Ah, 2025 – the year Elden Ring Nightreign dropped and made me question my life choices. As a certified FromSoftware masochist, I’ve endured character creation screens longer than some relationships, only to have Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice yank that freedom away like a cruel DMV clerk. But Nightreign? This glorious roguelike Frankenstein stitches together Dark Souls' RPG freedom and Sekiro's razor-focused brutality. And let me tell you, picking the Executor class was like reuniting with my long-lost, katana-wielding twin – if my twin could morph into a giant wolf demon after parrying a dragon’s toenail. elden-ring-nightreign-s-executor-my-sekiro-nostalgia-trip-gone-wild-image-0

🔥 That Sweet, Sweet Clang: Deflection Déjà Vu

When I first triggered the Executor’s cursed sword deflection, my ears perked up like a dog hearing a treat bag. That crisp CLANG – identical to Sekiro’s iconic deflect sound – sent shivers down my spine. It’s FromSoftware’s auditory signature, like a chef’s kiss for your eardrums. But mastering it? Oh honey, I died more times than a time-traveling redshirt:

Sekiro vs. Nightreign Deflection My Painful Reality
Builds enemy posture meter Charges cursed sword for mega-slash
Leads to insta-kill counter Unleashes AOE annihilation
Requires pixel-perfect timing Still requires pixel-perfect timing (sob)

Pulling off a flawless deflection chain feels like conducting lightning – pure, unadulterated power crackling at your fingertips. Until a rune bear sneezes on you mid-parry. Then it feels like getting slapped by Zeus’ wet sock.

🐺 The Ultimate Easter Egg: One-Armed Wolf 2.0?

Now let’s talk about the Executor’s Ultimate Art. When this samurai goes full Kaiju mode, transforming into a hulking beast with suspiciously lupine features, I spat out my estus-flavored coffee. Sekiro translates to "one-armed wolf," people! This ain’t subtle – it’s FromSoft winking through the fourth wall while drop-kicking my nostalgia glands.

⚖️ The Bittersweet Tradeoff: Risk vs. Shiny Loot

Here’s where my heart cracks like an overburdened poise bar. As runs progress, you’ll find:

  • Legendary greatswords that hit like freight trains 🚂

  • Glowy magic staves that make Gandalf jealous ✨

  • But... abandoning your cursed katana means kissing deflections goodbye 💔

Why risk parrying a boss when you can bonk it from three zip codes away? I’ve caught myself sighing at my neglected blade like a forgotten gym membership. The thrill of deflection becomes rarer than a calm day in Yharnam.

🎮 Why This Hybrid Madness Works

Nightreign’s genius lies in letting me:

  1. Relive Sekiro’s ballet of blades 🩰

  2. Indulge my inner loot gremlin 🧳

  3. Scream incoherently at friends during co-op (new feature!)

It’s the perfect marriage of FromSoft’s identities – like if Dark Souls and Sekiro had a baby that inherited dad’s customization and mom’s killer reflexes.

So yeah, 2025 gave me a game where I can parry gods, turn into a mythical wolf-beast, and still weep over weapon choices. Some call it evolution; I call it controlled chaos. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a deflection to practice... and probably die to. Again. 🗡️💀