The recently released Shadow of the Erdtree expansion for Elden Ring has sparked a divisive reaction among fans. On Steam, the expansion currently holds a ‘Mixed’ rating, with 38% of PC players expressing negative feedback based on over 12,000 user reviews. This is a stark contrast to the base game, which received a glowing 93% positive reception from a significant 627,000 reviews. It is evident that the difficulty level in the new expansion has pushed some players into a frustrating territory.
Players are raising concerns about the wonky performance and an inflated difficulty level in Shadow of the Erdtree. Many reviews highlight the presence of bosses with one-shot-kill abilities, making it difficult for once-powerful character builds to progress. Players are struggling to adapt to the new attack patterns, which are described as deliberately hard to read. Some users have even called for an immediate “damage crunch and balance patch” to address these issues. The situation has led to players having to alter their playstyles and resort to cheesing bosses to make any progress, leading to a sense of boredom and unfair punishment.
The warnings issued by FromSoftware president and Dark Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki should have prepared players for the challenges presented by Shadow of the Erdtree. Miyazaki stated that the studio had pushed the boundaries of player endurance, indicating that the expansion would pose significant challenges. Despite this forewarning, even seasoned Elden Ring players found themselves overwhelmed by the difficulty of the expansion, suggesting that Miyazaki’s words were not to be taken lightly.
According to publisher Bandai Namco, Shadow of the Erdtree rivals the scope of a standalone game, offering 20-30 hours of gameplay for completion. The sheer scale of the expansion may be a contributing factor to the mixed reviews, as players are still exploring and experiencing the content at the time of writing. It is possible that those who are enjoying the expansion are too engrossed in the gameplay to leave reviews, skewing the overall rating on Steam.
The release of Shadow of the Erdtree has clearly divided the Elden Ring community, with players expressing frustration over the steep difficulty curve and unbalanced gameplay mechanics. While some may find the expansion to be a thrilling challenge, others are struggling to adapt and enjoy the content. It remains to be seen whether FromSoftware will address these concerns and provide patches to improve the overall experience for players.
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