Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree – Player Reviews Decline Despite Initial Hype

The much-anticipated Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has finally dropped, and the initial excitement has quickly turned into a mixed bag of reactions from the player base. While the expansion brings a wealth of new content, some players downvoted the game in the Steam reviews. Let’s dive into the main points of contention and separate the legitimate gripes from the noise.

Shadow of the Erdtree Too Difficult?

First up, we have the age-old complaint: the game is too difficult. Seriously? We’re talking about a FromSoftware title here. Difficulty is the name of the game. It’s almost like complaining that water is wet. For those who find the new bosses a tad too challenging, the map is littered with summoners and buffs (Scadutree fragments) designed to make the fights more manageable. It’s almost as if the game encourages you to use these tools strategically. So, let’s be real, calling the difficulty a major issue is kind of whining, just get good.

The Real Deal: Performance Bugs

Now, onto a legitimate concern: performance issues. Despite the hype and the solid foundation laid by the base game, Shadow of the Erdtree has been plagued by technical hiccups. Players have reported low frame rates and occasional small freezes, particularly during intense bossfights. These performance bugs can disrupt the immersion and make the gameplay experience less enjoyable. FromSoftware has acknowledged these issues and is working on patches, but the current state has left a portion of the community frustrated.

Co-op Mod Woes – Patience, People!

Another hot topic in the player reviews is the non-functional co-op mod. Let’s take a moment here. The DLC has been out for a grand total of three days. Modders, while incredibly talented and dedicated, are not miracle workers. Expecting fully functional mods immediately after release is a bit unreasonable. Modding takes time, and the community needs to give these developers a break. In the meantime, enjoy the single-player experience or join forces with friends using the in-game summoning system.

• Check the status of the Seamless co-op mod here

Hitbox Hiccups

Lastly, there have been murmurs about boss animations (Messmer) not matching up with their hitboxes. This issue, while minor compared to performance bugs, can be a source of irritation during critical boss fights. Accurate hitboxes are crucial in a game where precise dodging and timing are key to survival. Players have pointed out a couple of instances where attacks seem to land even when visually dodged, leading to some undeserved deaths and subsequent frustration.

Despite these issues, Shadow of the Erdtree remains a great expansion for Elden Ring. The new content, lore, and challenges are a treat for us who revel in the punishing yet rewarding gameplay that FromSoftware is known for. The real test will be how quickly and effectively the developers can address the performance issues and refine the gameplay experience.

For now, let’s appreciate the depth and complexity of the new expansion and remember that a bit of patience goes a long way in the world of gaming. Shadow of the Erdtree is a marathon, not a sprint.