I eventually relented. After over a hundred hours in Elden Ring I wanted it over with. So I summoned help for the final boss after a long struggle. A quick bow to each other and then I stepped back and let others do the heavy lifting as I spammed spells from a distance, exhausted. As the credits rolled, the win fell flat.
It happened again with Bloodborne. DLC boss Orphan of Kos had me hitting my head against a wall for hours until I eventually trundled back to the nearest lamp and summoned assistance. I expected a long, arduous battle where we’d overcome the odds together in beautiful partnership. Instead they stormed in with a bugged weapon to kill the boss in one hit. I felt cheated and deflated.
I tell you this not as some humble brag that I prefer playing Souls games alone. It’s just a personal preference after being burned in the past. Hey, I’m the guy who plays Final Fantasy 14 with NPCs! I like to play at my own pace, without distraction, where others prefer companionship. Both methods are valid.
So when FromSoftware announced the multiplayer Elden Ring co-op spin-off Nightreign, I was intrigued but also concerned. Would this new flavour of Souls game be for me? I’m happy to report Nighreign is in fact very much for me. My eyes have been opened and I’ve seen the light. Playing with others is fun! Who knew?!
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So how does Nightreign play? In short, it’s Elden Ring as a roguelike, with a dollop of Fortnite; or, like listening to the game’s soundtrack on double speed and shuffle play. That might sound weird, but it absolutely works.
In groups of three, players will battle through two day-and-night cycles before facing one of eight Nightlords – in this preview, the cerberus Gladius Beast of Night. The map feels a bit like an instanced dungeon, but with loot and enemy placements randomised in each run. And your choice of Nightlord will determine which bosses you face at the end of each day – these are taken from across the Souls games, though with tweaked movesets and mechanics (don’t cut the tail off the Centipede Demon this time, trust me!).