Another wonderful addition to the FromSoft catalog, Shadow of the Erdtree adds a perfect second helping of Elden Ring bliss.

I decided to continue playing with my original character, somewhere in the 150 level area, and I'm glad I did. Originally, I considered starting over entirely, but realized the base game would take longer than the DLC and I'd be playing forever. Thankfully, choosing an already leveled up character seems to be what the developers had in mind, as it scales beautifully thanks to addition of Scadutree fragments, a system of leveling up only in the DLC area which does not add to the base game power if you return there.

One of the first enemies you face, a dancing/spinning creature with two circle blades who assaults from a withering tree, absolutely welcomes you to the DLC with a bang. Outside of that, enemies littering the world go from pushover to legit challenge, making you be fully aware of your surroundings. Like the base game, the exploration is not only beautiful but rewarding, as you often find new DLC armor or weapons, as well as Scadutree fragments and Revered Spirt Ashes, which level up your summons' power. Finding and using these feel substantial as boss and mini boss fights are just as fun and challenging as the first time around. Although there are a few instances of areas feeling a bit hard to distinguish from one another (or straight up have very little going on), catacombs and castles are a joy to explore, especially since there aren't as many as before, making them feel more unique. Furnace Golems are the worst and absolutely not worth killing in any respect. Delete them from the game.

Shockingly, I got a decent number of bosses on the first try, or within five or less attempts. Despite that, none of them were easy and all offered a fun and unique challenge, as well as great dialog and a feeling of accomplishment upon their defeat. The only standout is the final boss. The kick-up in difficulty is...staggering. His size and hitbox, as well as the erratic attack patterns and instant-kill moves in phase two, almost make it feel unfair compared to every other balanced fight, but for the only DLC they plan to make, I can't fault them too much for wanting to make an insanely difficult final fight. They deliver.

As always, the voice acting, characters, and world building are phenomenal. The story is convoluted and deep, likely requiring some Wiki diving, but its beautifully written dialog and in-game text is second to none. New companions and enemies are a shining example of FromSoft's never-ending creativity. In particular, Moore and Sir Ansbach are wonderfully realized and perfectly voice acted.

Shadow of the Erdtree brings Elden Ring to a close, and it does so with style and (touch) grace. Although the base game is a masterpiece, I feel like I might have enjoyed my time here a tiny bit more. With a tighter and less overwhelming map, the experience and time played felt just right, even if the ending is somewhat disappointing.