- Shadow of the Erdtree has been criticized by many due to its extreme difficulty.
- FromSoftware making a DLC way harder than the base game is nothing new.
- Players criticizing the game should stop obsessing over the difficulty and try to get better.
Shadow of the Erdtree instantly became controversial after release. Many players joined the hype train and found it too hard to enjoy. Some players who previously cheesed the base game found the early areas of the DLC way too punishing.
This led to outrage, and such players left negative reviews on Steam. Due to that, Shadow of the Erdtree received a mixed reception. I have played the DLC and have already fought the last boss.
Having played the new expansion for over 30 hours, I think it getting review-bombed is completely unjustified.
Why it matters: FromSoftware games are known for being hard, so negatively reviewing a game from a developer that makes challenging titles doesn’t really make sense.
The FromSoftware Pattern
I have played nearly every game FromSoftware has ever released, and this developer is known for extremely challenging releases. Bloodborne, Dark Souls, and Sekiro, every game was tough.
The DLCs released for these games are all extremely hard. While Sekiro didn’t really receive a DLC, it did get some mods that were more challenging. Other titles, like Bloodborne and each Dark Souls release, received DLCs that were way harder than the base content.
Reflecting on past games, you can see the FromSoftware pattern. With each new release comes a greater challenge, and something similar happened with Elden Ring. The game was by no means easy.
For me, it was the most difficult of all Soulsborne titles. Therefore, it received an even more challenging DLC, which is exactly what I expected. However, the expansion exceeded my expectations.
The new bosses, weapons, and everything else have been incredibly exciting. This level of difficulty was obvious, so I don’t know why people are surprised.
The Hypocrisy
Each release by FromSoftware was considered hard, and there is no doubt about it. However, things changed a little when Elden Ring was released. Many considered the game easy, mainly because of the many broken weapons and summons.
To balance things out, FromSoftware added many unique buffs for players. It added summons like Mimic Tear that could help you beat the bosses easily. However, many players said that FromSoftware made the game too easy.
Meanwhile, if you played it without summons, you probably found it harder than the previous FromSoftware offerings. Many players used broken builds and summons, and now they are having a hard time in the DLC since the scaling is quite different.
60 points in vigor won’t save you from getting two-shotted. If everyone managed to beat Elden Ring and had enough courtesy to call it easy, why are those fans outraged with the DLC now?
Didn’t they want the game to be harder? It is now way harder, so they should be able to enjoy it. Elden Ring sold 25 million copies, so it was bound to attract millions of new players.
Many of them are unfamiliar with FromSoftware, and this has been the result. Perhaps the biggest shame about the situation is that not enough people talk about everything Shadow of the Erdtree does well.
Shadow of the Erdtree Is Great
Learning the boss’ pattern and besting them in combat has always been the way to play Soulsborne games.
If you think the DLC is too hard, there’s no shame in using summons to beat the bosses. Even Miyazaki has admitted that he tends to use everything at his disposal to overcome such challenges.
However, what’s most important is to enjoy everything that FromSoftware has done with this DLC. There’s a reason Shadow of the Erdtree is now rated higher than The Witcher 3’s DLCs.
The map is so densely populated that Limgrave seems barren by comparison. The bosses have a new sense of scale, and the lore has become even more interesting after this expansion.
There’s a lot to like about Shadow of the Erdtree, but this pointless discourse has captured everyone’s attention.
If you’re struggling with the DLC, use the Scadutree Fragments to make your life easier, but please appreciate everything that FromSoftware is offering here.
No other developer packs this much content into a DLC, so ignoring everything positive for just the difficulty is pointless. It’s time to move on and accept Shadow of the Erdtree for what it is.
Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋
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