It’s common for games in the crafting survival genre to focus on technology, be it the anachronistic advanced science ofARKor the mend-and-make-do tech common in post-apocalypsegames like7 Days to Die. ButNightingaleleans in on the magical with its Gaslamp Fantasy setting, which has interesting implications for the game’s combat.
Gaslamp Fantasy is the magical cousin to the more technologically focused genre of steampunk, and as suchNightingalenot only has firearms, but magical abilities for players to arm themselves with. As they traverse the Fae Realms, the challenges they face will be more magical in nature as well. Inflexion CEO Aaryn Flynn andNightingalelead designer Bjorn Taylor spoke with Game Rant about the ways this more magical setting influences the combat gameplay for the upcoming crafting survival title.The following interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Nightingale’s Magic in the Fae Realms
Q: How many distinct melee weapons and firearm categories can players expect to wield?
Taylor:There are seven dedicated melee weapon types and some that can be used in melee. Firearms have four categories.
Q: How many magical abilities are players able to unlock?
Flynn:Currently, we have 18 magical spells for the player to unlock.
Q: WhileNightingalehasno proper class system, would players be able to recreate certain class identities should they so choose for a “druid playthrough” or perhaps a simple “Fighter”-like character?
Flynn:Players can craft equipment and learn spells that will allow them to specialize in certain areas and lean into their preferred playstyle. You can always change your equipment and magic to try new playstyles with your character, so long as you craft and learn the new spells that you want.
Q: How do Fae magic and mysticism specifically factor into gameplay?
Flynn:TheFae introduced humanity to magic, and the magic you see in-game is built upon their knowledge. Spells you use and portal technology all stem from Fae influence, both of which are major gameplay factors.
Q: How does magic impact the crafting or base-building elements of the game? Are some spells specifically engineered with this purpose in mind?
Taylor:Not at launch, but sounds like a great idea!
Q: How does enchanting work inNightingale? Can you talk about some of the key statuses or enhancements players will encounter in the game?
Flynn:Enchanting weapons, clothing and toolsis how we handle enchanting inNightingale. The specifics of what kinds of enchanting is something we want to leave as a surprise, but you can expect a mix of traditional gameplay buffs and unique ideas toNightingale.
The Bound and Apex Creatures of Nightingale
Q: How many different enemy types will players encounter? Do the human-mimicking Bound fae behave differently than the more bestial or monstrous fae players will fight?
Taylor:This depends on how you classify a different enemy type, but I think the most accurate estimate would be the mid-40s, which covers 10 per biome, 13 bound, and boss fights. Thinking purely of the combat experience, the main classifications of creatures are Wildlife, Bound, and Apex (boss) fights.
Q: How do Nightingale’s Apex Creatures differ from basic encounters? How many can players expect at launch?
Flynn:At launch,we will have 3 Apex Creatures: Sun Giant, Elder Eoten and the Humbaba. Apex Creatures are significantly more powerful than typical enemies you’ll encounter in Nightingale. To find Apex Creatures, Realmwalkers must pair a Hunt Card with a Biome Card. Be warned, Realmwalkers with high-level gear stand a much greater chance against these creatures. Each Apex Creature has unique behaviors.
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Nightingale
WHERE TO PLAY
Nightingale is a PVE open-world survival crafting game played solo (offline or online), or cooperatively with friends. Build, craft, fight and explore as you venture through mystical portals into a variety of amazing and fantastical realms.You are stranded beyond our world, cut off by the collapse of the arcane portalnetwork. This catastrophe has left you fighting to survive in a labyrinth of beautiful and dangerous Fae realms.Your goal: become a skilled Realmwalker, and navigate the web of transdimensional portals. Only then can you discover your way to the magical city of Nightingale, the last known bastion of humanity.Prepare to make your way through Faewild forests, harrowing swamps, and shimmering deserts as you unlock the portals leading deeper into the lands of Fae. Cook meals, build shelter and muster the spirit to persevere in the face of adversity.
