Available since June 21st on PC, PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, and Xbox One, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has received universal acclaim from critics. With an average score of 95% on Metacritic based on reviews from 59 sources, it ranks among the highest-rated games of 2024 so far; sparking debate about its potential to be considered for Game of the Year (GOTY) status. While some believe this is clear-cut, others argue that as DLC, it doesn’t qualify for such recognition. We won’t engage in this discussion but will highlight a recent development that has reignited controversy over the difficulty level typical of FromSoftware games. It was previously thought that Elden Ring’s success in 2022 (with over 25 million copies sold) had put to rest any concerns about its challenging gameplay, which is characteristic of the Japanese studio. However, for this DLC, it seems FromSoftware may have taken difficulty to an extreme, resulting in widespread player dissatisfaction.
On Steam, players have expressed dissatisfaction with “Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree,” not due to the intrinsic quality of its gameplay and universe but because of technical issues in the PC version and the game’s perceived excessive difficulty. Out of 42,000 player reviews posted over a weekend, more than 15,000 are negative, reflecting genuine player dissatisfaction rather than a random review bombing. Player frustration centers on basic enemies being too difficult to defeat and bosses being overly powerful even with top-tier equipment. It is well-known that games from From Software’s studio are notoriously challenging; Hidetaka Miyazaki’s team has made this difficulty a hallmark of their work. Monk Henepola Gunaratana, who turned 96 this year, stated, “There is no pleasure without some pain; there is no pain without some pleasure.” This philosophy seems to resonate with the creator of Elden Ring, as Miyazaki has indicated that he will not reduce the DLC’s difficulty in any way.
Lowering the game’s difficulty would diminish its core essence. The sense of achievement derived from pushing one’s limits to overcome challenges is fundamental to the gaming experience.
Hidetaka Miyazaki has stated clearly that he will not reduce the difficulty level of his latest title, Shadow of the Erdtree. Despite making some adjustments for Elden Ring in 2022, which was more accessible due to its open-world design allowing players to enhance their skills before encountering tougher enemies, Miyazaki remains committed to maintaining a challenging experience. In response to player frustration and negative feedback regarding Elden Ring, FromSoftware released tips to assist with progression, recommending that players increase the level of the Scadutree blessing to boost damage dealing and absorption capabilities.
Many consider these tips to be inadequate, arguing that the balance of forces in this DLC does not align with the spirit of Elden Ring from 2022. For example, while it boasts enhanced exploration and level design compared to the base game, Shadow of the Erdtree falls short in teaching players about its level scaling system, akin to Sekiro’s approach, which incentivizes exploration to boost damage and resistance through a percentage-based method. Bosses are especially criticized for their recycled designs with increased aggression, rapid combos, numerous delayed attacks, and multi-frame strikes with limited room for dodging. As a result, solo boss encounters often devolve into prolonged attrition battles where victory is more about luck and extreme caution than understanding the mechanics of these bosses, thus leading to very few satisfying victories compared to those in Elden Ring.
For Juraya, “Shadow of the Erdtree” is undeniably a great DLC, grandiose in scale, and one of the most extensive he has played. However, according to him, the game faces other serious issues that cannot be ignored.
Performance-wise, it is quite disappointing. Regular FPS drops occur frequently at the most inconvenient times, which is extremely frustrating. The boss fights are poorly balanced: some bosses can be defeated effortlessly, while others are overwhelmingly difficult, not due to a lack of skill but because of their exaggerated aggression that makes it nearly impossible to heal or set up combos. All bosses have increased in speed: “All bosses have taken steroids; you better be well-caffeinated if you want to keep up.” Juraya managed to finish the DLC, but its expedited and straightforward ending is also a notable drawback.
Vitalbullet shares a similarly mixed opinion about this DLC, which he has just completed. Here’s what he says:Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, released on June 21st for multiple platforms, has received widespread critical acclaim with an average Metacritic score of 95% based on 59 reviews, placing it among the top-rated games of 2024 and sparking Game of the Year debates. However, the DLC’s high difficulty level has caused significant player backlash, particularly on PC via Steam, where over 15,000 negative reviews were posted in a weekend due to technical issues and perceived excessive challenge. Players find basic enemies difficult to defeat and bosses overpowered, even with top-tier equipment. FromSoftware’s creator, Hidetaka Miyazaki, has stated he won’t reduce the DLC’s difficulty, emphasizing that overcoming obstacles is integral to their games’ essence. While some appreciate the improved exploration and level design compared to the base game, issues include a lack of guidance regarding its level scaling system, poorly balanced boss fights characterized by rapid combos and narrow dodging windows, and performance problems like frequent FPS drops. Despite these criticisms, some players still consider it an impressive DLC, albeit with significant drawbacks.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, released on June 21st across multiple platforms, includes numerous new enemies, armors, weapons, and other items. The bosses are intriguing; however, there is a notable issue with power scaling at present. Certain enemies remain extremely resilient despite using equipment that reduces damage taken or increases damage dealt. Consequently, the gameplay primarily revolves around either attempting to stunlock these enemies using massive weapons or exploiting War’s Remnants, which can become tedious over time.
While I will not review all 15,000 negative reviews individually, it is evident that for a title being considered Game of the Year in 2024, there are significant issues. Players on PC have reported frame rate and freezing problems that make the game nearly unplayable at times. This has led to a mixed reception from players who praised Elden Ring just two years ago. It appears that FromSoftware’s recent changes have not been well-received; extreme difficulty alone does not justify the game’s shortcomings, and this may cause players to eventually lose interest in their future projects. So, is Shadow of the Erdtree overrated? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section…
