One Fan-Favorite FromSoftware Playstyle Is Conspicuously Absent in Elden Ring Nightreign

Summary

Guns are notably absent in Elden Ring Nightreign, conspicuous by their absence because of all the other callbacks.
Introducing guns could be a seamless addition if implemented properly, offering a fresh take on ranged combat.
Instead of repeating Bloodborne’s gun mechanics, Nightreign could introduce unique gun types to spice up gameplay.

With Elden Ring Nightreign making so many callbacks to previous FromSoftware games, it can be quite fun trying to find all the references. From Sekiro’s deflection and traversal, to actual Dark Souls armor in Nightreign, there is a lot lifted from past titles, and none of that is a bad thing, but there is one big elephant in the room that is conspicuously absent from the game.

There are plenty of opportunities for FromSoftware to expand Elden Ring Nightreign with DLC, but there is room for so much more too. New enemies, returning characters, and new locations are all just the tip of the iceberg. With such a melting pot of ideas, Nightreign would do well to lean more into the studio’s history with Bloodborne.

Elden Ring Nightreign: Recluse Remembrance Guide

To learn the truth of the Recluse’s Story in Elden Ring Nightreign, you’ll need to complete her Remembrance Questline.

The Lack of Guns Is Elden Ring Nightreign’s Biggest Missing Link With Bloodborne

Even ten years later, Bloodborne has left a lasting legacy on FromSoftware, one that fans wish the studio would return to. It’s easy to see why; its pace was fast, boasting arguably the best combat in the series, with some of the most intriguing and esoteric themes to boot. It tapped into a Lovecraftian fascination that many players feel fits right at home with FromSoftware’s storytelling style, yet somehow, a Bloodborne 2 has never happened.

While FromSoftware doesn’t have the licence to Bloodborne, it hasn’t stopped them from making homages, and Nightreign’s Duchess is full of Bloodborne callbacks. But one thing mysteriously absent from Nightreign are guns, an absolute staple of Bloodborne. Partly, this could be because the weapon type does not exist in Elden Ring, and as a game largely consisting of reused Elden Ring assets, it makes sense they’d be absent. But as more aspects of past Dark Souls games have made a return, it feels like they might not be off the table.

Guns Could Fit Seamlessly Into Nightreign if Handled Properly

Nightreign’s Ironeye Nightfarer has proven that FromSoftware can break its long-standing tradition of making bow builds feel bad. Ironically, Ironeye might be the most overpowered class, as ranged weapons can trivialize the Soulslike formula in many cases. While any Nightfarer can equip a bow, they are most effective in Ironeye’s hands, meaning they aren’t the best choice for every class.

To differentiate them, guns wouldn’t necessarily need to work in this way. Guns could come in the form of pick-ups, or even be exclusive to a particular Nightfarer, in the same way as the Revenant’s starting weapon. Previously, guns were a parry tool, but by leveling Bloodtinge, gun builds could be viable in Bloodborne. Nightreign could adopt a similar philosophy, having them act more like off-hand tools similar to catalysts. After all, spells can be incredibly strong in Nightreign, so it’s unlikely that guns would need to upset the meta.

Nightreign’s Guns Wouldn’t Need to Be a Repeat of Bloodborne

Relying too much on repeated mechanics can get a little tiresome, so it would be understandable if guns made it into Nightreign in a slightly altered form. A Nightfarer with a hunting rifle, for example, could offer a nice twist on the formula, perhaps acting as something of a sniper who has to stand still to take the most accurate shots. Or, a mobile, close-range gunslinger could bring more danger to the ranged playstyle, maintaining Ironeye’s playstyle as the long range class. If the developers wanted to get really wild with guns, then a blunderbuss that fired scavenged items as ammunition would be a very creative approach, turning things like kukris into a terrifying shotgun shell.