The highly anticipated Elden Ring Nightreign launched last week to much excitement from fans.
The game boasts fast-paced action based on the mechanics of the popular action RPG Elden Ring, with a roguelike twist.
In celebration of the game’s launch, Red Bull hosted a special influencer event at the Red Bull Gaming Sphere in London.
What is Elden Ring Nightreign?
Built upon the assets and gameplay of the much-loved FromSoftware (FromSoft) title Elden Ring, Nightreign offers a new roguelike experience, akin to Monster Hunter with a few unique differences.
In this three-player co-op experience, players explore the map to earn loot and runes to strengthen themselves.
As the ‘day’ goes on, a circle of death slowly closes in, forcing players to act quickly before the ring catches up to them.
At the end of the day, the circle closes on one location where players must fight to survive against waves of enemies and a final boss.
If players manage to survive, they’ll see a new sunrise as the cycle continues once again.
Once the second day has ended, the infamous Nightlord awaits its newest challengers.
If defeated, the Nightlord will grant rewards, unlock the next Nightlord to hunt, and progress the story of Nightreign.
In a departure from typical FromSoft gameplay design, Nightreign creates an environment where speed is key.
The traditional gameplay of slow and methodical exploration is replaced in favour of running headfirst into danger.
Red Bull Elden Ring Nightreign event
As part of the game’s launch, some of the UK’s top Elden Ring influencers were invited to the Red Bull Gaming Sphere to promote the game.
Together in their squads, they had only four hours to clear as many Nightlords as possible.
The winner was awarded the grand prize of a special helm, based on the helm from one of the eight classes in the game.
After a marathon of action, the dynamic trio of DomsRoundtable, Chalice, and Hawkshaw came out on top.
Should you buy Elden Ring Nightreign?
Elden Ring Nightreign is a vast departure from the usual style that FromSoft has become known for.
As such, it may deter fans of their games like Dark Souls or Bloodborne, despite character skins and bosses that pay homage to previous titles.
However, fans of Sekiro may enjoy Nightreign for its fast-paced movement and vertical traversal.
Players can now Surge Sprint, allowing them to rush around the map to avoid the closing circle.
Moreover, FromSoft has expanded on Elden Ring’s jump mechanic with a new wall jump and wall climb, giving players the ability to scale cliffs with ease.
Attack animations are also faster than their predecessors, diverging even further from the original Dark Souls’ strategic combat.
On the other hand, new fans to the series, whether through Elden Ring or Nightreign itself, may enjoy the social aspect of Nightreign.
It finally allows players to enjoy the FromSoft experience with friends, without the long wind-up of traversing the map before facing a boss, which is often ill-suited to multiple targets.
Nightreign excels as a social co-op experience, allowing players to come together to face great challenges designed for a greater number of players.
However, playing through Nightreign’s online matchmaking can change the entire experience.
With a single map ping per player, communication is almost non-existent in a game designed to be played together.
Then there’s the ever-present release problem: a lack of content.
While Nightreign’s story and roguelike elements make it incredibly fun to replay, the limited enemy types and locations can cause encounters to feel stale over time.
This is especially true for players who’ve spent many hours in Elden Ring, as many assets have been carried over, meaning some players may reach the Nightlord boss fight without experiencing anything new.
That said, considering Nightreign was always advertised as an offshoot game with a price tag of £35, the value for money is there.
If you liked Elden Ring, you’ll likely enjoy this more casual (yet still challenging) experience.
If you’re a die-hard Dark Souls fan, you might not get much beyond a streamlined FromSoft co-op experience with some nods to the series.
If you’re new to FromSoft, it’s a great entry point to discover their signature style, without the unrelenting and soul-crushing gameplay of the classic titles.
Elden Ring Nightreign saw over 2 million players join on its first day, increasing to 3.5 million by the fifth day after launch.
They’ve since teased plans for additional content later this year, with a Duo Mode to debut at a later date.
Covers: League of Legends, Valorant, UK esports, and global esports and gaming news.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with many incredible individuals who continue to humble me to this day. Because of them, I’ve had the energy to turn a hobby into a career. I work to honour those who have given me a chance and thrive thanks to the community.
Email: [email protected]
