FromSoftware has been gradually adding to its action-RPG formula for over a decade, but now it seems to be willing to take those tried-and-tested foundations and experiment a little. The recently releasedElden Ring Nightreigntested the waters with itsthree-player co-op rogueliketake on the classic FromSoft formula, andThe Duskbloodsis getting ready to shake up the formula more than ever before.
An upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive,The Duskbloodsmay look like a spiritual successor toBloodborne, but its gameplay premise already seems like quite the departure from the developer’s usual MO, with it set to introduce fans to an all-new 8-player PvPvE experience. Some fans might be wary of this new multiplayer-focused direction FromSoftware seems to be going in, but experimentation can lead to great things.The Duskbloods' rocketman could be the perfect example of that, though his defining feature can’t just be for show.
The Duskbloods Can Experiment With New Traversal Mechanics
The Duskbloods' Jetpack Needs to Live Up to its Potential
Initially unveiled during theNintendo Switch 2 Direct in April,The Duskbloodswill be an 8-player online PvPvE experience that sees players gearing up as one of “over a dozen” Bloodsworn, vampiric playable characters who come equipped with their own unique weapons, outfits, and abilities.The Duskbloods' reveal trailer showcased a few of these Bloodsworn characters in action, including a sort of rocketman-like figure.
This rocketman was encased from head to toe in a bulky suit of riveted armor, adorned with a gas mask-like helmet bolted onto the rest of the suit.The Duskbloods' rocketmanseemed to wield some kind of gigantic, industrial-looking gatling gun and handheld drill-spear. But by far the most exciting element of this rocketman was his namesake feature, a jetpack that sends him flying acrossThe Duskbloods' stormy night sky.
It’s unclear ifThe Duskbloods' rocketman will be a playable character, or if players will have access to this jetpack in the final product, but the game would be missing a big opportunity if it didn’t deliver on these features. Traversal options have often been quite limited inFromSoftware’s previous action-RPGs, butElden RingandNightreignintroduced some new mechanics, and it’d be great to seeThe Duskbloodscontinue this pattern with a usable jetpack that allows players to fly horizontally across the world.
The Duskbloods' Jetpack Should Be Just The Beginning
But ifThe Duskbloodsdoes allow players to use a jetpack, it should be just the tip of the iceberg. Each Bloodsworn should be given a unique method of traversal, and a few were potentially teased duringThe Duskbloods' reveal trailer. Fans saw one Bloodsworn leap high into the air, another turn into a dinosaur, and one riding atop a four-legged beast.
One ofElden Ring Nightreign’s greatest strengths was the great amount of variety found in each of its playable Nightfarers, both in terms of visual designs and unique gameplay mechanics. It’d be smart forThe Duskbloods' Bloodswornto not just follow in the Nightfarers' footsteps, but attempt to elevate their offerings. Giving each Bloodsworn a distinct method of traversal would do just that.
