Summary
There’s one big problem withElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. The DLC was one of the most anticipated video game releases of the year, and it’s easy to see why.Elden Ringwas a massive hit, garnering a player base in the millions, glowing reviews, and even a Game of the Year award in 2022. Many consider itFromSoft’s best Soulsborne game, and the developer has an excellent track record when it comes to DLC.Shadow of the Erdtreehas lived up to the hype in numerous ways, with fans praising its scope and inventiveness.
ButShadow of the Erdtreehas also drawn a lot of criticism, mainly for its difficulty. Its Steam reviews dropped to Mixed in the early days of its release, andanElden Ringpatch soon followed, rebalancing some of the DLC’s upgrade materials to help struggling players. But even before that, players were able to overcomeShadow of the Erdtree’s hardest bosseseither by clever build customization or sheer force of will. The difficulty was never the DLC’s biggest issue, and its actual cardinal sin has yet to be addressed in an update.
Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree Is Too Foggy
Visibility Is Low In The Land Of Shadow
ForgetRellana’s unstoppable combos, orMessmer’s searing fire:the biggest problem withShadow of the Erdtreeis the fog that constantly blanketsthe map. Throughout the majority of the DLC, it’s impossible to see more than a few feet in front of the Tarnished’s face, which complicates the gameplay in frustratingly repetitive ways. Exploration feels more like a chore than a joy, since the player can’t see the glimmer of a distant item or the entrance to a forgotten catacomb until they’re standing right on top of it. They have to comb every inch of the map to find things to do. Enemies pop out of the mist like monsters inSilent Hill, jumpscaring the player and preventing any attempt at strategizing conflict against large groups.
Fog has always been an important part of the atmosphere in Soulsborne games- it’s no coincidence that players have to step through a wall of fog almost any time they challenge a major boss. It’s ominous, even frightening, not to know what one is walking into. It evokes images of abandoned graveyards, of ghostly figures. At times, the fog can even be representative of story concepts, like fell curses that have spread throughout a land, or the material conditions of an area, like poison clouds hovering stagnant over foul swamps. It’s great set dressing and, when paired withElden Ring’s barebones, droning musical score, establishes a pitch-perfect tone.
Uniquely among Soulsborne games,Elden Ringhas an advanced weather system, with distinct weather events like golden light that increases runes gained, or rain that changes enemy weakness to certain elements.
But it’s overused inShadow of the Erdtree. More so thanDark Souls,Bloodborne, orSekiro,Elden Ringis an exploration-based game: if the player just makes a beeline for the bosses, they’re missing out on hundreds of hours' worth of optional content, challenging dungeons, unique armaments, cool skills, et cetera. Fog impedes exploration in the DLC, so much so that it might take twice as long to explore an area in low-visibility conditions versus when the air is clear.
Elden Ring Modder Has Already Removed One Of The DLC’s Most Controversial Features
Following the controversial introduction of Scadutree Fragments in Elden Ring, one modder manages to remove the consumable from the game.
Elden Ring’s Fog Effect Is A Missed Opportunity
The Potential Of Weather Events In Shadow Of The Erdtree
Honestly,the idea of low visibility as an occasional weather condition for the player to contend with is pretty interesting. There are areas where it’s used well. For example, west of Castle Ensis, there’s a narrow valley blanketed by greenish fog. As the player wanders the mist, they see one small, humanoid form, then five; before long, they’re beset on all sides by Vulgar Militiamen, pelting them with poison damage. It’s a memorable little moment, the kind of whichElden Ringis packed full of. Encounters like these even occur spontaneously with fog as a random (if less frequent) weather effect.
Butone can have too much of a good thing, and that seems to beShadow of the Erdtree’s approach to fog. It’s just everywhere, turning what should’ve been carefully planned battles into random encounters. It muddies the beauty of the Land of Shadow. Stunning views and interesting details are nigh impossible to spot from afar. Instead of soaking up the scenery and indulging in meditative exploration, the player is constantly straining to see.
Fog shouldn’t be removed fromShadow of the Erdtreeentirely. It’s central to the atmosphere, and actually has great potential if used sparingly. It just rolls in too frequently as-is inElden Ring’s DLC, and could stand to undergo a little tweaking in future patches.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is a popular game released by From Software, creators of games such as Armored Core, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Players assume the role of a Tarnished, a being once exiled to the Lands Between and has returned to repair the Elden Ring after the events of “The Shattering.” “The Shattering” occurred when the offspring of Queen Marika battled to claim the shards of the Elden Ring, known as Great Runes. Their war has brought lawlessness, destruction, and chaos to the land, and the player will challenge them with the assistance of a Maiden known as Melina as they travel towards the great Erd Tree to face their destiny and to become the one true Elden Lord. Players can tackle the game how they choose and can adventure across realms as they build their character how they want - be it a powerful magic caster or a brutal swordsman - they will have complete control over their build.
