Nightingale: FIRST LOOK REVIEW

“Nightingale” is a new survival game in Early Access on Steam, developed by the indie studio Inflection Games with former BioWare developers. Set in a fantasy pseudo-Victorian England steampunk world with transdimensional portals and unique realm exploration mechanics, the game offers a fresh take on the survival genre, praised for its aesthetics and player-driven updates.

A new survival game called Nightingale has been released in Early Access on Steam, developed by the indie studio Inflection Games. The game is notable for being created by developers who previously worked at BioWare, and it features a fantasy pseudo-Victorian England steampunk setting with elements of Stargate. In terms of gameplay, Nightingale follows the typical survival game formula with crafting, material gathering, hunger mechanics, and base building.

What sets Nightingale apart is its unique setting and environment. The game introduces the concept of the Fay Realms and transdimensional portals, allowing players to explore different worlds with varied wonders and threats. Players can craft realm cards to define biomes and traits of these realms, creating a semi-procedurally generated experience each time they venture through a portal. The game features a mix of mythical Victorian aesthetics, magical elements, and otherworldly creatures like wolves, deer, lovecraftian monsters, and giants.

While Nightingale offers a fresh take on the survival genre, it does have some issues. The tutorial phase is dense and may deter players from exploring the tech tree, and the language used by the Fay magical race can be overly elaborate. There are also restrictions on base building size and long loading times, which may affect players who enjoy expansive base building. However, the game’s beautiful graphics come at a cost in terms of system requirements, but it supports upscaling rendering techniques like Nvidia’s DLSS.

Despite its flaws, Nightingale has been well-received, offering a unique exploration aspect that sets it apart from other survival games. The developers are open to player feedback and have already announced plans for updates based on player input. The game’s aesthetics and setting have been praised, with players enjoying the experience of exploring different worlds and encountering diverse creatures. Overall, Nightingale has been deemed a worthwhile purchase for fans of survival games looking for a fresh and original experience.

In conclusion, Nightingale’s blend of survival gameplay, fantastical setting, and exploration through transdimensional portals make it a standout title in the genre. While it has some minor issues like dense tutorials and base building restrictions, the game’s potential for unique experiences and player feedback-driven updates show promise. If you enjoy survival games with a twist and appreciate immersive aesthetics, Nightingale is recommended as a game worth trying out during its Early Access phase on Steam.