Elden Ring Nightreign Could Have Benefited from a Key Persona Feature

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Although Elden Ring Nightreign shares some resemblances with the acclaimed 2022 game of the same name, it also presents numerous fresh aspects that significantly alter your gaming experience. Predictably, there has been a lot of discussion about its roguelike structure, which, despite not being flawless, adds captivating new layers to the Elden Ring gameplay dynamic, fostering exploration and mastery in diverse mechanical areas.

In essence, the gameplay of Elden Ring: Nightreign dominates its playable material and is expected to draw long-term interest from viewers. However, an intriguing facet of this spin-off lies in its storytelling approach, which deviates from the usual epic style and focuses more on personal relationships and internal conflicts compared to previous FromSoftware narratives. The characters playable in Nightreign, known as Nightfarers, each come with a pre-set history. A substantial part of Nightreign’s story unfolds by uncovering details about their individual pasts, motivations, and hardships. These stories are gradually revealed through Remembrances, which can be seen as mini-quests that players must complete during gameplay. However, before and after these quests, conversations with members of the Roundtable Hold take place, adding an interesting layer but may not fully realize its potential.

How Elden Ring Nightreign Could Have Incorporated a Persona-Like Social System

Elden Ring Nightreign’s Interpersonal Relationships Are Lacking

Unlike most FromSoftware RPGs that don’t focus much on developing deep relationships with NPCs and often end up corrupted or eliminated, Nightreign stands out as it’s billed as an ensemble tale, showcasing distinct personalities, hardships, and ambitions for each Nightfarer. This twist in the traditional FromSoftware narrative could have opened up numerous creative and thrilling interactive experiences. Regrettably, this isn’t fully realized in the game.

Fundamentally, the character exchanges in Nightreign are mainly brief background snippets, though intriguing individually, they don’t effectively build the characters themselves. This seems like a significant missed chance because the Nightfarers are a team, each pursuing a shared objective, and cohabiting the same base that provides ample chances for bonding, disputes, and character advancement. The absence of deep-seated relationships among characters is even more disheartening when you consider moments where such relationships are suggested. For instance, Guardian’s journal hints at a close mentor-student relationship with Recluse, but this aspect isn’t developed as fully as it could have been. Stepping outside of traditional studio practices in this respect might have significantly enhanced Nightreign.

How a Dash of Persona Social Mechanics Could Have Elevated Nightreign’s Narrative Delivery

In Elden Ring Nightreign, most of its story is conveyed through conversations in the Roundtable Hold. It’s plausible to argue that incorporating a relationship mechanic similar to Persona might have enhanced the gameplay experience. While it’s unlikely that Nightreign would copy Atlus’ Confidant system entirely, taking key concepts like the intertwining of substantial game rewards and deeper NPC interaction could have added an intriguing layer to this soulslike roguelike.

Consider the relationship between Guardian and Recluse in Elden Ring Nightreign, for example: perhaps players, assuming the role of Recluse, could participate in a series of distinct dialog sequences with Guardian. As each conversation unfolds, it would contribute to a relationship meter of some sort. Once certain thresholds are reached, the game might grant rewards such as a new artifact for one of the characters or an enhancement to their initial weapon. While Remembrances offer a comparable experience, advancement in this aspect is primarily driven by task completion rather than relationship development. Infusing social dynamics akin to what’s found in games like Persona, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 could have elevated Elden Ring Nightreign significantly.

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2025-06-06 17:35