It should come as no surprise to FromSoftware fans that the studio has a fondness for the long-running mangaBerserk, which has served as a clear inspiration for everything fromDark SoulstoSekiro: Shadows Die Twice. This year’sElden Ring Nightreignis no different, clearly channeling the gruesome, brutal, and emotional energy of the lateKentaro Miura’s magnum opus. But whileNightreignis relatively sparse in the plot department, it’s actually surprisinglyBerserk-like in many ways.
Minor spoilers forBerserkahead.
To understand whyElden Ring Nightreignis likeBerserk, it’s worth giving a quick overview of the latter. Started in 1989 and still going today,Berserkfollows Guts, a man plagued by regret, trauma, and rage. From the moment he is born, the world is cruel to him, but it isn’t until gaining and losing a newfound family as a young adult that Guts fully embraces his dark, vengeful destiny. In the path of his wrath is the Godhand, a group of demonic, unbelievably powerful entities whose deadly Apostles are spread across the medieval country where the story takes place. With the help of a ragtag group of surprisingly capable misfits, Guts seeks to realize his mission and achieve some semblance of peace.
Why Elden Ring Nightreign Feels Like Berserk
Nightreign’s Boss-Centric Formula Feels a Lot Like Berserk’s ‘Villain of the Week’ Stories
Berserkstands out from other mangain a number of key ways, but it’s not above the medium’s most common tropes. Specifically,Berserkwill often feature smaller subplots centered on individual antagonists posing a significant threat, even to the story’s formidable protagonists. In a sense, characters like Zodd, Ganishka, and Grunbeld are like mini-bosses for Guts and his crew to defeat on their path to the final boss, much like the formula of a typical action-oriented video game.
It’s also rather similar to the quasi boss rush structure ofElden Ring Nightreign, where players are specifically tasked with taking down uber-powerful Nightlords before facing Heolstor, the final threat of the game. Of course, just about everyFromSoftware RPGhas smaller bosses leading up to an ultimate encounter, but the positioning ofNightreign’s Nightlords as almost demi-god-like beasts, hyped up over the course of a run, is arguably the studio’s closest parallel to an antagonist arc in a manga likeBerserk.
Elden Ring Nightreign’s Focus On Community Is Similar to Berserk’s
One key element ofBerserkthatFromSoftware games have neverreflected is its focus on interpersonal relationships, community, and teamwork. Without spoiling anything, Guts' journey is heavily centered on him finding peace with people he can trust, leading him to partner with characters like Casca, Schierke, and Puck. WhileElden Ring Nightreigndoesn’t quite have the same emotional nuance in its character interactions, it is an ensemble story, which is remarkably different from the lonesome solo adventures of previous FromSoftware action-RPGs.
One could even draw parallels betweenNightreign’s Nightfarers andBerserk’s principal cast. For instance, Wylder’s use of greatswords and an arm cannon is reminiscent of Guts' fighting style, Duchess' agility feels like a blend between Serpico’s and Casca’s combat styles, Recluse is a sorceress like Schierke, and Ironeye’s relentless assassin’s mindset and high dexterity has parallels in Irvine, the archer Apostle.
Naturally, these are common character archetypes; it would be unfair to pretend that they wereinspired solely byBerserk. At the same time, the prevalence of these archetypes, coupled withNightreign’s explicit emphasis on teamwork, both in terms of narrative and gameplay, invitesBerserkcomparisons. Add in the villain of the week subplots formed by individual runs, andElden Ring Nightreignstarts to feel like one of the more explicitlyBerserk-inspired entries in FromSoftware’s catalog.
Elden Ring Nightreign
WHERE TO PLAY
“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!”
