Elden Ring, its huge DLC, and the upcoming spin-offElden Ring Nightreignhave always fascinated me. Similarly, the soulslike genre, and, naturally, the series that started it all, FromSoftware’s very ownDark Souls, has had a hold on me that I can’t quite explain. I am very much enthralled by the discussion surrounding difficulty it has created, as well as its signature punishingly challenging boss fights that leverage skill and pattern-learning to overcome some of the best-designed encounters in gaming history.
There’s alsoElden Ring’sengrossing lorethat requires hours of dissecting and a handful of well-written tomes to truly grasp but is nevertheless rewarding for those who truly invest in it. However, despite all of its interesting components, I’ve always struggled to actually enjoy any soulslike, let alone the unsurprisingly popular and infinitely more accessibleElden Ring. Fortunately,the aforementionedNightreignspin-off appears to be rectifying a lot of the issues I have with not justElden Ringbut soulslikes in general, and I can’t wait to finally try it out.
I Couldn’t Get Into Elden Ring
It Just Isn’t For Me
By the time I had first heard aboutElden Ringand the many ways it makes the soulslike formula more approachable for those who are new to it or, like myself, simply couldn’t wrap their heads around it, I wasn’t particularly interested. My interest in games that take as long to complete as mastering a new skill does had significantly waned, not aided by the unending Ubisoft busywork that had seeped into practically every open-world game.I was also not particularly keen on spending upwards of $70 on a soulslike game, no matter how glowing theElden Ringreviewswere.
Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test - Dates, Times, & How To Join
Elden Ring Nightreign is holding a network test this weekend, allowing some players to try out the game early. Here’s how it works, and how to join.
Of course, not only is it my job to be immersed in the world of popular gaming culture, but my FOMO-riddled brain cannot handle missing out on something that garners such critical acclaim. So, eventually, I caved, bought a far-too-expensive copy ofElden Ring, and got stuck in. To my surprise, I found myself enjoying it. The challenge that had eluded me before evaporated, or at least became more endurable, and theBreath of the Wild-inspired exploration was endlessly engrossing. For a fairly lengthy moment,I actually lovedElden Ringand completely understood the hype.
After overcoming a tumultuous fight against Margit, I started to wonder ifElden Ringwas too easy. Confidently, I made my way to the next boss fight against Godrick, and quickly found myself face-first on the floor, the “You Died” message splashing across my screen more times than I could count. So, like any goodElden Ringplayer, I furiously searched for guides and strategies, attempted to figure out the best builds, went hunting for better loot and gear, and explored more of the Lands Between, all to no avail.
Nightreignis fixingElden Ring’sbiggest problems, and that could be enough to pull me back in.
After around 30 hours, I gave up.Elden Ring, much to my dismay and despite hours of genuine enjoyment, was not for me. The soulslike genre had, much like Godrick, beaten me again and again. I haven’t played another soulslike since - outside a little testing ofShadows of the Erdtree, because I evidently have little respect for myself. However,when I saw the trailer forElden Ring Nightreign, I felt excited once more. The trailer alone showcased thatNightreignisfixingElden Ring’sbiggest problems, and that could be enough to pull me back in.
Elden Ring Nightreign Fixes My Biggest Elden Ring Problems
Everything From Combat To Co-Op
Elden Ring Nightreignis a fundamentally different experience from the original game. It lacks a consistent open world, instead replacing it with randomized maps and enemies; there’s character customization, armor sets, or even the ability to craft builds, as the game has pre-set characters for the player to choose from; it’s a multiplayer-focused game, with the ability to revive downed allies; there is even faster traversal with new movement mechanics. All ofthesehugeElden Ring Nightreignchangesmay not appeal to hardcore soulslike fans, but they’re ideal for me.
One of my biggest frustrations withElden Ring, and really the whole souslike genre as a whole, is the ambiguous leveling system with a plethora of cryptic skills, a multitude of weapon types each with a steep learning curve, and impressive build variety. Don’t get me wrong; all of these are amazing in their own right and understandably appeal to the right kind of player. I, unfortunately, am not the right kind of player.Elden Ring Nightreignfeels like a streamlined version of the base game’s experience thanks to its set class designreplacing builds and the focus on customization.
Naturally, theseNightreignchanges are divisive, and I understand that. In no uncertain terms,Elden Ring Nightreignfeels like an entirely different game and that is going to upset dedicated fans who wanted more of the same. However,I’m always excited by developers trying something new, especially within an established formula or franchise, and FromSoftware is absolutely doing that withNightreign. It’s also yet another attempt at drawing in a different kind of audience, not just one that prefers online games to single-player soulslikes, but also those who want a more streamlined expression of theElden Ringformat, like me.
I Can’t Wait To Try Nightreign
It Is Launching Very Soon
Luckily for me,Nightreign’srelease dateis right around the corner, and I won’t have long to wait before I can try it out for myself.I suspect that the excitement I feel forNightreignis akin to that of those who were elated at the ability to jump inElden Ringafter decades of running against walls inDark Souls. However, I feel that even were I to be disappointed with the final product - something that may be possible considering my inherent flip-flopping when it comes to soulslike games - I’d still feel warmly towardsNightreign.
It can be easy to look at the current gaming landscape - specifically from a consumer’s perspective - and feel as if games are too similar, or that the golden age has passed. Obviously, those who’ve invested hundreds of hours inBaldur’s Gate 3or managed to somehow stay away from theStarfielddiscourse may feel a tad differently, but even I’ve been known to get sucked into the live-service hate train. However,experiments likeNightreignand the incredible output from Capcom have proven that games are only getting better.
I Played Elden Ring Nightreign - These Are The 10 Biggest Things I Learned
Elden Ring Nightreign feels pretty familiar to anyone who’s played its predecessor, but there are a lot of subtle surprises to be found.
It’s great to see smaller projects being pushed into the mainstream, likeKunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddessand evenNightreign. I understand the weight and pedigree that both theElden Ringbrand and FromSoftware’s legacy hold, butNightreignnevertheless feels smaller in scope than its developer’s past titles. It’s also an expansion into territory that FromSoftware isn’t as familiar with, which makes it a riskier move financially. I hope that it pays off - ifElden Ring Nightreign’spreviewsare anything to go by, then it will - and that FromSoftware, and other developers that can afford to, continue making experimental games.
