Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree not only builds on the base game's contributions to the Soulborne genre, but also harkens back to a classic FromSoftware mechanic in previous titles. While players could originally alter their character in more subtle ways, like being touched by the Three Fingers or embracing Dragon Communion, these visually-striking changes have never had a direct impact on moment-to-moment gameplay. The concept of full transformations has been revisited in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, but despite the nostalgic quality to this addition, it still feels like a more cautious inclusion than a true leap forward.