Summary
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeis huge. The highly anticipated DLC has somehow managed to surpass all expectations when it comes to size and scale, feeling more like a sequel of sorts than an expansion. The map features all kinds of stunning locations, from flower-filled beaches to golden palaces in the sky. One of the more interesting and unique locations featured inElden Ring’s DLC is the gloomy Abyssal Woods. This dark, spooky forest features one of FromSoftware’s most original gameplay mechanics, and it’s hard not to think ofBloodbornewhile playing it.
Despite being over nine years old,Bloodborneremains one of the most beloved action RPGs ever, and many considered it to be FromSoftware’s finest work beforeElden Ringwas released. The game’s Lovecraftian setting of Yharnam is a work of art, and at times it veers more toward horror than any of theDark Soulstrilogy ever did. Some truly grotesque and downrightscary creatures await players inBloodborne’s Gothic world, and Shadow of the Erdtree’s Abyssal Woods invokes strong memories of this.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s Abyssal Woods Are Unique
TheAbyssal Woods is one of Shadow of the Erdtree’s more obscure locations, and it can take players a considerable amount of time and effort to even find it. Players must find a hidden coffin and take a trip in it through a waterfall, emerging near the back entrance of the imposing Shadow Keep, one of the DLC’s biggest legacy dungeons.
Once outside the castle, they must then follow the river south, navigating numerous treacherous cliffs and gravestones in order to descend to the bottom of a ravine. Eventually, they will come to the Darklight Catacombs, which they must navigate before meeting a boss at the very bottom. Defeating this boss finally grants the player access to the Abyssal Woods, but the ordeal is by no means over.
The Abyssal Woods is completely different fromany other location inElden Ring. It features enemies known as Aged Ones, haunting creatures with bright yellow eyes all over their heads. Regular attacks cannot damage these Aged Ones and will inflict madness upon touching the player. The player’s only hope is to hide in the long grass that covers parts of the woods in an attempt to sneak past. For those feeling brave, the monsters' attacks can be parried, but this is incredibly risky and can result in a quick death for the player if timed wrong.
Enemies such asBloodborne’s Brainsuckers andDemon’s Souls' Mindflayers are probably the closest things in terms of aesthetics, but both of these could actually be fought head-on with neither making the player feel as helpless as these Aged Ones will.
The Abyssal Woods Feels Like a Nod to Bloodborne
Gamers have long been crying out for aBloodbornesequel, and the Abyssal Woods certainly feels like a nod to those fans in particular. It borders on survival horror, with the player being unable to defend themselves without the risky use of parrying, which is something FromSoftware hasn’t really done before in this setting.
The Abyssal Woods is a dense area and will take the player some time to navigate because the player cannot summon Torrent there, meaning the entire journey will be experienced on foot. It adds a new layer toElden Ring’s already impressive world and shows that Hidetaka Miyazaki and his team are more than capable of stepping out of their comfort zone if and when needed. It isn’t yet known whatFromSoftware is cooking up next now thatElden Ringis done, but should it decide to branch further into horror, based on this small, unique part of the DLC, it could well find further success there.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
