This past weekend marked the debut of network tests for Elden Ring Nightreign, the highly anticipated standalone multiplayer game derived from FromSoftware's masterpiece. Unlike the expansive world of last year's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Nightreign diverges significantly from its namesake, adopting a more focused survival format. In this game, three-player teams must navigate progressively shrinking maps, battling waves of enemies and increasingly formidable bosses. This design echoes the structure of the immensely popular Fortnite, which boasts an impressive 200 million players this month alone.
However, Nightreign also draws notable inspiration from a less celebrated title: 2013's God of War: Ascension. And this connection is something to celebrate.
God of War: Ascension, released between 2010's God of War 3 and the 2018 Norse reboot, served as a prequel set before the original Greek mythology trilogy. It follows Kratos' quest to break his oath to Ares. While it may not have reached the epic heights of the trilogy's finale, Ascension is often unfairly maligned as the franchise's black sheep. Yet, it introduced some spectacular set-pieces, like the Prison of the Damned—a dungeon carved into a 100-armed giant—and, more importantly, pioneered multiplayer in the series.
In Ascension, the Trial of the Gods mode is cooperative PvE, mirroring Nightreign in many ways. As you progress through the Prison of the Damned in the single-player campaign, you encounter an NPC who prematurely celebrates their rescue before being crushed by the boss. In multiplayer, this same NPC becomes your avatar, teleported to Olympus and tasked with pledging allegiance to one of four gods—Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, or Aries—each offering unique weapons, armor, and magic. These tools are used across five multiplayer modes, four of which are competitive PvP, with the fifth being the cooperative PvE Trial of the Gods.
Gameplay previews from renowned "Soulsborne" YouTubers like VaatiVidya and Iron Pineapple, along with IGN's coverage, have highlighted Nightreign's similarities to live service games like Fortnite. It features randomized loot, resource management, and environmental hazards that constrain movement and increase difficulty over time. Nightreign even nods to Fortnite's iconic skydiving entry, with players descending into the level via spirit birds.
While God of War: Ascension lacks the battle royale flair of Nightreign, both share deeper similarities. Both Nightreign and Ascension's Trial of the Gods are cooperative experiences where teams face increasingly challenging foes. Both allow players to confront bosses from previous games, such as Hercules from God of War 3 or the Nameless King from Dark Souls 3. They feature countdowns, shrinking maps, and are developed by studios renowned for their single-player games, without direct oversight from their series' creators. Hidetaka Miyazaki, the director of Elden Ring, is currently working on an undisclosed project, while the original God of War trilogy directors had left Sony Santa Monica by the time Ascension was developed.
Most importantly, Nightreign evokes the same thrill that Ascension's Trial of the Gods did. Participants in FromSoftware's network test described their runs as a thrilling race against time, contrasting with the more leisurely pace of the base game. Nightreign forces players to rely on instinct, speeding up the gameplay and limiting resources, which VaatiVidya praised for promoting "speed and efficiency." Without the trusty steed Torrent, players can now channel their inner spirit horse to run faster and jump higher.
Ascension's multiplayer similarly adjusted its single-player mechanics for faster pacing, using techniques akin to Nightreign: increased run speed, extended jumps, automated parkour, and a grapple attack. These new moves are crucial in the chaotic combat of Trial of the Gods, where teams must navigate swarms of enemies with precision and haste, embodying the relentless spirit of Kratos.
What game had the best now-forgotten multiplayer mode?
- God of War: Ascension
- Assassin's Creed Brotherhood
- Mass Effect 3
- Batman: Arkham Origins
- BioShock 2
- Other (let us know in the comments)
AnswerSee Results
Nightreign's connection to Ascension is surprising, given the latter's relative obscurity and the stark differences between the Soulslike genre and the power fantasy of God of War. While Soulslike games challenge players with relentless difficulty, God of War empowers them with god-like strength. However, as players have mastered FromSoftware's games and utilized game-breaking builds, Nightreign aims to reintroduce a challenging edge. Simultaneously, it offers seasoned players a chance to feel like time-pressed, vengeful Spartans, much like Ascension did.
