FromSoftware’s clunky UI and coy descriptions are keeping me from truly loving Elden Ring Nightreign

by

The Elden Ring Nightreign is currently stirring mixed reactions among players – at least, initially. In my view, the game may gain more favorable reviews as its audience, including myself, becomes accustomed to its unique, experimental, and challenging elements that make this cooperative game stand out.

Currently, I’m deeply immersed in the Nightreign game, and I must say it’s been quite entertaining. I’ve become quite knowledgeable about the Executor, including its intricacies, optimal relics, and associated rituals. However, there’s an issue that I can’t overlook. The UI design of FromSoftware, known for being cryptic and part of the mysterious charm in their previous games, is making it difficult to fully appreciate Nightreign due to its opacity and vague descriptions.

Before raising a significant concern, let me first discuss how FromSoftware’s approach of veiling information beneath a shroud of ambiguity effectively functions within their other games.

Shrouded in fog

A typical souls game often embodies elements of enigma and exploration. For instance: The secrets hidden within the fortress guarded by serpents, Sen’s Fortress, are an intimidating puzzle you can’t wait to unravel—and you soon find out that those swinging axes are incredibly efficient at splitting you in two.

Games such as Dark Souls and Elden Ring present steep challenges that are like formidable mountains to conquer, filled with concealed hazards and intricate gameplay nuances. However, they allow you to progress at a pace comfortable for you. The joy lies in cautiously exploring nooks and crannies, gradually constructing your mental layout of the environment so as to enhance your comprehension of it. Mastering boss move sets becomes second nature through memorization.

In game descriptions and user interface, the air of enigma and exploration is maintained. The manner in which a weapon’s passive enhances your survival skills in a tough, unforgiving setting might not always be obvious, yet as you decipher this information, there’s a sense of accomplishment that goes beyond merely comprehending the environment – it’s about mastering your own collection of weapons and learning how they impact your stats. Navigating through item descriptions evokes the same sensation as casting ‘Identify’ in tabletop RPGs. Despite its roughness, this process effectively instills a sense of vintage RPG grit within you.

As a dedicated fan, I can attest that a sense of camaraderie emerges surrounding this enigma. Plans are devised, hypotheses are molded, and overall, the atmosphere is jovial. When the master builders unearth something malfunctioning or damaged, it’s quite an occurrence—it provides us with the opportunity to re-enter the world, not just with our skills, but with knowledge and determination as well.

In a sense, Nightreign does offer this feature. It’s intriguing for me to have a compact list of significant item interactions. I found it fascinating when I realized that the “X while moving” abilities synergized with the Executor’s Cursed Sword stance, and now, knowing the most profitable areas within each biome and construction feels empowering.

But I wish the game would just say what it means from time to time.

Spit it out

Sometimes, I find myself dabbling in roguelike games alongside my frequent playtime with Souls games. What draws me to these roguelikes is the thrill of feeling resourceful when I discover an unanticipated path for character development that transforms my character into a divine entity – a build I’ve creatively assembled from the items provided by the game.

In a roguelike game, it’s crucial that the effects of an acquired item or passive are clearly and succinctly explained. This is especially important when playing under time constraints.

The issue with Nightreign’s approach towards this matter has two aspects. Initially, when examining a weapon, you are provided with a short summary of its passive abilities; however, to acquire detailed information, you must undertake a tedious sequence of actions which involves opening your inventory, selecting the item, and scrolling through the passives.

This issue intensifies when you find out that you can only examine items if they’re already in your bags, transforming what should be swift, straightforward decisions into tedious inventory games of Jenga – a game you simply don’t have the time for, considering the rain is approaching, and every moment spent not farming runes or clearing camps is a moment you’re losing ground.

The main gameplay loop of ‘kill, loot, repeat’ could benefit slightly from providing clear descriptions of an item’s function, making it less clumsy and more straightforward.

Additionally, let’s talk about the descriptions themselves. Most passive abilities are straightforward percentage increases, but someone at FromSoftware thought “Power of the Dark Moon” was fitting for almost everything. “The Executor’s Grief”? I can’t help but feel annoyed over these UI choices! I picture myself slapping my knee and having a good laugh about it.

Instead of having to physically pick up an item or open your equipment screen for detailed explanations, perhaps there’s an option to simply tell players what each item does directly. This could streamline the gameplay experience, reducing awkwardness and the need for manual exploration.

As a passionate fan, I can’t help but marvel at the intricacies of these relics. For instance, the “Enhanced Resistance to Madness” stands out as a unique trait. Normally, charms offer damage resistance in percentages, yet this one seems to defy that rule, leaving me puzzled about the reasoning behind it.

When it comes to the phrase “Taking attacks strengthens attack power,” I’m not entirely sure what qualifies as ‘taking’ an attack. Frankly, I haven’t a clue.

The “Ultimate Art Gauge +1” is another enigma that leaves me scratching my head. Is this a new charge for my Ultimate Art Gauge? Does it speed up the charging process, and what does the ‘+1’ signify? The difference between a ‘+1’ and ‘+2’ of this relic remains shrouded in mystery. Time seems to have swallowed its secrets whole.

As a gamer, I can strap on these relics and venture out for a run, but it doesn’t quite evoke an unsettling air of enigma. It feels more like cracking open a Wikipedia page and receiving instructions to my neighborhood library—not exactly the intriguing details about what I’m researching. However, this library is teeming with monsters, all eager to plunge their weapons into me.

A glaring flaw

In a game that allows ample time for exploration and strategy development, these design choices function well. However, when confronted with Nightreign’s time constraints, they prove as fragile as a tin foil car in a high-speed collision.

While time pressure doesn’t bother me on its own, let me clarify. I’m one of those unique individuals who find thrill in rushing through challenging tasks, like racing against a boss, feeling the subtle sway of Damocles’ sword overhead, always anticipating the imminent tightening of the noose.

Time pressure doesn’t faze me alone, but I enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes with completing tasks under pressure, like speedrunning a boss, feeling the slight movement of a sword hanging over my head, always ready for when things get tighter.

The relentless roar of the approaching storm, the fiery purple tendrils snapping at your heels, it all functions splendidly except when you find yourself juggling ARPG builds like Tetris blocks due to an inflexible UI design that seems stuck in the past, having seen little improvement across numerous games.

Every time I effectively clean up a camp, I get to play a game of actual ball juggling and squinting at my screen, which is quite challenging. This issue is a problem, it disrupts the normal flow of the game’s reward system. I wish to become proficient in combat, not in dealing with menus, but FromSoftware hasn’t made much effort to make this information more accessible to me.

Nightreign. If not, this minor issue might hinder my full enjoyment, and it seems unnecessary for it to be so. FromSoftware, I humbly ask, grant me a tad more understanding; I’ll make good use of it.

1. Guide on Strategic Approach for Elden Ring: Kickstart Your Journey Wisely

2. Ranking of Nightfarers in Nightreign: Top Choices to Follow

3. Most Efficient Rune Farm Route in Nightreign: Boost Your Level Quickly

4. Ideal Team Compositions for Nightreign: Achieving Squad Success

5. Premium Relics for Nightreign: Essential Items for the Journey

6. List of Nightreign Bosses: All Nightlords Encountered

Each title is designed to be more reader-friendly, providing a natural flow and easy understanding for those who may not be familiar with the specific terms used in the original titles.

Read More

2025-05-30 19:03