Action RPG

Elden Ring Nightreign Review – An Experiment Well Worth Your Time

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In this review, we’ll discuss FromSoftware’s recent game in the Elden Ring series, titled Elden Ring: Nightreign, which stirred up some debate upon its release in May. As time has passed, let’s examine how it compares to other FromSoft games now that the initial dust has settled. It is important to note that I have earned all Steam achievements for both Nightreign and the original Elden Ring, providing a deep understanding of the game’s complexities. If you seek insights from an experienced player, this review is for you! Although I approached this release with some trepidation due to FromSoftware’s handling, I must admit that I was left impressed by the accomplishments here, despite a handful of minor flaws.

A Rogue Twist

To players who are long-time fans of Souls games and unfamiliar with rogue genre titles, Nightreign might seem “unfamiliar” or “different”. Typically, games in the rogue genre originate from smaller studios, so it was unexpected to see one emerge from a larger studio like FromSoft. However, over the past few years, I’ve grown fond of the rogue genre, particularly when it includes multiplayer features. In fact, I found myself pleasantly surprised by how successfully FromSoft incorporated the fast-paced decisions and builds characteristic of roguelikes into their unique style. I initially doubted that a Souls game could offer the same level of addictive gameplay as traditional rogue runs, but Nightreign managed to do just that.

Games like Risk of Rain 2 have set a high bar for me, boasting multiple playable characters, collectibles, intricate build options, and endless replayability. Nightreign appears to be similar yet distinct, infused with the Souls’ ethos. Upon starting, you are immediately guided through a tutorial, highlighting your enhanced speed and agility compared to Elden Ring originally. This change is quite welcome, as it enhances both evasion and aggression, making them feel more responsive. For me, this mobility upgrade was beneficial, as it made dodging more reactive and co-op battles with three players became intense without being overwhelming.

Soon following the lesson, you find yourself in an adapted form of the Roundtable Hold from the initial Elden Ring game. This central area serves as a hub offering shops, combat practice zones, customization options for character classes and outfits, and crucially, the chalice loadout that we’ll discuss later. At present, Nightreign offers 8 distinct character classes, or Nightfarers, each with specific stat progressions, playstyles, abilities, and histories. Upon reaching the Roundtable, you can opt for a run either alone, tailored for single player experience, or with two additional players, adjusted accordingly for three-player gameplay.

Starting your initial game in Nightreign, you’ll take off towards Limveld, a map that creates itself with numerous attractions on the fly. Structures might appear familiar, but they are rearranged and reshuffled at random, leaving it to you to choose your route. Limveld can also grow new areas like a towering volcanic chasm or an icy mountain peak, brought about by an occurrence known as Shifting Earth. As you continue playing Nightreign, the purpose of each point of interest gradually reveals itself to you.

In Nightreign, progression varies from starting at basic camps to elevate your character’s level, visiting churches that expand your flask capacity, and assaulting fortresses brimming with bosses. Mastering the layout in Nightreign is crucial for success. With time constantly running out as a storm approaches, it’s essential to stay active if you aim to optimize your progress. Initially, my early attempts were filled with learning the game mechanics and unnecessary backtracking. However, once I grasped how to interpret the map and prioritize important upgrades, the game became more intuitive for me.

The nature of the plunder varies, as each weapon you discover comes with unique passive traits that modify your gaming experience. If you choose not to employ the weapon in battle, you can store it away and reap its passive benefit at the expense of one out of six available weapon slots. You might stumble upon a blue item boasting an impressive skill and passive status effect such as “Rot,” which could significantly aid your journey throughout the game, but it won’t be upgraded yet, so you’ll need to make your way to a mine and obtain a Level 2 Smithing Stone. This process can transform your early-game weapons into late-game purple items.

Classic Bosses Await, But New Challenges Rise

For the initial two days, you’ll encounter old bosses from both Elden Ring and the Dark Souls trilogy. Some of these bosses have received fresh movesets designed to tackle multiple players simultaneously. If you’ve played any of these games before, Nightreign might evoke a nostalgic rush in an exciting way.

In the end, the third day serves as the climax, offering an opportunity to relax, resupply, and make any final upgrades before encountering one of the eight Night Lords. These formidable adversaries are fresh creations from FromSoft, and they certainly delivered. Many of these bosses can only be characterized as “epic cinema”.

In the game “Nightreign”, there’s an initial character named Tricephalos, resembling Cerberus, who separates into three parts to demonstrate that the game is designed for a team of three players. Unfortunately, Tricephalos posed a significant challenge for many players when the game was first released, and it might be tough for newcomers as well. It’s challenging, but once you understand how to collaborate effectively as a team, it becomes fair. Losing at the start is just a stepping stone towards growth, and it’s during this phase that the unpredictable aspects of the game come into play.

In the game Nightreign, when a run concludes, you’ll receive relics and a currency known as Murk. Murk is useful for purchasing outfits, emotes, but most significantly, Chalices and Relics for your Nightfarer. When you attach a Chalice to your Nightfarer, it creates three color-coded slots where you can place Relics. These Relics can have a profound impact on the game, offering permanent stat boosts, as well as passive abilities that alter your skills. As I delved deeper into the game, I began to appreciate its complexity and depth.

For instance, Guardian’s fundamental skill is a compact crowd control twirl. Over time, you can adjust it to become significantly larger and longer-lasting, and the difference is quite noticeable. Each Relic allows for a maximum of three perks, so in total you can have 9 passive abilities active simultaneously. If you don’t receive ideal Relics for your character early on due to random chance, you can follow the corresponding Remembrance Journal questline for your Nightfarer. These Remembrances provide insight into each character’s background, but they also grant access to character-specific missions that reward you with Chalices and customized Relics suitable for that Nightfarer in exchange.

As a gamer, I previously pointed out that when you’re lost in the game’s progression or can’t figure out the most effective routes, it definitely makes the game challenging. These aspects were not something we needed to ponder over in the original version, so it’s no surprise that they pose a challenge. It seems to me that this initial confusion with the game may have contributed to some harsh player feedback at its launch, and the first Night Lord Tricephalos was indeed a formidable obstacle for many players.

Users expressed worries and dissatisfaction regarding the game’s insufficient communication mechanisms, particularly in relation to its cooperative features. The absence of voice chat, text chat, or even predefined dialogues like those found in Monster Hunter, leaving only basic pings as a means of interaction, has been a point of contention. After spending more than 100 hours playing with both friends and random players, I personally believe that the fundamental pings are sufficient. I imagine FromSoft intentionally limited communication options to avoid fostering toxicity, given they wouldn’t be able to monitor it, and I understand their decision. Playing a Souls game inherently involves challenges. Including cooperative play with strangers adds a distinct level of difficulty, which is undeniable.

A Bright Future Ahead

As you delve into the game, you pick up its nuances and grow more skilled. Tasting victory in this exceptional journey is highly satisfying, and I applaud FromSoft for their daring experiment during a partial price launch. There’s been quite a buzz on social media lately. Clips of players uncovering fresh and innovative strategies to master each Nightfarer have been circulating.

Discovering innovative strategies for shortcuts, even solo Night Lords players at Level 1 are learning new moves. It’s fascinating to witness the creative solutions players uncover, especially since FromSoft continues to expand the game with free updates, including tougher Night Lords and upcoming DLC this year. Nightreign, a game that knows its own essence and focuses on it, is developing a strong identity. Its solid foundation promises an exciting future, one I look forward to being part of.

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2025-07-23 02:00

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