Elden Ring Nightreign DLC Draws Criticism Over Confusing Map with Endless Pits

Taylor Keatsman

ago 1 hour

Elden Ring Nightreign DLC Draws Criticism Over Confusing Map with Endless Pits

Elden Ring’s latest DLC, Nightreign, has stirred up significant discussion among players, particularly concerning its confusing map, Great Hollow. Released over a month ago, Forsaken Hollows adds various challenges and elements, including new Nightfarers and bosses. Yet, players are finding the map layout confusing and difficult to navigate, leading to a wave of negative reviews on Steam.

Challenges with the Great Hollow Map

The Great Hollow map is not entirely new; it’s characterized as a Shifting Earth event. This feature introduces varying terrains and conditions each time players embark on a new attempt. Unlike previous Shifting Earth events, the Great Hollow presents a unique challenge by drastically altering the landscape, creating a multi-level environment that complicates navigation.

Key Features of Great Hollow

Central Crystal: The center of the Great Hollow is dominated by a massive crystal, surrounded by cliffs and ruins.
Multiple Levels: The map consists of different vertical levels, each with unique points of interest.
Spirit Springs: Players must utilize spirit springs to navigate between these levels effectively.
Buff Mechanics: Players can acquire buffs by finding small colored crystals scattered throughout the map.

This multi-tiered design adds to the navigation difficulty. Players traditionally plan routes based on a glance at the map. However, the confusion of levels and the necessity to locate crystals has made strategic planning even harder around encountering enemies.

Player Feedback and Reception

The response to the DLC has not been overwhelmingly positive. Currently, the Forsaken Hollows add-on holds a “Mostly Negative” rating on Steam, with only 30% of 1,347 reviews classified as positive. Players have criticized the complexity of the terrain and the game’s structure.

Common Complaints

Pacing and Navigation: Reviews indicate that traversing the map takes an excessive amount of time.
Fall Mechanics: The lack of fall damage mixed with tricky ledges leads to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Boss Encounters: Some players find the new bosses overly challenging and time-consuming.

One review stated, “The map is poorly designed, overly difficult, and boring.” Another noted how traversal often results in unintended deaths due to unseen falls. Many players expressed that the Great Hollow’s layout detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.

Mixed Reactions

While the sentiment is predominantly negative, some players appreciate the unique design and challenge. Discussions in various forums point out that mastering the map takes time and effort, which could mean that some players view it as an engaging challenge. A Reddit user remarked, “The more I play, the more I feel like it was fantastically designed.”

In conclusion, while Great Hollow offers vibrant aesthetics and new gameplay mechanics, it remains a divisive topic within the Elden Ring community. Developers at FromSoftware may need to address these navigation issues in future updates, possibly offering clarity on minimap functionalities and improving fall recovery mechanics. The reception of the Nightreign DLC highlights both the challenges and excitement of adapting to new game environments.