Elden Ring’s newest Nightreign started out as a flop 

Soulsborne fans have been disappointed with FromSoftware’s ambitious co-op roguelike spin-off, Elden Ring: Nightreign. Game server issues and bugs have plagued the game and led to complaints.

Nightreign is a soul borne game that brims with dangerous, powerful enemies. It uses many features and gameplay that focus on roguelike and multiplayer co-op mechanics. The game takes place in a parallel universe of “Lands Between” called Limveld. Limveld is the primary land of exploration and where you start your expeditions.  

Nightreign also indulges the rich history of past events that occurred in the previous Elden Ring while also unfolding narratives that help shape the story of the game. Most characters from the game have unique backstories and originated from Elden Ring. 

Just like Elden Ring, Nightreign also offers similar combat tactics to face off unknown souls. Having played Elden Ring, it has a strong story and continues to have a lingering impact on past events of Nightreign. However, the game had several issues and bugs, which mainly consists of communication problems and managing solo expeditions. 

During the first day of its release, I decided to play to get the feel of the game. 

It felt a bit more challenging to play solo. Every Souls game requires a lot of critical thinking and gameplay to a certain extent. However, solo expeditions were unbalanced, and it became harder to receive rewards. Nightreign heavily relies on teamwork, playing solo can be at a disadvantage as you are not able to revive yourself and you will struggle to defeat a multitude of enemies with hardly any damage.  

I also found it challenging to battle enemies and level up as I usually prefer playing along with others, so I found it harder to fight off each boss level. This game is not for players who tackle solos without any drive to sit through long hours of gameplay due to its time-consuming nature.  

There were also some difficulties with matchmaking on that first day. It took around 30-40 minutes to find teammates. I would be paired with duos, and it was difficult to connect with them as there was a lack of communication tools. I also struggled to battle enemies with my teammates as we would sometimes lose connection or lag. During expeditions, players reported that when fighting enemies, glitches would appear from invisible limbs or disappear entirely. 

The gameplay itself contains similar mechanics to Fortnite and Warzone from how players are deployed down the battlefield and border shrinkage but also contains its unique mechanics.  

Before gameplay, you are required to select up to eight characters. If you are looking for a character that is a bit more roguelike, I recommend the Executor for inexperienced players. The Executor is a good melee-focused class and can use his “Cursed Sword” to easily block and negate damage. 

Players embark on a three-day expedition to gather resources and elements to defeat the final Night Lord on the third day. During these short nights, you are expected to encounter eight Night Lord bosses. When you encounter each boss, it’s necessary to have strong assets to defeat them. You can explore and level up as you go, but during the Night’s Tide, the map shrinks and forces you to fight off other monsters and creatures. However, each Night Tide will also give you stronger relics and powerful resources if you manage to survive. In total, you need at least five expeditions to reach the final boss. 

If you do not manage to defeat each boss, you will restart back to the previous level and starting point. 

From every mission you complete, relics can be used after returning from a mission. Each relic contains different powers such as increased attack or damage types for weapons.  

Before each expedition, players can use their time to prepare in the Sparring Grounds to manage their skills and relics. If you wish, you can also take the time to complete Nightfarer Quests to level up or for more practice. Before going on the expedition, I would recommend targeting a boss to organize your attacks, but it is not required.  

During your first expedition, you and your teammates can explore the map of Limveld entirely. But be mindful about the circle: staying inside of the Night Tide will gradually lower your health points. I recommend strategically planning your route of exploration and collecting weapons that complement your character. Entering specific areas of the map to battle enemies and bosses will help you gain useful resources. Using Dormant Powers and runes will also help you gain experience and level up.  

As the circle shrinks, you will be forced to stay inside the circle. You should have enough weapons and strong relics to help you battle the boss. After defeating the boss, the Night of Reign will restart, and you will be able to continue your expedition. The Night of Reign is described as the overall theme of the game where you must survive three days challenging bosses and exploring its dynamic world.  

On day three, you can take this time to prepare by going through The Grace. Before fighting the final boss, I recommend battling the final Night Lord after finishing four expeditions. Upon defeating the Night lord, you receive its rune. At this point you are isolated from your other teammates and are sent to the Roundtable Hold. Offer the relic to the corpse and find out your ending.  

Overall, Nightreign has a lot to offer from challenging expeditions to a variety of character loadouts. Though the game had a few rocky steps, developers do make sure every player gets the best experience.  So, if you’re a hardcore gamer who is willing to grind your hours in adventure RPGs, or an RPG fanatic in general, Nightreign could be your next best game. 

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