future DLC will be released without being compared to Shadow of the Erdtree.
As someone who enjoyed every second of the expansion, I can’t wait to play through it multiple times. I’m also looking forward to what Hidetaka Miyazaki comes up with next since Elden Ring wasn’t his ideal RPG.
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[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over three years because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.
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