Summary
AfterElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’srelentless gauntlet of some of the toughest bosses we’ve ever faced in a FromSoftware game, I went back to the world ofSekiro. I must hate myself, because Sekiro is the only Soulsborne I’ve never clicked with.
Being bottlenecked into using one weapon and a specific, tailored playstyle meant learning its combat was a narrow path with no room for experimentation. In past FromSoft outings, I could change my build and feel reinvigorated, able to go back to the fight after hours of crushing defeat with newfound momentum.
Five years later, I’m reintroducing myself to Sekiro and I finally get it. Its deflection-driven swordplay is some of the most satisfying combat I’ve seen in an action game, and mastering that system is rewarding in a way no other FromSoftware game has managed to replicate. Even though I’m slamming my head against the impenetrable wall that is its final boss, after hours upon hours of stubborn determination, I can’t put it down because I want nothing more than to learn each pattern to perfection.
I wish I had come to terms with SekirobeforeShadow of the Erdtree, because so much of FromSoftware’s first Game of the Year winner paves the way forits definitive expansion. Elden Ring and Sekiro were developed simultaneously, so there’s not much connective tissue between the two. In Elden Ring, you can feel the history ofDark Souls,Bloodborne, andDemon’s Soulspermeating throughout the entire adventure, but the only connection to Sekiro is the dedicated jump button.
Shadow of the Erdtree on the other hand weaves Elden Ring and Sekiro together beautifully. It has some of the fastest and most unforgiving bosses FromSoftware has developed, pulling you to the edge of your seat, just like in 2019. Rellana, Messmer, and Consort Radahn have far more in common with the likes of Owl, Isshin, and Lady Butterfly than the more soulslike bruisers commonly found in the base game.
The Scadutree Fragment leveling systemis almost identical to the Prayer Beads, pushing you to get stronger not by farming XP from enemies but by exploring and fighting tooth and nail with some of the hardest optional boss fights. Many Soulsborne fans who went into the expansion hoping that they could power through with maxed-out gear and a high level were outraged to find that, like Sekiro, it simply wouldn’t work. Each fight punishes you for every single misstep, and so you must practice and truly engross yourself in each movement they make, learning their every tick.
Sekiro and Shadow of the Erdtree want you to engage with each fight like it’s a meticulous dance routine, emphasizing patience and finesse, rather than brute force. To that end, there’s even a new Crystal Tear that you can add to your Flask of Wondrous Physick whichallows you to deflect- just like in Sekiro.
Dubbed the Deflecting Hardtear, it’s found very early on in your adventure across the realm of shadow and makes some of the most notorious bosses a lot easier. It’s clear that FromSoftware wanted us to approach this DLC like it was Sekiro, dodging and perfectly blocking each attack while carefully waiting for an opening, never being too greedy at the risk of being punished for our hubris.
Shadow of the Erdtree is a whistle-stop tour through the greatest hits in FromSoftware’s library, paying homage to every game that led us here. But nothing prepares you for it like a few days toughing it out in Sekiro, mastering its swordplay and the rhythm of its progression, the achievements you make with each step in the story are what embolden you, rather than the scraps of currency you hoard.
So many of us went in expecting another spiritual successor to Dark Souls, but Shadow of the Erdtree is as much a continuation of Sekiro. Unlike Souls, simply pushing through the game isn’t enough to make it easier and to grow stronger, you have to truly master the systems in play.
That’s why I never clicked with Sekiro, because I went in with the mentality that if I just stuck with it and pushed through the most arduous fights, my character would inevitably grow stronger and make everything easier. But that’s not how Sekiro, nor Shadow of the Erdtree, works. You have to overcome those hurdles and master each individual fight, learning every single enemy’s unique patterns and weaknesses, or you’ll never make a dent.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
WHERE TO PLAY
Bringing classic FromSoftware gameplay to feudal Japan, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice sees a lone shinobi, Wolf, seek revenge. You must take on formidable bosses along the way, using all your skills to survive and conquer.
