A Shift in Perspective

As a dedicated player of Elden Ring and someone who has poured over 600 hours into Nightreign, I was initially crushed by the news that FromSoftware’s upcoming multiplayer venture, The Duskbloods, would be exclusive to the Switch 2. My fear of missing out was significant—that is, until I actually sat down to play it. My time with the closed network test this past weekend was characterized by confusion, and even after grasping the core mechanics, I found myself largely underwhelmed.


The Limitations of the Network Test

It is important to acknowledge that the network test was an early build. It offered limited content: a single map, six characters, no build customization, solo queues, and a truncated tutorial. Furthermore, the experience was marred by significant input lag, regardless of whether the console was docked or in handheld mode, making even basic controls feel like a chore.

I remain hopeful that the final release will resolve these technical hurdles. After all, Nightreign didn't click for me for nearly 20 hours, but once it did, I played it daily. However, as it stands, The Duskbloods feels like a disorganized collection of interesting ideas that don't quite coalesce into a compelling reason for PC gamers to invest in new hardware.


Confusing Systems and Opacity

What remains undeniably intriguing is just how eccentric The Duskbloods feels in the current gaming landscape. It echoes the vibe of a niche PlayStation 2 title with bizarre, outdated multiplayer design choices. The tutorial text often utilizes cryptic, overly evocative language, such as:

«To obtain Virtue visit Sites of Ritual to pledge yourself on the Eve of the Third Moon before the final Bestowal.»
While this style is classic FromSoftware, it provides very little practical guidance for the actual gameplay loop.


Gameplay Mechanics: A MOBA-like Grind

At its heart, The Duskbloods mirrors the structure of a MOBA. Players drop into a map and must farm creeps to collect 'Virtue' points, aiming to be the strongest fighter before the final confrontation. While PvP is present, it feels largely tertiary; engaging in combat with other players often feels like a high-risk, low-reward endeavor that merely delays your farming progress.

The combat loop itself struggles with identity. Despite the presence of high-mobility mechanics like triple jumps and air dashes, the encounters lack depth. Bosses and smaller enemies often feel like fodder, lacking the satisfying rhythm or tactical challenge associated with other FromSoftware titles.


Characters and Potential

The game features a cast of diverse, unconventional characters, each with unique skills, yet many feel underdeveloped outside of direct combat. For instance:

  • Sniper Layla can deploy a gatling gun, but the utility feels stale during repetitive farming.
  • Trang Lanh’s invisibility serves little purpose against monsters that track the player regardless.
  • Zork provides a tanky, heavy-armor experience that shines only in specific team-based encounters.

One bright spot is the 'Kin' system, which allows you to recruit NPCs to fight alongside you. These allies act as smarter, permanent versions of Spirit Ashes, though their AI occasionally struggles to keep pace with the chaotic speed of PvP.


Final Thoughts

Despite the frustration, the premise remains fascinating. The visual world-building—from steampunk airships to bosses reminiscent of Bloodborne—is pure FromSoftware. Yet, given the heavy reliance on Nintendo's platform and the current state of the gameplay, it seems possible that PC gamers aren't missing out on a genre-defining masterpiece. For now, The Duskbloods feels like a potential first entry from the studio that I might choose to skip entirely.