FromSoftware is known for making some of the best bosses in all of video game history, but with that exceptionally high praise also comes a great deal of scrutiny, and some absurdly high expectations. Though FromSoftware has continued to produce excellent bosses, the moment the developer fumbles the bag even just a little it becomes a hot topic in the gaming scene, standing out far more than it would in any other Soulslike.
Not an infallible studio, FromSoftware has had plenty of middling, and even sub-par bosses in its time, many of which are technically enjoyable but aren't overly memorable. But every so often, FromSoftware has produced a boss that's had some overt faults, and all too often it's the bosses that try to go out of their way to do something new and experimental. FromSoftware's handful of PvP bosses are the perfect examples of this, and bringing them to Elden Ring via its Shadow of the Erdtree DLC could be a double-edged sword.
The Cases For and Against Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Including a PvP Boss
The Case For PvP Bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree
Over the last decade and a bit, FromSoftware has repeatedly tried to experiment with PvP bosses. In these boss fights, fellow real-world players are summoned to fight the player on the boss' behalf. In Demon's Souls, the invading boss is the sole opponent the player will face off against, while in Dark Souls 2 and 3, invading players are given a little extra help, either from the Looking Knight boss in DS2, or the Halflight Guardians in DS3. While these PvP boss fights have always been a divisive feature of FromSoftware's past games, they do have their strengths.
Perhaps the greatest strength of FromSoftware's PvP boss fights is that they offer a completely unique type of boss encounter, offering a level of unpredictability and replayability that other FromSoft boss fights can't imitate. This high level of variety is made even better with the addition of distinct gimmicks, such as Dark Souls 2 and 3's NPC assistants. There are over 100 bosses in Elden Ring already, but there are no PvP boss fights yet, and seeing one in Shadow of the Erdtree could be a welcome change of pace.
Elden Ring's Colosseums already offer plenty of options for those wanting their PvP fix right away.
Another argument for a PvP boss fight in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is that the game could offer the best version of this type of encounter that FromSoft has ever made. Arguably, Elden Ring features some of the best PvP mechanics in FromSoftware's catalog, featuring a diverse range of builds that keep every battle engaging and memorable. This refined PvP system deserves to be spotlighted even more.
The Case Against PvP Bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree
But putting a PvP boss fight in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree wouldn't be without its potential downsides. The biggest strength of a FromSoft PvP boss fight has always been its greatest drawback as well. While the unpredictability of the invading player's build type and skill level can be exciting, it can also be infuriating, with players easily getting stuck if they're repeatedly matched with better players, or those using a meta build.
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. And BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.
George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- How Long To Beat
- 58 Hours
- Metascore
- 96
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PS4 & PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
