FromSoftware has always faced certain design challenges that permeate all the DLC and expansion packs it creates for its games. It has nothing to do with the quality of the content itself or how it is accessed. The problem was always that the studio never found a good solution for where new content stood in terms of difficulty and challenge.
Typically, the DLC difficulty is comparable to the final game difficulty of the main game. If you take the time to optimize your build, you’ll have the best chance of experiencing new content with a fair level of challenge. I’ve never really done min-max, so I always feel underpowered when facing the first enemy in the DLC. It’s never a good feeling, and the climb to regain power felt arbitrary at best and betrayed the time I’d invested in the character at worst.
considering how many Elden RingThe design was in response to the studio’s classic leanings, and I wasn’t surprised when I learned that, and I was delighted shadow of treeThe game’s upcoming expansion itself will address long-standing DLC balance issues.
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Apparently, the inspiration for this new direction came from an unlikely place: Ax: Shadow Dies Twice. Sekiro is a unique game in FromSoftware’s vast catalog. This is a game that has created its own rules and isn’t afraid to replace or outright eschew long-standing foundations. This is one of the studio’s most focused and refined creations. This is also the most stringent. However, I never felt like it had a significant impact on the developer’s subsequent actions.
But that’s about to change, as Shadow of the Black Tree may have learned the most valuable lesson from one of the core elements that made Sekiro what it is. In an interview with Famitsu, game director and studio boss Hidetaka Miyazaki revealed how the expansion will include a new way to gain powers alongside the standard upgrade system.
Miyazaki explicitly confirmed that it was inspired by Sekiro, and that it only existed in Shadow of the Erdtree. The interview was conducted in Japanese, and our translation wasn’t the cleanest, but the idea was certainly as clear as you’d expect.
As Miyazaki said, the way this so-called “Attack Power” system appears to work is similar to how Boss Memories works in Sekiro. In this game, true power can only be gained by defeating the core boss. Traditional stats and upgrades don’t exist, so the game requires you to play in a certain way in order to increase your power. After defeating the boss, you will receive a one-time consumable item that can increase your health, damage, and posture.
According to Miyazaki, the new system incorporates the same spirit as the main game’s challenge levels, as players will face tough bosses they may not be able to overcome, which will make other areas they explore more difficult and manageable. This, in turn, gave them power, making the once invincible threat significantly less severe. However, how elements of Sekiro will be integrated into it remains the biggest mystery.
I suspect that defeating mini-bosses and other non-major enemies in the world of Shadow of the Erdtree will be how you gain permanent power boosts; a methodical, more direct way to develop your power if you so choose.This approach also leaves room for players who want a greater challenge, allowing them to dive straight into the toughest battles in the DLC No Get this kind of power, so you can imagine the kinds of runs we’ll see post-launch where players specifically avoid the new mechanics (or complete the DLC with unmodified characters from the main game).
This is actually how the flaws I mentioned at the beginning are addressed, as Tree Shadow allows for meaningful progression, both for players who have already perfected their builds, and for those looking for a natural power-up similar to the experience Players have already played the main game.
It’s a smart move and shows that FromSoft isn’t content to rest on its laurels. The developer’s passion for iteration and experimentation builds on the open-world foundation that underpins this vast DLC and delivers a game that has the potential to surpass even Bloodborne’s The Elder and Dark Souls’ Abyssal. Tolia experience.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree will launch on June 21, 2024, priced at $40.
