Bosses have become FromSoftware’s bread and butter. Boss fights are often viewed as the culmination of a game’s combat mechanics, progression systems, and visual/audio presentation, as well as being the ultimate test of a player’s strength and ability to persevere through challenge. Huge, spectacle boss fights have become a major draw ofFromSoftware’s games, and they remain a key selling point ofElden Ring Nightreign.
A 3-player co-op game with roguelike elements,Elden Ring Nightreignwill see players dashing across the region of Limveld, picking up loot, killing enemies, leveling up, and gaining enough strength to eventually take on the big, bad Night Lords. Along the way, players will face off against a plethora of bosses, some new and some returning, not just fromElden Ringbut fromDark Soulsas well. It’s unconfirmed just how manyDark Soulsbosses will return inNightreign, but there are a handful who are probably off the table regardless.
Environment-Focused Dark Souls Bosses Might Not Make Sense for Elden Ring Nightreign
Dark Souls Is Home to a Handful of Environment-Based Puzzle Bosses
TheDark Soulstrilogy is home to almost 100 bosses, many of which are considered some of the best video game bosses of all time. From corrupted humanoid knights to gigantic otherworldly beasts, many ofDark Souls' best bosseswould suitElden Ring Nightreign’s 3-player co-op formula well. But there are a select few whose inherent premise might not align withNightreign’s world design.
In eachDark Soulsentry, there are one or two bosses whose visual design and moveset are directly tied to the environment they’re found in.Dark Souls' Bed of Chaosis a perfect example of this, with players needing to avoid its sweeping attacks and destroy the orange orbs found at the side of the arena.Dark Souls 2’s Executioner’s Chariot is a similar environment-based boss, clattering around the circular arena and requiring the use of gates to bring it to a standstill.
Dark Souls 3also features a few of these non-traditional puzzle bosses, with High Lord Wolnirbeing the most obvious example. Players need to avoid Wolnir’s attacks and army of skeletons, and destroy the golden bangles danging from his bony arms, all before the encroaching black fog consumes them.
Why Environment-Based Bosses Might Not Work in Elden Ring Nightreign
Taking place in the mysterious parallel world of Limveld,Elden Ring Nightreign’s semi-open-world map will feature procedural generation that sees various structures and level layouts fromElden Ring’s base game get remixed.
According toElden Ring Nightreign’s recent previews, most of the game’s bosses (aside from Night Lords) will appear in randomized locations around its map, not in tailor-made arenas but out in open fields or inside generic structures. Bosses like Morgott, for instance, appear at random intervals and hunt players across the map’s open areas, rather than remain in a handcrafted location.
This randomized approach means thatDark Souls' more environment-based bosses are likely off the table forElden Ring Nightreign, as it wouldn’t make sense to feature them without their arenas and the resulting gameplay mechanics that are integral to their fight.
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!”
