Elden Ring Nightreign Review – Night’s End

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In the game development world, developers persist in their quest for the ultimate live service game, despite past setbacks and studio shutdowns. One fresh approach is imitating the $40 model of Helldivers 2 and focusing further on cooperative play, as demonstrated by FBC: Firebreak. However, FromSoftware’s Elden Ring Nightreign diverges from this pattern. In fact, it might be seen as a countermove to the long-standing efforts of Elden Ring enthusiasts.

An uninterrupted cooperative gameplay that doesn’t necessitate inviting others directly? A dynamic game structure where the positions of enemies, bosses, and treasure finds could vary, but without the amusing twist of encountering a high-level adversary in a low-level zone? Yes, indeed. Moreover, this time console gamers can participate as well, without any need for modifications.

In essence, Elden Ring: Nightreign isn’t just the usual, it mirrors how Elden Ring transcended the boundaries of an open-world action RPG. Fundamentally, it’s designed to provide a Souls-like experience, complete with feelings of devastating defeat and the irresistible impulse for “one more try,” which can easily consume countless hours, even amidst some inconveniences and technical glitches (luckily, these don’t affect performance). It offers an engaging cooperative journey filled with secrets to uncover and numerous ways to meet an untimely end.

Memory Snippets and Recollections provide valuable insights into the relationships among the Nightfarers, such as the connection between the Recluse and the Guardian, since regular encounters don’t often result in significant conversations or noteworthy information.

In a style characteristic of FromSoft games, the narrative unfolds as you find yourself joining the Nightfarers following a sequence of death and rebirth within the Shrouded Roundtable Hold. As members of this group, your mission is to defeat the enigmatic Nightlord who seems to be causing the encroaching darkness that’s wreaking havoc across the world with its destructive rains. Although the overarching purpose appears less epic than that found in Elden Ring, it remains a captivating mystery worth unraveling.

After that, you meet the Nightfarers, each with unique histories that led them to the Roundtable Hold, detailed in Memory Fragments as you advance through the game. Gather enough fragments, and these will transform into Remembrances, segments containing personal tasks (more on this later). These provide valuable context and interactions among the Nightfarers – such as the relationship between the Recluse and the Guardian – as regular interaction with them doesn’t often result in significant dialogue or details.

No matter if it’s the Nightfarers’ travels or the primary mission, advancement always hinges on defeating the Nightlords. Typically, a game session lasts for two days and two nights, with the third day ending in a battle against the Nightlord. Once you team up with other players, whether automatically through matchmaking or manually using the game’s password system, you’ll soar into Limveld on the Spectral Hawk to gather resources.

Each adventure starts at level 1, allowing you to tackle smaller enemy outposts and wandering foes to accumulate Runes and progress. If you prefer a challenge, you can engage with some of the tougher wandering mini-bosses or assault the castle in the center, though it might lead to a swift defeat. Remember, time is precious because the Night’s Tide causes the playable map area to gradually shrink.

In my perspective as an enthusiast, the gameplay experience closely resembles a classic battle royale, minus enemy combatants. Throughout the day, I scavenge resources and weapons with different levels of rarity to prepare for the night’s main event – a confrontation with the boss that awaits me. Once I successfully vanquish this formidable foe, the cycle starts anew on Day 2. However, after overcoming each challenge, I find myself transported to a new realm where I must face the Nightlord.

As a devoted fan, I’d say that the game Nightreign infuses just the right amount of variety into Limveld, ensuring each playthrough is distinct. Besides encountering diverse enemies, mini-bosses, and bosses from one run to another, you might stumble upon unexpected events during your journey. For instance, you could find yourself under a curse that diminishes your maximum health before facing the Nightlord, or come across an Elite enemy that drains your levels until it’s defeated.

In Nightreign, what sets it apart lies in its strategic aspects such as decision-making and construction. While defeating smaller foes and advancing levels through stat upgrades is crucial, attacking forts and camps to encounter Elites yields Runes, passive perks (like additional HP, MP, healing from flasks, etc.), and superior weapons. Additionally, it’s worth holding onto some Runes to purchase Wondrous Physick flasks with diverse effects, items, upgrades, and weapons from the vendor. Evergaols provide a large amount of Runes for faster leveling, but perhaps it’s wiser to save that Stonesword Key for Day 2 where the rewards are more substantial.

It’s impossible to accomplish everything, and though enhancing your Uncommon item with an extra flask charge or upgrade material is crucial for making it Rare, keeping track of the Night’s Tide is equally essential. Leaving your team to explore more areas might seem appealing, but be prepared to face those wandering mini-bosses alone since they take a significant amount of time to defeat due to their health. Death functions differently in this game – when you receive fatal damage, you enter a downed state, and teammates can revive you by dealing damage to you. If you die, not only do you lose a level but also your Runes, which is especially troublesome if it occurs while in a zone overtaken by the Night’s Tide.

In many ways, Limveld might seem quite familiar, particularly for those who’ve explored Limgrave extensively. For instance, the mine with workers operating powerful drills, the road flanked by cliffs where a Troll once leaped (though no more Trolls now), and Liurnia of the Lakes – these places may trigger a sense of déjà vu. With improved movement mechanics that let you sprint faster, scale surfaces (which can be tricky in certain areas), and utilize Spirit Streams, there’s an emphasis on considering vertical spaces. However, the streamlined map design leaves me yearning for the environmental storytelling found in Elden Ring.

In a way that gives every playthrough a distinct flavor, Nightreign introduces enough variety into Limveld so each gameplay session feels fresh and unpredictable. Each run might feature unique adversaries, mini-bosses, and bosses, but there’s also the chance of encountering random events. For example, you could pick up a curse that reduces your maximum health before facing the Nightlord, or come across an Elite enemy that drains your levels until defeated. The Fell Omen might even appear, relentlessly chasing you like an implacable foe, never letting up and leaving behind a debuff as a memento if you perish. AI-controlled Nightfarers may also show up just to make things difficult for you.

The Shifting Earth modifier is captivating as it aligns with the risk-versus-reward dynamic of Nightreign. By altering a section of the map into uncharted territories such as the Crater’s scorching lava or the Mountaintop’s freezing cold, it introduces an element of uncertainty and excitement. The allure of Runes as potential rewards is compelling enough to take the risk, but the question of whether one has the necessary strength and time adds another layer of thrill to the gameplay.

This leads us to discuss their builds. Each Nightfarer character specializes in a distinct function: the Ironeye primarily focuses on long-range attacks, while the Recluse is skilled in spells, the Wylder serves as a versatile generalist, and so forth. There are also unique options such as the Executor, who assumes a particular stance to deflect incoming attacks, though it requires practice due to the Sekiro combat style not being immediately transferable. The Revenant has the ability to summon three Spirit Ashes of different sizes and functions to aid in battle, and can even convert defeated foes into temporary Spirit allies for a limited time.

In other words, each character has their preferred weapons but there are no limitations when it comes to loadouts, except for reaching the necessary level. For instance, you might choose to play as the Revenant, wielding a Greatsword that fires bursts of tracking Madness projectiles in combat, while also using Incantations to heal your teammates. Alternatively, your version of the Recluse could specialize in spellcasting entirely or combine melee and ranged attacks with other weapons.

Experiencing such freedom is truly exhilarating, especially when considering the indirect influences of various weapons, not to mention the diverse collection of Arsenal or Relics. These items offer passive perks like reduced skill cooldowns and unique abilities, as well as supporting specific gameplay styles. However, these advantages come with some limitations depending on the chosen Ritual Rite. Finding a harmonious mix of benefits before embarking is an enjoyable part of creating your build. Add to that the dynamic combat mechanics that FromSoftware is renowned for, and you get a rewarding gameplay cycle that leaves you eager for more, even if it ends in defeat.

Collaboration is crucial, particularly when facing off against the Nightlords. While some leaders, even familiar ones, can offer enjoyable encounters with heart-pounding moments, it’s the Nightlords who truly steal the spotlight. Gladius might appear simple at first glance, but characters like Libra are intricate and demanding. The ice dragon, Caligo, hinted in promotional art, has a Monster Hunter-like grandeur and scale, making the battle against it exhilarating. Adhering to certain rules during fights not only makes them more manageable, but also adds an extra layer of challenge.

In essence, Nightreign is primarily designed for cooperative play, but it’s possible to play alone. However, I wouldn’t advise it as the challenge level increases significantly, and it appears the game mechanics aren’t optimized for a single player. The experience just doesn’t deliver the same level of enjoyment as playing with others. In comparison, Elden Ring offers an exceptional solo gaming experience. Moreover, the personal objectives derived from Remembrances in Nightreign have been a point of concern for me.

During a run, only one player can be active at a time. I didn’t have the opportunity to team up with others to test this out, but I suspect that having separate objectives for each player might lead to problems. Going it alone seems like the best option, but then you’re dependent on your landing zone. If it’s far away, then the race against the Night’s Tide becomes a source of annoyance, especially if you don’t get a chance to upgrade or find better equipment. Exiting to the main menu, reloading, and trying again just isn’t enjoyable.

I’m not particularly excited about the dating platform either. After defeating the first Nightlord, you can choose several more to line up, which is convenient. But as the number of remaining ones decreases, I worry about how matchmaking times will be affected. It should work well at first, but what about months from now when there are fewer players? I would have preferred a system similar to Monster Hunter, with various settings and rooms to search for. You can set passwords and find matches accordingly – one advantage is being able to team up with a friend using the same password and fill the third spot with a random player. However, it falls short of a fully-fledged lobby system.

In terms of technical difficulties, I encountered only occasional frame drops, but performance wasn’t an issue overall, even at 1440p resolution on high settings. There were moments of latency, but they weren’t severe. However, the game would occasionally crash, freezing before it returned to my desktop. Sometimes, I could rejoin the session and lose a level as a result. Other times, I couldn’t reconnect, and if I was playing alone, that run was essentially lost forever.

In essence, Nightreign shares the same high-quality visuals as its predecessor, but offers some distinct, captivating sights. Consequently, the art design, character models, and animation continue to impress without flaw. Moreover, the music is grandiose across all Nightlords, perfectly establishing the atmosphere for each battle, whether it’s a soothing melody that might lull you asleep or an energetic theme fit for gladiators.

If you enjoy playing Elden Ring with friends, then Nightreign could be a great choice for you. It’s more about individual expeditions rather than one long journey, but the combat, movement, character building, risk vs. reward mechanics, and rogue-lite features make it an engaging experience that might encourage multiple playthroughs. However, those looking for another immersive single-player adventure from FromSoftware might not find it as appealing, despite there being plenty of mysteries to uncover.

I’m eager for our team to expand upon the elements of Nightreign beyond enhancing stability, refining lobby systems, and addressing personal objective irritants. I’d love to see more than just new Nightfarers and bosses – perhaps new world events, raids, Shifting Earth modifiers, and so forth. It’s hard to foresee what shape Elden Ring Nightreign will take in a year, but it’s a delightful cooperative experience that’s definitely worth exploring further.

This game was reviewed on PC.

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2025-05-28 17:15