It's been a few days since Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree dropped. So here is the in-depth analysis of all aspects of the game after scouring through most of the reviews online,
Story: 90/100 (This is the average of story scores across reviews)
The story impresses critics with its deep narrative, expansion of lore, and new characters like Miquella the Kind. While some find the story cryptic and lacking clarity, most praise the DLC for its rich world-building, atmospheric storytelling, and intriguing plot developments, making it a valuable addition to the Elden Ring universe.
Gameplay: 95/100 (This is the average of gameplay scores across reviews)
Critics rave about the gameplay for its challenging mechanics, diverse combat options, and rewarding exploration. New enhancements, weapons, areas, and combat mechanics add depth. Some mention lack of super challenging bosses and high difficulty, but overall, critics find the gameplay exceptional with engaging combat and exploration, making it a must-play for fans of the series.
Graphics: 94/100 (This is the average of graphics scores across reviews)
Critics overwhelmingly impressed by the stunning graphics and visual design, praising diverse environments, intricate details, and creative designs. Some noted performance issues on console and PC, but overall consensus remains highly positive. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree stands out as a visually striking and artistically brilliant game in the modern market.
Sound: 91/100 (This is the average of sound and music scores across reviews)
Critics unanimously praised the sound design and music for its exceptional quality and immersive impact, with haunting melodies and epic orchestral scores enhancing the dark fantasy setting. Reviewers noted the dynamic sound design's depth in boss fights and encounters, without any significant negative critiques. The consistent excellence and attention to detail in the audio experience underscore FromSoftware's craftsmanship, creating a cohesive and immersive audio-visual experience.
Technical Performance: 75/100 (This is the average of performance scores across reviews)
The performance receives mixed reviews: praised for smooth gameplay on Xbox Series X and stable performance on PC by some, but criticized for issues on PC and PS5 by others. While some see potential for improvement, most critics agree that the game offers an enjoyable experience with room for technical enhancements on all platforms.
Replay Value: 87/100 (This is the average of replay value scores across reviews)
Critics widely praise Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree for its exceptional replay value, thanks to new challenges, secrets, and customization options. Despite some minor drawbacks like lack of new achievements, the vast content, diverse weapons, and high-quality side quests make it a highly engaging and rewarding experience with significant replayability.
Overall: 93/100
Critik: 89/100
Metacritic: 95/100
Opencritic: 94/100
Overall, Critics praise Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree for its captivating storytelling, engaging gameplay, stunning visuals, and high replay value. The expansion's vertical exploration in the Shadow Realm is a unique highlight, seamlessly integrated with the main game. While some critics noted drawbacks like variable difficulty levels and narrative issues, the overwhelmingly positive consensus hails it as a must-play addition that exceeds expectations, elevating the core Elden Ring experience with rich content and creative design.
Do you agree with the consensus? What's your take on it? I personally think it's the DLC / game of the year so far, no doubt. Nothing comes close!
Disclaimer: The critic consensus, summaries and scores for the story, gameplay, graphics, etc. were taken from Critik
4 Comments
Steam reviews would disagree
This is a beautiful breakdown of an incredible game. Appreciate the time you put into this!
Hard disagree. FF7 Rebirth was better and deserves Game of the Year.
I had high expectations and was still blown away by the art design, level design, verticality, enemies, music and gameplay. I started with Dark Souls 1 a few years ago and it’s been incredible to see this progression.