An Exclusive Look into Nightingale’s Early Access Launch and Co-op Playthrough with Inflexion’s CEO Aaryn Flynn

Nightingale, the latest survival sim from Inflexion Games, has recently entered early access on February 20th, 2024. This strongly British-influenced “gaslamp fantasy” experience invites players to travel alone or in groups between procedurally generated fairy realms using magic portals. In this article, we will take a closer look at Nightingale’s early access launch and share an exclusive co-op playthrough session with Inflexion’s CEO, Aaryn Flynn.

A group of players carrying umbrellas in Nightingale

The Magic Wood Adventure

Last week, a group of RPS adventurers, including Edders, Kiera, Jeremy, Ollie, and Edwin, had the opportunity to play co-op with Aaryn Flynn, Inflexion’s CEO and former general manager at BioWare. The session lasted for two hours and consisted mostly of group exploration, banter, and Q&A about the game.

The group started their adventure in a forest realm, where they encountered various creatures and challenges. They were equipped with high-level gear, including top hats, ballgowns, hammers that cast group heals, shotguns loaded with electricity and ice ammo, and red armored umbrellas. The players looked like a group of concussed theater-goers but were a formidable force to reckon with.

Aaryn Flynn, the group’s guide, shared some insights about Nightingale’s unique features and mechanics. He mentioned that the game sets itself apart from the competition by offering a unique IP and mechanics, focusing on world-building and creating a compelling universe.

The Journey Between Realms

During the journey between realms, I asked Aaryn about what sets Nightingale apart from the current survival game competition. He explained that the genre is unique because there’s no definitive template for survival crafting games, allowing players to gravitate towards the game that appeals to their preferences. He also mentioned that Nightingale focuses on world-building and delivering great mechanics on top of that.

A sandy desert temple in Nightingale

The Desert Realm Adventure

The group then traveled to a desert realm, where they encountered various challenges and enemies. Edders picked a fight with a robot, which resulted in a hilarious sequence of events. After reaching the top of a tower, Aaryn introduced the players to a Synchronous Lotus, a Fae Mcdoodle that powers portals and can be used to play Realm cards.

Playing Realm Cards in Fae Towers

Aaryn showed the players the basics of playing Realm cards in Fae towers to alter the setting. For example, a Bloodmoon card lowers your health but increases the odds of rare item drops, while a Tempest card makes it rain, which waters crops. Thin Veil reduces gravity, allowing players to glide back down to the desert using their umbrellas.

The Origin of the Umbrella Gliding Mechanic

Aaryn shared that the umbrella gliding mechanic was inspired by a joke. Someone suggested putting it on the umbrella like Mary Poppins, and the team decided to keep it in the game due to its character and charm.

The group continued their adventure, exploring various realms and encountering various challenges. They also had the opportunity to recruit companions and build bases in each realm. The session ended with the players expressing their excitement for the game’s potential and looking forward to the full launch.

In conclusion, Nightingale’s early access launch and co-op playthrough with Inflexion’s CEO Aaryn Flynn provided an exclusive look into the game’s unique features, mechanics, and world-building. The game’s focus on creating a compelling universe and delivering great mechanics sets it apart from the competition, making it an exciting addition to the survival game genre. Players can look forward to the full launch of Nightingale and the opportunity to explore its procedurally generated fairy realms using magic portals.