My hands-on with Shadow of the Erdtree was just what I wanted: more Elden Ring

My first steps into Elden Ring’s new Shadow of the Erdtree enlargement really feel like coming house once more. After touring there, by touching a withered arm, I step out right into a grassy plain, and see a crumbling big tree within the distance. The land is pocked with intangible gravestones and spirit-world variations of enemies I’ve confronted earlier than: canine and wandering nobles. However it isn’t lengthy till I face one thing terrifying on this new area, the Land of Shadow, within the type of a large strolling iron brazier stuffed with embers and burning prisoners.

As I attempt to slash at that hundred-foot monstrosity, I study fairly rapidly that even the extremely leveled, generously geared up knight I’ve been given to play as a part of a three-hour preview of the DLC isn’t any match for the factor. It kicks big, unavoidable piles of flaming particles at me as I attempt to run away. A handful of different unfamiliar monsters — Gravebirds, smaller cousins of the Dying Ceremony Birds from Elden Ring, and lithe ash-skinned humanoids armed with twin round blades — pile on and thrash my poor knight.

Even at a excessive degree, I’m underprepared for what awaits within the Land of Shadow. However there’s a brand new form of power-up scattered across the Gravesite Plain and in dungeons close by: Scadutree Fragments. These new consumable gadgets are splinters from this world’s model of the Erdtree. They bestow Scadutree Blessing on my knight, boosting just about all of his stats. Shadow of the Erdtree gamers might want to hunt these fragments right down to take care of the highly effective enemies right here. In my three hours of playtime, I discovered a half-dozen of them with relative ease. I additionally discovered loads of the DLC’s different new power-up, Revered Spirit Ash, an merchandise that makes my Spirit Ashes and my steed, Torrent, stronger.

Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes can be utilized at websites of grace within the Land of Shadow to turn into stronger, much like how gamers use Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears to empower their flasks in Elden Ring. The blessings supplied by these new power-ups are instantly obvious, however they solely supercharge my character whereas he’s within the Land of Shadow. (Whereas in that land, you’ll see your stats are boosted with the colour yellow. Again within the Lands Between, they revert to white.)

Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco

Attending to the Land of Shadow requires two main accomplishments in Elden Ring. You need to defeat Starscourge Radahn at Redmane Fort and Mohg, Lord of Blood at Mohgwyn Palace. When you do, you’ll be capable of transport to this unusual new land with the help of a knight, certainly one of Miquella’s many followers that you just’ll meet in Shadow of the Erdtree’s journey.

Assembly the followers of Miquella, all of whom confer with the mysterious brother of the swordswoman Malenia as “kindly” or “tender,” I used to be struck by one other distinction right here within the Land of Shadow: a way of hope. Not like the despair that permeates the Lands Between in the principle story of Elden Ring, the individuals you meet within the Land of Shadow all appear content material.

I met a handful of Miquella’s followers at stations often called Three-Path Crosses, mentioned to characterize Miqeulla’s footprints on his journey via this land. At these gold, glowing crosses, I met new NPCs and retailers, a few of whom gave me gadgets to make use of or quests to undertake. One, named Freyja, mentioned she was a former ally of Basic Radahn. One other claimed to be a servant of Mohg. One Miquella devotee, Moore, was a simple-minded service provider. Not like most of the confused and downtrodden NPCs typical of FromSoftware’s video games, the followers of Miquella all appear unusually completely happy. All of them seem to help you in your mission right here, regardless of your standing as a Tarnished. (Why they object to that isn’t fairly clear, based mostly on my playtime.)

Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco

Past the Gravesite Plain is a handful of legacy dungeons, catacombs, and strongholds. The biggest that I noticed was Belurat, an enormous fortress settlement with labyrinthine pathways patrolled by new sorts of enemies. I fought scorpions of fairly massive and terrifyingly massive sizes, annoying spellcasters, and humanoid giants.

On the finish of my journey via Belurat, I encountered the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, a multitude of human limbs, cloth, and a lion’s head, beforehand seen in Shadow of the Erdtree’s first trailer. The Dancing Lion attacked with a chaotic rhythm, deploying freezing and lightning-based assaults as I attempted to maintain up with its frenzied dance. My highly effective pre-built knight and a pair of summons — two of Miquella’s followers — made the battle comparatively straightforward (it actually received’t be that straightforward with my Elden Ring character). After killing it, the Dancing Lion dropped its personal head, which I then proceeded to put on as a comically outsized helmet. That new piece of armor amplified my knight’s power and dexterity, however lowered the effectiveness of my flasks.

Earlier than my journey to the fortress of Belurat, I stumbled upon a gaol beneath it, the place I found probably the most horrible factor I’ve seen in Elden Ring but. The Belurat gaol, a catacombs-style dungeon, is stuffed with Residing Jars who reside there. However right here’s the unhealthy half: The scraps of meat that gamers usually get from smashing these jars is, on this place, nonetheless very a lot alive. For the primary time, we get to see what lives contained in the jars: a glistening, tumorous monstrosity that may assault you with their very own guts and launch themselves to pin you down. Disgusting although they could be, these jar-meat-people nonetheless handle to stick to Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki’s well-known quote about not counting on “the gross issue” to unnerve gamers. They’re each repulsive and unhappy to look upon.

Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco

The opposite area out there throughout my hands-on time with the enlargement is called Fort Ensis. It’s a mid-scale legacy dungeon guarded by a brand new sort of big troll; this one can use magic, a herald of what’s to come back (i.e., loads of sorcerers). Whereas exploring Fort Ensis, I encountered a knight with a large hammer who, within the means of beating me to dying with that hammer, signaled that I wasn’t able to face him. Reps from Bandai Namco urged to these in attendance that if we have been to face such a problem, we must always search out further Scadutree Fragments to turn into aggressive.

I declined that recommendation and took the opposite possibility in Elden Ring: run previous every part. By sprinting via Ensis, I efficiently made my method to its boss, Rellana, Twin Moon Knight. She’s a former Carian princess and the youthful sister of Elden Ring boss Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon. Like Rennala, Rellana can throw magical moons at you whereas additionally dual-wielding a pair of lengthy blades that deal magic and fireplace injury. Just like the Dancing Lion, I managed to defeat her, however solely with the help of a number of summoned allies who helped me break her poise and stagger her a number of occasions.

My victory can be credited to a brand-new weapon within the sport: my speedy however highly effective, poise-breaking mild greatsword named — of all issues — Milady. Mild greatsword is a brand new class of weapon in Shadow of the Erdtree. Different new additions embrace the Backhand Blade, a curved sword held at a backward angle that delivers thrust assaults and slashes to enemies’ flanks; Dryleaf Arts, one of many new martial arts weapons that’s not likely a weapon, however a mode of hand-to-hand fight; and the Crimson Bear’s Claw, an precise severed bear paw modified with metal claws.

Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco

New weapon varieties I didn’t actually get to spend a lot time with are the beforehand revealed thrusting shields, that are shields which have pointy ends; throwing blades, a variation on the present throwing knives that may be geared up as a main weapon; fragrance bottles, additionally now a main weapon possibility; and the good katana, which is, effectively, a bigger model of a normal katana. Bandai Namco and FromSoftware promise 100 new weapons in Shadow of the Erdtree, with the handful of latest additions I examined already feeling like enjoyable new variations on current preventing types.

Throughout my three hours with the sport, I really feel like I’ve barely scratched the floor of what Shadow of the Erdtree will add to Elden Ring. I’ve already noticed some fascinating new characters and lore, intimidating new challenges, and intriguing vibes. Whether or not the hopeful tenor of Miquella’s followers is genuine or some form of misdirect earlier than issues go terribly south, we’ll all have to find when Shadow of the Erdtree is launched on June 21.

[Disclosure: This article is based on an Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree preview event held by publisher Bandai Namco in Los Angeles on May 24. Bandai Namco provided gamerjive’s travel and accommodations for the event. You can find additional information about gamerjive’s ethics policy here.]