Nightingale is an upcoming survival game from Inflexion Games that’s coming out on February 22, 2024. You’re essentially a battlemage called a Realmwalker and your job is to explore the Fae Realms. One of these realms is known as Nightingale and it’s the only safe zone on Earth. Outside it, there are horrors that the mind can’t comprehend.
However, Player.com is looking past the smoke and mirrors! Below is a breakdown of Nightingale, a game that lets you craft, build, and fight your way to the top. It’s a Gaslamp Fantasy world of magical beings and first-person shooter mechanics with mesmerising particle effects.
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Many Figures From Victorian Folklore Are Brought to Life
Many figures, such as Puck and Ada Lovelace, are reimagined in Nightingale for a trip down memory lane. It’s the Victorian age, where science, technology, and magic are deeply tied into the lore. Puck is a fictional figure that’s inspired by Shakespeare, while Ada Lovelace, an English woman, is the first computer programmer in history.
If you liked Lies of P, then there’s a strong chance that you’ll love Nightingale; Especially because of the Gaslamp Fantasy elements shared by both games. For one, Lies of P takes place in the Victorian era too. However, instead of keeping the lore of high-class societies and technological marvels, magic is baked right into the game’s DNA. The only difference is that Nightingale is an open-world game with crafting elements that are similar to Fortnite’s item builder.
Aaryn Flynn and Neil Thompson Are the Ingenious Minds Behind the Game
Aaryn Flynn has worked on the Dragon Age games before, while Neil Thompson is known for his work on Mass Effect. Together, they birthed a fantasy game with elements of magic and technology in equal measure. Luckily, Nightingale will have a single-player experience, so you can expect a campaign and side quests. Mass Effect 3’s campaign was at least 25 hours in length, while Dragon Age: Inquisitions’ campaign was around 50 hours long.
So, how long do you think Nightingale will be? Especially as it offers a multiplayer mode too. We guess that the game’s campaign will last at least 20 hours. After all, the studio took the time to write an awesome backstory for the protagonist. It starts with a fog called the Pale, which has covered most of the Earth. All living things caught by the fog have been frozen in time and Nightingale is the only human realm left.
It’s All Card Games
Sites of Powers are mini-dungeons that reward cards for opening other realms. You can only unlock mini-dungeons after meeting certain two requirements, namely:
- Meet the gear requirements.
- Complete the Hope requirements.
There’s early access to the game right now, so Steam beta testers can test-drive the title. So far, though, we don’t recommend approaching mini-dungeons before completing enough quests. In the beginning, Puck will give you one or two quests to get your appetite up. However, you’ll be left to your devices later in the game, which is an experience reminiscent of Elden Ring.
Crafting New Realm Cards
You can craft new Realm Cards by completing the Site of Power. It’s simple, you can’t craft without getting the recipe for the realm you’re headed to and for that, you need a Realm Card. Naturally, each realm will have its unique flora and fauna, hence turning Nightingale into a looters’ galore. Gather herbs, spices, and resources that are unique to realms for better combat prowess and exploration opportunities.
To that end, there are three types of cards, which are Biome, Major, and Minor. You always need a Biome and Major Realm Card but the Minor ones aren’t necessary. They’re just there to flesh out the experience, offering alternate realms to explore after you’re done with the main story. The three Realms Cards are also well laid out.
- Biome Realm Cards: Biomes are all about exploring different environments. This includes deserts, swamps, and forests for now. However, we hope future updates will introduce other realms.
- Major Realm Cards: Major Realm Cards determine the realm’s difficulty, so keep an eye on its tier before venturing in.
- Minor Realm Cards: Minor Realm Cards won’t change the setting or biome, but are needed to explore realms with intense weather and creature behaviours.
One of the Minor Realm Cards lets you jump super high while you’re in the chosen realm so who knows what’s in store for gamers when it’s launched? We definitely can’t wait to find out.
Hope Echoes Help Flesh up the Narrative
Sure, the plotline is loose; Hence, it’s open for multiple interpretations. Still, we’re glad that we won’t just wash up ashore on a remote island, which is as ambiguous as a survival game can get. Thankfully, Hope Echoes are scattered around the huge sandbox of Nightingale. These add narrative context to the plotline, so you know who’s who. Hope Echoes are dropped by Realm Walker, who chartered the same lands you’re now attempting to conquer.
Along the way, you’ll also meet up with Puck, who seems to be a guiding hand. He gives you side quests and offers experiences about Nightingale and the lands beyond it. Nevertheless, Puck is still a Fae, a race that’s notorious for tricking humans into cutthroat deals. For one, we’re interested in the game’s conclusion.
Nightingale’s Visuals Are Top-Notch
Multiplayer games such as Nightingale are addictive, especially when you have RPG elements such as crafting and building at its core. We’ve already seen the looting and crafting animations and they are good. Heck, it looks like the game is chock-full of visual effects such as 4K textures, ambient occlusion, shadows, and many others.
Our Final Say: Nightingale Looks Too Good to Be True
Games like Nightingale are the spiritual kids of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and other monster-themed open-world games. They’re intricately detailed games with compelling protagonists and side characters that you’ll remember fondly years after you finish the game. So, it’s a good thing that the multiplayer hub, which comprises The Watch, Vaults, and Apex Hunts. It should be a fun experience come February 22, 2024.