Erdtree, you see, isnails.

What this density means is that exploration demands from you even greater patience and memory recall than before.

Did you get thrubbed by a boss?

A heavily armoured character waves from a ruinous area in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree.

Looking to level up elsewhere for a bit?

But no, Erdtree’s carbon footprint is high and is all the better for it.

Half-naked feral guys who stroll around forests flexing their claws (someone tell your dad dinner’s ready).

A heavily armoured player with Guts' greatsword chats to Leda in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree.

Curled Hornsent warriors who carve you up using the forbidden Beyblade technique.

Bloated trolls who take after Mohg, with their big bellies bursting with blood.

The bosses are cruel, cruel beasts.

Hopping into a coffin in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree.

The savage lion dancer I fought in the preview being just one of the DLC’s earliest examples.

That’s probably a good thing, though, as none of them are reliant on dumb gimmicks.

It’s just, that final boss fight didn’t feel all thatfinalto me?

Sneaking up on an enemy in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree.

They are numbers, they go up if you so choose.

Greater, wackier variety is on offer, too, if you’re someone who actually plays with finesse.

Same old, same old: I’ll just watch a video.

Fending off a mechanical bird in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree.

Then again, this is what most Souls fan will want!

I loved this expansion, I really did.

An even trimmer direction, perhaps.

Hiding in some bushes in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree.

I can recall Bloodborne and Dark Souls as neat packages of horror, but Elden Ring and Erdtree?

I’m unsure whether they’ll stick with me quite the same.

This review is based on a review build of the game provided by the developer.

Collecting some Revered Spirit Ashes in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree.

A player in Elden Ring holds the sword Milady out to the side while on a clifftop in the Ruins Of Rauh.