The Duskbloods’ Steampunk ‘Rocketman’ Can’t Be Just for Show

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 released Elden Ring Nightreign tested the waters with its three-player co-op roguelike take on the classic FromSoft formula, and The Duskbloods is getting ready to shake up the formula more than ever before.

An upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, The Duskbloods may look like a spiritual successor to Bloodborne, 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.

Nioh 3 Can Fill a Void Left By Elden Ring Nightreign, The Duskbloods

With FromSoftware moving on to multiplayer projects like Elden Ring Nightreign and The Duskbloods, Nioh 3 fills a major gap in the Soulslike genre.

The Duskbloods Can Experiment With New Traversal Mechanics

The Duskbloods’ Jetpack Needs to Live Up to its Potential

Initially unveiled during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct in April, The Duskbloods will 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‘ rocketman seemed 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 across The Duskbloods‘ stormy night sky.

It’s unclear if The 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 in FromSoftware’s previous action-RPGs, but Elden Ring and Nightreign introduced some new mechanics, and it’d be great to see The Duskbloods continue this pattern with a usable jetpack that allows players to fly horizontally across the world.

The Duskbloods’ Jetpack Should Be Just The Beginning

But if The Duskbloods does 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 during The 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 of Elden 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 for The Duskbloods‘ Bloodsworn to not just follow in the Nightfarers’ footsteps, but try to elevate their offerings. Giving each Bloodsworn a distinct method of traversal would do just that.