The newly released Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, is sparking debate among fans. The Steam community is buzzing with comments over the game’s performance on PC and significant difficulty spikes. While praised for its punishing yet rewarding gameplay in the past, FromSoftware’s signature difficulty is hitting some players hard this time around.
What’s the Problem?
Veterans of Elden Ring are finding the DLC excessively challenging, even for their well-honed skills. The source of frustration seems to be a new leveling system within the DLC. Unlike the base game, Shadow of the Erdtree weakens players, forcing them to collect fragments to regain strength. This essentially resets progress, irking players who invested significant time building their characters using Elden Ring’s weapons, spells and strategies. Along with this most of the Pre-DLC weapons and spells have received nerfs, encouraging players to explore the Shadow realm and level their characters.
Big time streamers like Asmongold has also expressed their opinions on whether the DLC is hard or people just want to grind their way through.
Another complaint is enemy design. Some players feel enemies have overly long attack sequences, making it difficult to find openings for counterattacks. Many criticize the boss fight design, citing “endless combos” and “excessive damage” as unfair mechanics. While Elden Ring sounds typical where characters employ their aptitude, dexterity and strength, Shadow of the Erdtree seems to be demotivating with demotions.
Performance issues by PC gamers are yet another concern. PC gamers report stuttering and lag impacting gameplay, especially during battles. Bandai Namco US issued a tweet suggesting players utilize the “Scadutree Blessing” mechanic to boost stats, which some interpret as a dismissive response to difficulty concerns. On the flip side, console versions (PS5 & Xbox Series X/S) maintain positive reviews with user scores around 8.2-8.3, indicating the issues are primarily affecting PC players.
A Growing Fanbase, A Growing Challenge?
Elden Ring’s massive success has brought in a wider audience than FromSoftware’s previous titles. This influx of newcomers might be struggling with the notoriously difficult combat these games are known for.
While difficulty is a selling point, Elden Ring’s brilliance lies in its deep combat system and unique storytelling approach. However, the constant challenge can overshadow these aspects, making it hard to appreciate the game’s art style and atmosphere.
The Developer’s Perspective
Series creator Hidetaka Miyazaki is a self-proclaimed “masochist” who intentionally crafts challenging experiences. He believes overcoming these difficulties is a core part of the game’s appeal.
The Verdict?
Gamers feel the DLC abandons the “challenging but fair” approach of the base game. Although the difficulty is fascinating for most of the fans, the potential drawbacks including, technical problems and frustration with the PC version’s difficulty cannot be overlooked. They might alienate new players or overshadow other aspects of the game. However, positive reception on consoles can also not be understated.
