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Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign is equal parts brutal joy-ride and frustrating mess — yet I can't put it down
Platforms: PC, PS5 (reviewed), Xbox Series XPrice: $39Release Date: May 15, 2025Genre: Action RPG Elden Ring Nightreign is one of the most-hyped experiences of the year and 2025 is already pretty stacked with some heavy-hitters. But with developer FromSoftware at the helm and Elden Ring in the name, this action RPG roguelite is already well-primed for game of the year contention. Yet, unlike many of its predecessors, this doesn't feel like an easy shoo-in. With cooperative multiplayer the major focus in Elden Ring Nighteign, pushing to the side rich lore-seeking and deep exploration that prevailed in FromSoftware experiences past, this fresh take on the Souls formula might be a hard pill to swallow for casuals and veterans alike. The underlying challenge remains the same. Whether you're running deep with a group of three or (God willing) solo, Elden Ring Nightreign still keeps the pressure on just like Elden Ring and Dark Souls before it, touting its own list of tough bosses, aptly coined "Night Lords." And, instead of the Lands Between, it's Limveld you'll be surveying this time. The procedurally-generated map is ever-changing and will keep you guessing each time you drop in, but don't dilly-dally — you only have three in-game days to gear up and gain levels to take on the Night Lord that awaits. Herein lies the major folly: the time-sink and minuscule rewards gained from each 45-minute run. Remember, base Elden Ring this is not. Whether you're an age-old Souls fan or a newcomer, Nightreign is a steep learning curve and shows how the Souls identity can't always fit every mold. Read on for my full review to see where Elden Ring Nightreign hits all the sweet spots and where it leaves me feeling totally parched. Without any major overarching narrative elements (that you can solve on your own or otherwise), Elden Ring Nightreign plops you into a story of survival. As already mentioned, you have just three days to suit up and attain levels to take on any of its eight Night Lords, and there's not a whole lot of time to do it. Most of my 95+ runs tended to last anywhere from 40 to 50 minutes. How it works is you face two tough bosses at the end of each day and, provided you live long enough to make it to the third sunrise, you come face to face with an even more menacing foe that puts all others to shame. Every run feels relatively different enough, up until around the 70-hour mark. The world of Limveld is supposedly "ever-changing," but it remains largely the same in some critical ways. Sometimes you'll see newer night closing bosses — for instance, I only saw the Nameless King (a returning boss from Dark Souls 3) once — or you'll get varied upgrades along the way that change how you play. It's in the Shifting Earth scenarios and random boss raids where things get interesting. These tend to follow the defeat of major Night Lords, or will spawn in randomly later into your time with Nightreign. Shifting Earths completely change the map, netting you particular rewards based on the environment. On the other hand, those aforementioned Raids can often change the run entirely. You might be in the middle of fighting a boss or trudging through the map to get a valuable item, like an extra flask that might prove vital against a Night Lord, when, out of nowhere, Margit the Fell Omen comes in to shake things up. On paper, this might sound like something that scratches the itch for wary challenge-seekers. In practice, though, it often gets annoying — even despite the fact that Margit is relatively easy to beat. It's just an added encumbrance on top of an overly large map and the stress of a ticking clock nipping at your nerves. Although there might be some alternative methods for getting around the map more easily, they don't always help in the end. I found myself using jump pads (known as Spiritstreams) the most versus the Spectral Hawks. The latter were often far too much out of the way and didn't always offer me the fastest route to my objective, which made navigation largely feel tedious at times. Much akin to the start of many a FromSoftware experience, Nightreign similarly offers players a list of characters to choose from. Except, this time your experience is largely fueled by that character's individual playstyle — meaning you don't have much of a say in that character's particular skillset. Therefore, you're locked into one mode of play depending on the character you choose. Luckily, there's a lot to enjoy in this department. The range of eight Nightfarers includes Wylder, Executor, Iron Eyes, Revenant, Recluse, Guardian, Raider, and Duchess. Each has a Passive Ability, Character Skill, and Ultimate Art that match their playstyles. I mostly played with Wylder and Executor, but also tried a bit of Revenant, Iron Eyes, and Recluse. Executor was one of my favorites, serving as the Nightreign-branded dex build and Sekiro insert of the bunch. He wields a trusty katana and an ultimate that allows him to turn into a monstrous beast that can do devastating damage to bosses. With Executor, I usually ran dual katanas for that incredible bleed buildup and with Wylder, I tended to use dual greatswords. I kind of enjoy power stancing in this game (as much as I did in Elden Ring and Dark Souls 2), and it's nice that you can even use weapons you don't want to wield to your advantage. For instance, a weapon might not be the best for a particular build, but it could have better jump attacks as a passive ability. Even just keeping this in one of your slots will be highly beneficial, and it incentivizes you to constantly pick up new gear even if the item in question doesn't match your playstyle. Ultimate Arts can prove the end-all be-all of an entire run. You'll have to wisely choose to either save an Ultimate for picking up fallen teammates or using it against bosses, just to get a good stagger in so your friends can wail on them. It's a tough balance and cooldowns often vary, but largely depend on the amount of landed attacks you make on a foe or even a fallen comrade. Nightfarers also have some interesting story beats to dive into. Coined "Remembrances," these side missions expound on their motives and can bring you to some interesting places, granting you new skins and even some useful Relics. These can be used to upgrade characters for every run. Relics are a handy way to incentivize runs. Whether you die or defeat a Night Lord, you're granted a list of rewarded Relics, which can grant you a variety of different things like boosted stamina or intelligence, heightened attack power when applying poison to foes, or granting fire to a weapon when using a Character Skill. Although these can be incredibly important in your first few hours, after a while, repeat Relics become common, and even some new ones become entirely useless. Eventually, you'll find the ones that match your mode of play and simply roll with them — and that's kind of the end of them. Elden Ring: Nightreign is a tough game to judge. It's provided me with some of my favorite co-op gaming memories in literally decades, like the time Ryan, an industry peer, and I defeated one of the game's toughest foes with barely a sliver of health remaining after three unsuccessful attempts. But the repetitive nature of each run can lead to lengthy stretches where you feel you're going through the motions and making precious little progress. It's an experience of highs and lows, but when the final Nightlord finally fell to my volley of arrows (and the cold steel of my co-op companions), I did find myself itching for just one more run. But heed my words, don't venture into the night solo; you'll need strong partners to defeat this challenge There's a lot to love here. As someone who has played all of FromSoftware's catalog, I was thoroughly excited to give this fresh spin a try and it's been a lot of fun, for the most part. Despite the underlying enjoyment, there are a bevy of hindrances and the most glaring of them all is the fact that you really need a solid group of three to persist in this game. There's just no way anyone's going to run through Nightreign with just random players casually. If so, you'd have to get real lucky. Communication is key in this game. While you can get by with simple markers and pings on the map, sitting in a voice chat makes this a total breeze. Otherwise, you can't accurately time when to use an Ultimate or specify where someone's going at a particular moment. A major point of contention for me was picking up teammates. When another hero loses all of their health, they'll fall to the ground in a glowing purple hue and you'll have to hit them several times before they're rejuvenated. Although it might sound simple enough, it proves a little tedious given the lackluster in-game targeting and the minimal amount of stamina you have in this game. The stamina gauge in Nightreign is a huge misstep in my opinion. It's one of the biggest problems I had in most of my runs, always running out of stamina in the worst situations — largely because bosses jump around the map so much you have to run around to catch up with them, only for your stamina bar to deplete in seconds. It would make more sense if you didn't have to expend stamina on dashes to get to bosses or use much less stamina in boss scenarios, making Night Lord fights and even night cap bosses feel a lot less time-consuming. I feel like a good portion of the time is spent waiting for my stamina gauge to replenish and with a couple of tweaks, I feel like this could easily be amended. And one of my biggest gripes is not being allowed to buy more items at the final night market or even sell items to get some extra runes back. It prevents you from shifting all the useless gear you've accumulated over the run. What this game needs the most, though, is duos. I truly don't understand why a solo mode was prioritized over duos — I guess for offline players, mostly, but I see a large side of the player base running with randoms or friends, for the most part. Duos could add such an awesome dynamic to this game, and I hope FromSoftware does end up adding this mode in a future update. I could yap all day long about this game. Elden Ring Nightreign is totally different from anything FromSoftware has done before. It fits into a whole new mold, one that gives Souls veterans a seemingly never-ending challenge that will test their skills for years to come. But after over 70 hours of gameplay, I feel I've seen pretty much everything Nightreign has to offer, and there's little else drawing me back in. Aside from playing with other Nightfarers and running their Remembrances, there's not much else here in terms of replayability and the relics I could garner won't amount to much against what I've already got. I'll be around helping new players take down bosses, of course, but once I've seen them through the Night Lords, I don't see much else keeping me (and others) sticking around until future DLC. And that's a real shame coming from the spinoff of an experience that heralded hundreds of hours of enjoyment.
Time Business News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Business News
Why Is Elden Ring Considered a Game of the Year?
In the fast-evolving world of gaming, few titles manage to capture the hearts of both critics and players alike. Elden Ring , developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco, achieved exactly that. Since its release, it has dominated award shows, online discussions, and countless 'Game of the Year' lists. But what exactly made Elden Ring rise above its competitors to become one of the most celebrated games in modern history? In this article, we'll explore the reasons behind its success, from gameplay innovation and open-world design to unforgettable characters and iconic Elden Ring costumes that have inspired a global cosplay movement. A Revolutionary Open-World Experience Elden Ring took the Soulsborne formula — known for its high difficulty and dark fantasy — and expanded it into a breathtaking open-world adventure. Unlike traditional open-world games, Elden Ring gives players almost complete freedom from the start. You're dropped into the Lands Between with minimal direction, allowing you to choose your path, explore dangerous dungeons, uncover hidden lore, and battle towering enemies at your own pace. This freedom empowers the player to build their own story, whether by confronting massive bosses or by simply wandering into a forgotten ruin in search of loot or secrets. It's a sandbox filled with danger, beauty, and discovery. Immersive Lore and Storytelling The game's narrative, co-created with Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, is both expansive and cryptic. Rather than handing out exposition, Elden Ring encourages players to piece together its deep lore through item descriptions, environmental storytelling, and vague NPC dialogues. This approach allows for a more immersive experience, rewarding curiosity and exploration. Players become historians of their own adventure, reconstructing the ancient history of the Lands Between and its many factions, gods, and tragic heroes. Challenging Yet Rewarding Combat Another hallmark of FromSoftware's design is its challenging but fair combat, and Elden Ring continues this tradition masterfully. Boss battles are intense, tactical, and require patience and skill. Whether you're a seasoned Souls player or a newcomer, the satisfaction of defeating a major boss in Elden Ring is unmatched. The variety of weapons, magic systems, and character builds offers nearly endless customization, which makes each player's combat experience feel personal and distinct. The Iconic Characters Behind the Fame Among the rich cast of characters in Elden Ring , one figure stands out: Melina. Mysterious, ethereal, and pivotal to the main storyline, Melina becomes a guiding companion for the player. Her role as a spectral maiden and story anchor makes her one of the most beloved characters in the game. The Elden Ring Melina Cosplay Costume has become a cosplay favorite, thanks to its haunting beauty and simplicity. Featuring her tattered black robe, golden eye marking, and cloak with intricate details, the Melina costume captures the spirit of Elden Ring 's world — tragic, enigmatic, and beautiful. Elden Ring Costumes: A Cosplay Phenomenon Beyond Melina, Elden Ring costumes have sparked global interest among cosplayers. The game's detailed character designs — from armored knights and demigods to eerie sorcerers — offer an abundance of inspiration. Some fan-favorite cosplay ideas include: Ranni the Witch : A four-armed celestial being with blue skin and a wide-brimmed hat, perfect for fantasy fans. : A four-armed celestial being with blue skin and a wide-brimmed hat, perfect for fantasy fans. Radahn : A massive, warrior general riding a tiny horse — a complex but awe-inspiring costume for hardcore cosplayers. : A massive, warrior general riding a tiny horse — a complex but awe-inspiring costume for hardcore cosplayers. Blaidd the Half-Wolf: With his towering stature, wolf mask, and fur-trimmed armor, Blaidd offers a striking look. The growing popularity of Elden Ring costumes on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and cosplay conventions demonstrates how deeply the game has resonated with players — visually as well as emotionally. Awards and Recognition Elden Ring has swept nearly every major gaming award, including Game of the Year at The Game Awards, Golden Joystick Awards, and BAFTA. These accolades reflect its technical brilliance, artistic vision, and the sheer scope of its world-building. Its commercial success also speaks volumes. Within months of release, it sold over 20 million copies globally — a testament to its mass appeal across gaming communities. Conclusion Elden Ring is more than just a game — it's a phenomenon. With its masterful blend of open-world freedom, deep lore, strategic combat, and unforgettable characters like Melina, it's no wonder it earned the title of Game of the Year. And as its influence grows, so does the cultural footprint of Elden Ring costumes , cementing its place not only in gaming history but in the cosplay world as well. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nightreign Is Being Called A Mashup Of Elden Ring And Battle Royales And Its Release Date Is Only Months Away
Elden Ring Nightreign was one of last year's most unexpected announcements. Now it turns out the roguelike multiplayer spin-off of everyone's favorite open-world Soulsborne is right around the corner. Bandai Namco announced that FromSoftware's latest blockbuster will launch in May, and early impressions are buzzing about it being a tense hybrid of Elden Ring and a PVE-based battle royale. The release date of May 30 on PlayStation 5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC was revealed alongside a new trailer showing off more gameplay and bosses that will be featured in Nightreign's unique sandbox horde mode. Invitations to the game's first beta test, scheduled to go live February 14 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, also went out on Wednesday. Players will have a chance to explore a randomized world map across a day and night cycle as a Fortnite-like circle slowly closes in on them. It's honestly a bonkers premise for a FromSoftware game, but early impressions of the beta test build paint a glowing picture of the Dark Souls studio's experimental genre mashup. 'Nightreign provides a delectable hit of Elden Ring in a repeatable microcosm,' Ed Nightingale writes for Eurogamer. 'It's got the difficulty, the levelling, the boss battles, and the sense of discovery, but all at high speed for a new type of challenge, while its grim enemy selection is like a best-of Souls mixtape I'm itching to replay.' Polygon's previewer came away similarly impressed. 'In many ways it would feel more like a frantic, PvE battle royale than it would the original Elden Ring,' writes Austen Goslin. 'What's even more surprising is just how well all of these elements mix together into a package that feels both true to the Soulslike genre, and totally new at the same time.' He says it's less the open invitation to new fans that Elden Ring was than a love letter to existing Souls devotees. Unlike the 2022 GOTY hit, Nightreign features faster-paced combat and streamlined progression during each run. Leveling up happens more quickly, Sites of Grace heal you automatically as you run by, and there's no fall damage this time around. Relics, meanwhile, provide extra stat bonuses that last in-between runs, so not all of your progress is reset each time. Combined with eight character classes, there's potentially a lot of room to develop custom strategies and replay through the same content over and over like a classic arcade game. I'll have a better sense of that for myself after playing this weekend's beta test. I was already looking forward to it and now I'm extra stoked. . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
