This review contains spoilers
Exploration
With the DLC, I sought to redeem myself, as my initial playthrough of Elden Ring lacked the depth of exploration I desired. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the DLC, which provided an exploration experience unparalleled since The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It is regrettable that I did not explore the base game as thoroughly during my first playthrough.
Exploring the map is particularly rewarding due to the Scadutree Fragments, which offer incremental boosts in damage and defense. Discovering a valuable weapon, item, or talisman independently, without guidance, is incredibly satisfying. For instance, finding the back dual swords was a highlight for me. Having seen them in the DLC trailer, I was determined to locate them.
The dungeons in the DLC were exceptionally enjoyable. Unlike the more uniform dungeons in the base game, the DLC dungeons, while similar in appearance, each possess unique characteristics that distinguish them.
Level Design and World
Firstly, the visual beauty and stunning aesthetics of the DLC are remarkable. I have never taken so many screenshots in a game before, which speaks volumes about how captivating I found the various areas. The landscapes are breathtaking, and even the boss arenas are perfectly suited to their respective encounters. Notably, Bayle's arena, an expansive space surrounded by mountains, and the Final Boss Arena, located atop the land of shadows, are particularly memorable.
Moreover, the level design in the DLC is exceptional. I appreciate the interconnectivity between different areas, especially those requiring traversal through a dungeon or cave. The main dungeons are also impressive, with legacy dungeons like Belurat and especially Shadow Keep being incredibly enjoyable to explore.
5. Rellana
Rellana serves as the first major challenge of the DLC, immediately setting the tone for the heightened difficulty of Shadows of the Erdtree. Her fight feels like a dance; despite her extreme aggression, it remains highly engaging. Although I consider her battle to be somewhat less impressive than the top four boss fights in the DLC, it is still a very good fight with compelling lore, particularly since she is the younger sister of Rennala.
4. Midra
Initially, the Midra fight appears to be merely average or good. However, as you become more familiar with his moveset, the encounter becomes incredibly enjoyable, especially in terms of dodging his attacks. His second phase, introduced with a cutscene and featuring Frenzy Flame attacks, adds significant depth to the battle. Even when his Frenzy Flame attacks induce madness, it remains engaging rather than frustrating.
3. Bayle
Bayle's battle is likely the most cinematic and epic FromSoftware boss fight to date. I never thought a dragon boss could surpass Placidusax, but Bayle did so effortlessly. The combination of his arena and moveset makes him one of my favorite boss fights. The transition to the second phase is spectacular, and the accompanying change in soundtrack elevates the encounter to something truly special.
2. Messmer
Messmer is close to being my favorite DLC boss. Upon replaying his fight, he might indeed take the top spot. His fight strikes the perfect balance, being challenging but fair. He is fast and hits hard, yet the encounter does not feel unfair. His fight is probably the most enjoyable in the DLC, to the extent that I switched my swords from bleed to quality to fully appreciate his moveset and combos. Additionally, his lore is fascinating. He appears to have been more cursed than malevolent, similar to Malenia and Miquella, and was compelled by Marika to become a tyrant. This adds depth to his character, making him my favorite DLC character and second favorite boss fight.
1. Radahn
Radahn provided a fitting conclusion to the DLC. While I understand why some players may dislike him, I found him to be an exceptional challenge. The first phase is relatively "chill" compared to the intense second phase, which makes him the most challenging FromSoft boss by far. Despite the occasional unfairness, I never felt frustrated, which speaks to the quality of the encounter. The sense of accomplishment upon defeating him after 7-8 hours and 180 attempts is indescribable. My hands were shaking, a feeling I have only experienced when defeating Malenia for the first time, who remains my favorite boss fight.
Conclusion
Overall, I cannot envision a better DLC for Elden Ring. It has been perfect from start to finish, offering the most captivating world to explore and an exceptional cast of bosses. While two of the bosses may be less remarkable, the remaining nine remembrances are at least acceptable to excellent, with five being truly outstanding. This DLC easily ranks as my favorite of all time.
With the DLC, I sought to redeem myself, as my initial playthrough of Elden Ring lacked the depth of exploration I desired. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the DLC, which provided an exploration experience unparalleled since The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It is regrettable that I did not explore the base game as thoroughly during my first playthrough.
Exploring the map is particularly rewarding due to the Scadutree Fragments, which offer incremental boosts in damage and defense. Discovering a valuable weapon, item, or talisman independently, without guidance, is incredibly satisfying. For instance, finding the back dual swords was a highlight for me. Having seen them in the DLC trailer, I was determined to locate them.
The dungeons in the DLC were exceptionally enjoyable. Unlike the more uniform dungeons in the base game, the DLC dungeons, while similar in appearance, each possess unique characteristics that distinguish them.
Level Design and World
Firstly, the visual beauty and stunning aesthetics of the DLC are remarkable. I have never taken so many screenshots in a game before, which speaks volumes about how captivating I found the various areas. The landscapes are breathtaking, and even the boss arenas are perfectly suited to their respective encounters. Notably, Bayle's arena, an expansive space surrounded by mountains, and the Final Boss Arena, located atop the land of shadows, are particularly memorable.
Moreover, the level design in the DLC is exceptional. I appreciate the interconnectivity between different areas, especially those requiring traversal through a dungeon or cave. The main dungeons are also impressive, with legacy dungeons like Belurat and especially Shadow Keep being incredibly enjoyable to explore.
5. Rellana
Rellana serves as the first major challenge of the DLC, immediately setting the tone for the heightened difficulty of Shadows of the Erdtree. Her fight feels like a dance; despite her extreme aggression, it remains highly engaging. Although I consider her battle to be somewhat less impressive than the top four boss fights in the DLC, it is still a very good fight with compelling lore, particularly since she is the younger sister of Rennala.
4. Midra
Initially, the Midra fight appears to be merely average or good. However, as you become more familiar with his moveset, the encounter becomes incredibly enjoyable, especially in terms of dodging his attacks. His second phase, introduced with a cutscene and featuring Frenzy Flame attacks, adds significant depth to the battle. Even when his Frenzy Flame attacks induce madness, it remains engaging rather than frustrating.
3. Bayle
Bayle's battle is likely the most cinematic and epic FromSoftware boss fight to date. I never thought a dragon boss could surpass Placidusax, but Bayle did so effortlessly. The combination of his arena and moveset makes him one of my favorite boss fights. The transition to the second phase is spectacular, and the accompanying change in soundtrack elevates the encounter to something truly special.
2. Messmer
Messmer is close to being my favorite DLC boss. Upon replaying his fight, he might indeed take the top spot. His fight strikes the perfect balance, being challenging but fair. He is fast and hits hard, yet the encounter does not feel unfair. His fight is probably the most enjoyable in the DLC, to the extent that I switched my swords from bleed to quality to fully appreciate his moveset and combos. Additionally, his lore is fascinating. He appears to have been more cursed than malevolent, similar to Malenia and Miquella, and was compelled by Marika to become a tyrant. This adds depth to his character, making him my favorite DLC character and second favorite boss fight.
1. Radahn
Radahn provided a fitting conclusion to the DLC. While I understand why some players may dislike him, I found him to be an exceptional challenge. The first phase is relatively "chill" compared to the intense second phase, which makes him the most challenging FromSoft boss by far. Despite the occasional unfairness, I never felt frustrated, which speaks to the quality of the encounter. The sense of accomplishment upon defeating him after 7-8 hours and 180 attempts is indescribable. My hands were shaking, a feeling I have only experienced when defeating Malenia for the first time, who remains my favorite boss fight.
Conclusion
Overall, I cannot envision a better DLC for Elden Ring. It has been perfect from start to finish, offering the most captivating world to explore and an exceptional cast of bosses. While two of the bosses may be less remarkable, the remaining nine remembrances are at least acceptable to excellent, with five being truly outstanding. This DLC easily ranks as my favorite of all time.