Elden Ring promises a Masterclass DLC in Shadow of the Erdtree

They say it’s possible to have too much of a good thing, but no one knew about the Elden Ring when the phrase was coined all those centuries ago. A standout winner of plentiful Game of the Year awards, the experience remains relevant to this day – and that’s even without this month’s massive Shadow of the Erdtree DLC beckoning veterans back to The Lands Between. Ahead of release, Bandai Namco kindly invited us to Paris to play the opening three hours of the expansion. On the move, just within the first zone, is the most comprehensive expansion of a game FromSoftware has ever created.

After choosing from one of three different classes (a warrior, knight, or mage at level 150), we entered the Shadowland via a new portal in Mohgwyn Palace, accessed by interacting with Miquella’s hand emerging from the cocoon in the back. From there, the task was simple: Bandai Namco allowed us exactly three hours to freely explore the DLC’s opening area, taking in its main story path, optional areas, and new features and mechanics. It’s more Ring of Elden at first glance, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find things to set Shadow of the Erdtree apart from the base game.

The initial mass of land upon entering the Shadowland puts even the dreariest places in the original experience to shame. Seemingly once a proud land, it is now overcome with decay and ruin. Set under the cover of night, this is an extremely dark place that feels deliberately desolate. Her fields have few enemies, with only a few patrolling demons and gargoyles choosing to attack. It’s a setting not even your rivals wish to inhabit, with magical tombstones and massive gallows taking their place in the distance.

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