For Elden Ring Nightreign to Work, It May Need Controversial Boss Designs

It is widely acknowledged that FromSoftware is a highly esteemed video game developer, but no studio can entirely avoid criticism. In terms of FromSoftware, critics often focus on aspects such as difficulty and storytelling, which are adored by different segments of the gaming world simultaneously. However, _Elden Ring Nightreign_ could potentially turn some of FromSoftware’s typical criticisms upside down by employing contentious design decisions to make the game even better.

The game titled Elden Ring Nightreign distinguishes itself from other FromSoftware titles due to its focus on collaborative multiplayer, a feature that has been present in their previous soulslikes but primarily served as an optional addition. In contrast, Elden Ring Nightreign integrates cooperative play extensively throughout the entire game, potentially necessitating changes in combat design to avoid becoming overly simplified. This could pose a challenge since if all bosses in Nightreign are similar to those in the Elden Ring base game, they might lack the necessary tension for engaging multiplayer experiences. Interestingly, adopting strategies from FromSoftware’s least popular boss designs might offer a solution to this issue.

How FromSoftware’s Controversial Bosses Could Be the Key to Nightreign’s Success

When brainstorming a boss design suitable for numerous players, it’s advantageous to ponder over obstacles that require collaboration to conquer. Fortunately, the works of FromSoftware offer a variety of these teamwork-dependent challenges, which can be grouped into at least two primary categories.

Nightreign Could Channel FromSoftware’s Frustrating Boss Team-Ups

FromSoftware Bosses That Fit This Trope:

  • Fool’s Idol – Demon’s Souls
  • Capra Demon – Dark Souls
  • Ornstein and Smough – Dark Souls
  • Living Failures – Bloodborne
  • Godskin Duo – Elden Ring

In some soulslike games, boss battles involving multiple enemies, often referred to as ‘team-ups’ or ‘gank fights’, are infamous for the challenge they present. These encounters pit the player against various adversaries simultaneously. At their finest, these fights demand strategic positioning, careful planning, and clever enemy health management, creating intense, nail-biting experiences. However, when poorly designed, these battles can become frustrating and overwhelming, leaving players feeling rushed without enough time to strategize effectively. But if a player manages to bring allies into the fray, these difficult encounters transform into more manageable and intriguing challenges. Players can collaborate to devise strategies and work together, making the battle more engaging.

Gimmick Fights Could Be Much Better In Elden Ring Nightreign

FromSoftware Bosses That Fit This Trope:

  • Dragon God – Demon’s Souls
  • Bed of Chaos – Dark Souls
  • Micolash – Bloodborne
  • Folding Screen Monkeys – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Fight scenes that rely on players performing actions beyond the typical combat system can be referred to as ‘specialized battles’. For example, in the game Demon’s Souls, the Dragon God boss requires players to evade its attacks while moving towards different ballistas for firing, which inflicts damage. The downside of these specialized battles is that they don’t fully utilize the game’s fundamental mechanics, making them less satisfying. However, they can provide a refreshing change in gameplay. Unfortunately, as main boss fights, they can be unimpressive, frustrating, and at times, monotonous. But when played with other players, these puzzle-like battles can become much more enjoyable due to their focus on communication and multitasking, making them far more engaging.

Incorporating the more contentious boss mechanics to a higher extent could pose a challenge primarily due to Nightreign’s single-player mode. If these bosses are engineered with cooperative play in mind, they might become equally frustrating, if not more so, for individual players. This situation would essentially flip the dynamics that most FromSoftware soulslike games already have, where bosses are typically designed for solo players and thus tend to be too simple when played with another player’s assistance. Given that Nightreign is primarily a cooperative game, this reversal seems fitting and logical.

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2025-01-10 14:35