Summary
FromSoftware titles have never been known for their overt storytelling, andElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreecontinues in this vein by making players dig through notes and item descriptions to get the lore of the Land of Shadow. Sometimes, there are little nuggets of more overt storytelling, like cutscenes or pieces of dialogue that are vague and mysterious. These are few and far between, however, since half the fun ofElden Ring’s world-building comes from hunting every scrap that Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin have left behind.
Hunting for these scraps can be tireless work, with some players going so far as to export models to get a closer look at the details, such as YouTubers Zullie the Witch and BonfireVN. Still, when it comes to getting a helping hand from the developer through pieces of dialogue and cutscenes,it can be frustrating when it all feels underwhelming, especially after trying to defeat some of FromSoftware’s hardest enemies to see them. This is most obviously present withShadow of the Erdtree’s ending cutscene after defeating the final boss.
[Spoilers ahead forElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s ending.]
Disturbing Elden Ring Detail Proves Mohg Doesn’t Deserve Your Pity After DLC
Players have been sympathetic to Mohg ever since the DLC was released, but it doesn’t change that the Omen is still a power-hungry villain.
Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Ending Is Disappointing
Makes Players Fight One Of The Hardest Bosses To See It
It should be noted that nothing inShadow of the Erdtreeis meant to replacethe original endings ofElden Ring, since all the content is meant to be in addition to, rather than instead of, the base game. The ending of the expansion was never meant to replace the ending of the base game, andwas only meant to add context, but it doesn’t do much of that either. After defeating Miquella and Promised Consort Radahn, there is a short cutscene of Miquella declaring that he will make the world a gentler place.
Shadow of the Erdtreerecontextualizes the kidnapping situation with Mohg and Miquella, earning theLord of Blood pity after the DLC’srelease.
There is a little more to it, but not much more, and the Gate of Divinity,which is meant to be an important landmark in theElden Ringworld where Marika became a god, can’t be interacted with. It feels like the other Demi-God bosses, likeRykard, Lord of Blasphemy, Malenia, and Godrick, except nothing new has opened up, and there isn’t even a Great Rune at the end. At most, players get theCirclet of Light, which doesn’t have much to its item description to add to the lore.
The boss arena before theGate of Divinity is where two Empyreans have come to ascend to godhood, if Miquella is counted. It feels as though it should be interacted with and have a cutscene of its own, perhaps showing howMarika became a godand the sacrifices that had to be made to do so. Instead, players can’t even go up to the Gate of Divinity because of the set of stairs being broken, which seems like an arbitrary way to keep the Tarnished out.
Elden Ring: Should You Join Volcano Manor?
The Tarnished can join the blasphemous Volcano Manor in Elden Ring. Even though they seem evil, joining has no downsides and gives players new quests.
Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Ending Provides Less Than Other Soulsborne DLCs
It Is The Biggest Of The Bunch
WithShadow of the Erdtree’s size, it is safe to say that it is one of the largest expansions ever made andis larger than both ofDark Souls 3’s DLC put together. When comparing the ending of the twoDark Souls 3endings, since they are intertwined, it does leave a lot to be desired. After defeating Slave Knight Gael at the end of the world, a place as climactic as the Gate of Divinity, players can give the Blood of theDark Soulto The Painter to make a new world.
The Painter is the daughter of Crossbreed Priscilla, who is an optional boss fromDark Souls 1.
For comparison, beatingPromised Consort RadahninShadow of the Erdtreeis like if the Ashen One defeated Slave Knight Gael and the DLC just ended there with a cutscene of the boss saying how he would get the Blood of the Dark Soul for his lady’s painting without letting players go back to Ariandel. It feels like there should be more inShadow of the Erdtree’s ending.There should be more about Marika, more about Miquella, or just more about the Greater Willthrough The Gate of Divinity.
The ending ofElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeis especially disappointing and teasing because of how great the expansion is and how much it recontextualizes. It changes the perspective of the Greater Will with Metyr, Mother of Fingers, gives context to Dragon Communion through Bayle the Dread, and expands on the Frenzied Flame through Midra. The expansion does so much for everything else that when it does practically nothing for the ending, it leaves players wanting more.
