Elden Ring Nightreign review: “An uncharacteristically frantic and fast-paced ride that boils down the core Elden Ring experience”

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The game Elden Ring Nightreign seems challenging to market effectively. Deviating from the ‘soulsborne’ formula set by FromSoftware in Dark Souls and Bloodborne by molding it into a roguelike structure with characters resembling those found in hero shooters, this change is undeniably significant. At first, I was hesitant about this departure, as it appeared to be an unusual effort to capitalize on the success of games like Hades 2 and the potential profits from the live service sector, disguised as a complex boss rush expansion for Elden Ring.

Initially, it took me a few initial hours to fully grasp Elden Ring: Nightreign’s concept – work together with two other players, choose among eight Nightfarer characters, embark on a three-day Expedition where we fight enemies to gather runes, weapons, and blessings to help us defeat the final powerful antagonist. However, after managing to triumph over Gladius, the three-headed infernal wolf and the first Night Lord, I found myself eager to confront the remaining challenges head-on.

As a dedicated gamer, I must admit that Elden Ring: Nightreign is quite an unusual title, catering mostly to the hardcore enthusiasts of Elden Ring. It’s an exhilarating, breakneck journey that intensifies and energizes the fundamental Elden Ring gameplay, keeping me on my toes as I narrowly outmaneuver colossal beasts with my sword and magic. The icing on the cake? You can embark on this thrilling adventure with friends, creating a truly soul-like cooperative experience that’s unmatched!

Heavy reign

From the get-go, I’d like to emphasize: Elden Ring Nightreign is challenging. Now, it’s a Soulsborne game, so you know it’s tough, but it’s difficult in ways that might catch you off guard. These games, including Elden Ring, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and their predecessors, allow for a leisurely playstyle. You can spend time exploring, gradually building up your power before tackling something significant. If you meet with failure, you can easily retry or boost your character some more. To put it simply, these games are long-distance runs, not short sprints.

In Nightreign, time is precious as you’re racing against a storm that shrinks the safe zone, similar to Fortnite. This means each mission needs to be accomplished quickly. To increase your chances of success, you must move swiftly, gathering loot and attacking enemies before the end of each game day. It may take some adjustment, but this fast-paced, compact roguelike format offers a unique and exciting twist on the Soulsborne formula. Unlike Elden Ring, it requires quick thinking and adaptability rather than allowing for extensive character building.

Not only does it make the experience more delightful when you can perform it with companions, but teaming up to overcome adversaries is incredibly gratifying. Whether small or large, enemies find themselves crumbling under a barrage of synchronized assaults. It’s particularly rewarding when everyone agrees on the most effective attack points and charges in unison to vanquish the Night. Consequently, the groups that can swiftly adapt, operate efficiently, and display courage in the face of uncertainty often receive generous rewards. There’s a thrill in those moments when everything aligns perfectly, leaving you with an invincible feeling.

While the fast-paced action, elements of luck, and friendly camaraderie might appeal to some, Elden Ring Nightreign may not be for everyone. This game offers intense, high-pressure hunting sessions that can last up to 45 minutes, with minimal room for error – following challenging runs, I often needed a few moments to recover from the weight of failure or the exhilaration of success. Rash decisions and hesitation are the main perils in Elden Ring Nightreign, making it particularly unforgiving for novice players. Those who can’t keep up may struggle to face the game’s diverse array of formidable bosses.

Night clubbing

As a dedicated fan, I can’t imagine a FromSoftware gathering without an array of formidable bosses, and Nightreign certainly delivers with eight nightmarish Nightlords, each guarding their own Expeditions. Among these, the previously mentioned Gladius serves as a chilling prelude to the challenges that await in other Expeditions. With his sweeping, fiery sword attacks, explosive fireball volleys, and the uncanny ability to divide into three separate wolves, he leaves no doubt that beginners in Nightfarers will face a daunting test.

After Gladius, you’ll encounter formidable foes such as the Gaping Maw and the Darkdrift Knight. The Gaping Maw is a misshapen dragon with its mouth twisted in an odd way, while the Darkdrift Knight is a large, injured centaur. However, their appearances can be misleading. Despite their seemingly weakened states, they possess immense strength and agility that will make them difficult to outmaneuver. They can easily defeat you with just one or two swift attacks, leaving little room for reaction – these opponents make Gladius seem almost feeble by comparison.

For enthusiasts of the new Nightlords series, several familiar bosses await them, each prepared to defeat them and send them back to the Roundtable Hold battered and bruised in Elden Ring, as well as the Dark Souls trilogy. This clever re-use of assets enables FromSoftware to create a sandbox environment that feels like three different characters – let’s say they’re like three superheroes fighting He-Man on their first encounter, then battling Bionicle in the next, and finally facing off against a Transformer on the third.

In contrast to these vintage action figures with their worn-out joints, the bosses from the Dark Souls era don’t seem as fresh anymore, lacking the updates I had anticipated. To illustrate, I found it gratifying when the Gaping Dragon from Dark Souls appeared at the end of Day 2 during a solo run, largely due to my recollection of this boss being relatively easy to battle. This holds true in Nightreign as well; it moved clumsily around the arena, occasionally bumping into the arena walls, ignoring me but proving incredibly difficult to defeat because of its enlarged health bar.

In essence, defeating the final bosses in Nightreign can be quite challenging because of their resilience, and when they use attacks that significantly deplete your health or even defeat you instantly, it may seem unfair. The frustration sets in if you fail to kill a Nightlord after battling for nearly 30 minutes.

“Nightreign might be the best game in FromSoftware’s repertoire for spectacle.”

When I finally conquer these formidable Nightlords in a FromSoftware game, few sensations compare. These titans of battle are undeniably among the most powerful bosses ever encountered, and sharing that hard-earned triumph with fellow players is truly unparalleled. It’s an exhilarating rush to pull off the impossible, like slaying Gladius when my teammates are on the brink, or outwitting the Augur amidst the watery chaos with only one ally, and then there’s the epic battle against Fissure in the Fog, where a fiery sword and frigid ice clash for an astounding 10 minutes. Nightreign might just be FromSoftware’s crowning achievement when it comes to sheer spectacle.

Nocturnal hunters

Achieving victory against any of the Nightlords is not an easy feat, as it involves overcoming considerable challenges. Each Nightlord has a distinct vulnerability to a specific type of damage – be it fire, poison, or holy. However, the success of your encounter can also heavily depend on the characters you and your teammates select, as well as how you equip them.

Each of the eight Nightfarer characters stands out distinctively within Elden Ring’s expansive game world, as FromSoftware has designed them with unique skills that appeal to various popular playstyles. Ranging from power-focused melee fighters and defensive strategists to summoners and ranged spellcasters, these characters offer a diverse set of abilities. Among my favorites are the Duchess, who excels in agility and is proficient with Dexterity weapons, and Wylder, an adaptable swordsman equipped with a grappling hook for mobility and an explosive crossbow for added excitement.

Instead of incorporating hero-shooter-like powers into a series known for its versatility, which might appear restrictive, I believe it’s a worthwhile trade-off to support the roguelike gameplay format. Removing key leveling and gear decisions from the player’s control allows them to focus on confronting the Night, preventing an Expedition from stalling every time attribute assignment was required.

Additionally, it isn’t as if there are no ways to enhance character building in this game. Each Nightfarer can acquire and use several Relics, each providing minor or major upgrades. Defeating Nightlords and completing their personal quests, known as Remembrances, often reward the best Relics. This means that your character will grow increasingly powerful as you delve deeper into Elden Ring: Nightreign. While the upgrade system is somewhat limited in terms of permanence, it’s sufficient to make you feel like you’re fine-tuning your characters for specific situations.

Despite the fact that Elden Ring Nightreign offers a thrilling co-op experience where teamwork is valued and rewarded, it’s also possible to play by yourself. However, I should clarify that my brief mention of solo play was due to its somewhat grim nature. Though there seems to be some degree of solo scaling in the game, it didn’t appear to be effective based on my attempts. Playing alone necessitates a more strategic approach, which significantly restricts the amount of ground you can cover. While some players might appreciate this challenge, I frequently found myself greatly underleveled for every boss fight, making significant advancement almost unattainable – solo players would probably find it more advantageous to stick with New Game+ in Elden Ring.

It’s frustrating too that the multiplayer setup in this game only allows you to play solo or as a team of three. Not having an option for two players feels like an odd oversight. In fact, the game director has acknowledged this issue in an interview with IGN, stating that duos were “overlooked and neglected,” but they are considering addressing it post-launch.

What makes it even more disheartening is that there’s no crossplay functionality – something that should be expected in multiplayer games aiming for longevity in 2025 and beyond. I have faith that Elden Ring Nightreign will be a hit at launch, but I worry that these multiplayer flaws might affect the game’s long-term viability, although I hope updates will rectify this concern.

Although removing many essential components of traditional soulslike games and having some doubts about its long-term appeal, Elden Ring: Nightreign caters to those who appreciate a challenge. The voids created by the missing elements are thoughtfully filled with robust roguelike features, resulting in a unique blend of familiarity and novelty. Initially demanding, it becomes an unyielding race that can be both thrilling and painstakingly difficult. Depending on your skills and determination, you might find it leans more towards exhilaration or agony. However, Nightreign offers the added bonus of enduring this tough journey with companions.

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2025-05-28 17:13