Elden Ring: The Dual Nature of Nightreign’s Reused Bosses

Elden Ring Nightreign’s like this jumbled mix of what you know and what you don’t, and I don’t know how they do it, but it sort of works. If you’ve been trudging through Elden Ring before, you’ll recognize the landmarks and enemies like old pals, but now they’ve thrown in some roguelike nonsense. Feels like putting on an old jacket and finding new mysteries tucked in the pockets. The whole playing vibe’s been flipped, and somehow, those recycled enemies don’t feel stale to the veterans – like, they get this immediate head start. Kind of makes me think of that feeling when you find a shortcut in a familiar game level, yet… different.

Now here’s the thing, there’s a bit of a love-hate deal going on with how they’ve brought back bosses. The nostalgia’s comforting, for sure, like bumping into an old friend, but can you guess? It does get a tad predictable for those who’ve spent a lifetime in the Lands Between. Newbies, though, they can pick up a trick or two from the experts, making the whole Soulslike world a little less terrifying at first blush. It’s a weird trade-off, a bit like knowing the answer to a test question ‘cause you’ve repeated the class.

But speaking of bosses – yeah, they’re either a blast from the past or just plain blah. Those Draconic Tree Sentinels, Night’s Cavalry, they’re sort of like your go-to comfort snack. Familiar, but not always exciting. I mean, who doesn’t get a kick out of effortlessly dodging moves that used to be the bane of your existence? Still, after a million times, might end up feeling like an unending loop, right? I sometimes wish they’d gone wild and tossed in a revival like Malenia just for kicks.

Anyway, roguelikes often pull this stunt where they create bosses by throwing hordes of regular baddies at you. Risk of Rain 2, you know what I’m talking about — the Horde of Many nonsense, where it’s just a mashup of souped-up mobs. Not feeling very “boss-like,” and Nightreign goes there too. I mean, opening an Evergaol only to see… Banished Knights?! A trio?! Cue the internal groan. Every run almost feels the same, like, seriously?

But wait, there’s a silver lining showing up for new players. Sure, the bosses might not always razzle-dazzle, but for the Nightreign rookies, there’s this weird comfort in the same-old-same-old. Picture someone untouched by the Souls series dropping into this game. Being a speedster learning the ropes is hard enough, but knowing the enemy they’re staring down? Priceless. Gives them something to hold onto when every dodge or roll feels make-or-break. So, maybe there is magic in familiarity; who would’ve thought?