Elden Ring Nightreign Hands-On Preview: The FromSoftware Game I Didn't Know I Needed

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FromSoftware developing a follow-up to isn't surprising, but even if looks and kind of feels like, it's still an unexpected turn. Modern FromSoftware has built its reputation on deep RPGs with precise and varied combat, buoyed by obfuscated worldbuilding and indirect storytelling. inherits some intrigue, but the only facet it seems to have in spades is 's combat, albeit almost entirely separated from any sort of gradual character building.

is a session-based cooperative action game, designed for teams of three players, but conceivably playable alone. There's no grand adventure nor the meticulous, steady progression of a Tarnished from raggedy pilgrim to Elden Lord. You instead take on the role of a Nightfarer, locked in some cyclical battle against the Forces of Night in a world parallel to that of. Each session can last roughly 40 minutes if players achieve their objective of surviving three in-game days. inherits 's difficulty, though, and there are still some long-term progression mechanics that remain largely unclear.

was invited by publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment to preview. The build I played is the version that those lucky enough to be selected will experience in 's upcoming Closed Network Test, taking place sporadically between February 14 and February 16. Much like 's Closed Network Test in 2021, it's an illuminating first look at 's gameplay loop, but is clearly not content-complete. Nevertheless, the preview build is impressively robust, and 's familiar but unique gameplay is tantalizing and addictive.

The main hub of is yet another version of the Roundtable Hold, this time overgrown but similarly disconnected from the game world at large. Its equivalent of the Table of Lost Grace is where you start matchmaking, selecting a Target before gathering teammates and choosing a Nightfarer (i.e. character class). The Target seems to be your desired final boss, reached by completing the aforementioned three-day cycle. In the preview build, four Nightfarers