While it has landed to a more mixed reception than previous FromSoftware games,Elden Ring Nightreignis definitely a worthwhile experience, and gets a lot right. With thoughtful patches, like FromSoftware’s recently announced duos update,Elden Ring Nightreignhas every chance to go down in history as yet another strong, potentially influential, and experimental game by FromSoftware.
In some ways,Elden Ring Nightreignsuffers from the broadersuccess of FromSoftwareas a studio; in the wake ofElden Ring, a game that many consider to be one of the best ever made,Nightreignhad a lot to live up to. What’s more is that FromSoftware’s leading auteur, Hidetaka Miyazaki, took the backseat for this project, handing the reins instead to Junya Ishizaki, who had previously worked as a designer on several high-profile titles, includingBloodborneand the entirety of theDark Soulsseries. Most notably, he was the battle director forElden Ringand theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC, which may have been a particularly helpful experience going intoNightreign. ButNightreignis Ishizaki’s first time in the director’s chair, and hopefully, it won’t be the last.
Despite Its Issues, Elden Ring Nightreign Is a Strong Directorial Debut for Junya Ishizaki
Since therelease ofDemon’s Souls, Hidetaka Miyazaki’s prominence has risen to the same level as the likes of Hideo Kojima and Shinji Mikami—developers whose work and reputation precede them. Like those other auteurs, Miyazaki’s projects have a distinct identity, and an unmistakable flair and personality that makes them easy to distinguish from the myriad of other action-RPGs that litter the AAA landscape. In other words, Miyazaki is a bit of a rockstar in the gaming world, and with many consideringElden Ringto be his magnum opus, anyone attempting to take his place for a future project would have had their work cut out for them.
This is where Ishizaki comes in. He was quite active in the leadup toElden Ring Nightreign’s release, speaking to press outlets and being open about the fact that this is a game with him at the helm, not Miyazaki. Ishizaki has even gone on record about his creative control overNightreign, intimating that Miyazaki more or less let him run wild with theElden RingIP.
And while the game has its shortcomings, it’s an undeniably unique product, one that perhaps would have never beenmade by Miyazaki. This is a good thing, as it’s a sign that FromSoftware is still willing to take risks and diversify within its talent pool. One must remember that Miyazaki himself had no prior game direction experience beforeDemon’s Souls, but FromSoft’s decision to put him in that leadership role paved the way for one of the most influential and important video games of all time. By maintaining that mentality with other developers, FromSoftware can continue to build a strong and diverse portfolio.
Junya Ishizaki Could Become Another Leader Within FromSoftware
It’s quite common to see senior staff at western studios leave once a project is completed, sometimes starting their own studios or simply moving on to a different company. This happens far less frequently in Japanese companies, though, where senior staff often remain in the same role until they retire. AssumingFromSoftware adheres to this trend, it’s likely that both Miyazaki and Ishizaki will stick around for quite some time yet.
If this is the case, it would be great to see Miyazaki defer to Ishizaki more often. The clever and creative ideas on display inElden Ring Nightreigndo more than enough to establish the director as one with a powerful vision and the fearlessness to bring it to life. Hopefully,Nightreign’s mixed reviewsdon’t get in the way of Ishizaki’s continued directorial efforts.
Elden Ring Nightreign
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“ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is a standalone adventure within the ELDEN RING universe, crafted to offer players a new gaming experience by reimagining the game’s core design.Join forces with other players to take on the creeping night and the dangers within featuring 3-player co-op.Take command of uniquely skilled heroes, each possessing their own abilities and distinct flair.While individually formidable, their skills create powerful synergies when they unite as a team.Overcome a relentless environmental threat that sweeps through a land that changes between each game session and defeat the magnificent boss of that night!”
