Elden Ring Nightreign's Network Test Reveals an Unexpected Ancestor: God of War: Ascension

The recent network tests for Elden Ring Nightreign, FromSoftware's upcoming multiplayer spin-off, unveiled a surprising influence: 2013's often-overlooked God of War: Ascension. While Nightreign initially appears to borrow heavily from battle royale titles like Fortnite – featuring shrinking maps, three-player teams, and a sky-drop mechanic – a deeper look reveals a stronger connection to Ascension's surprisingly well-crafted cooperative mode, Trial of the Gods.

Ascension, a prequel released between God of War 3 and the 2018 reboot, was often criticized for failing to match the epic scale of its predecessors. However, its multiplayer mode, often forgotten, introduced innovative gameplay mechanics. Players, after a specific point in the single-player campaign, chose allegiance to one of four gods, each offering unique weaponry and abilities. This is where the similarities to Nightreign become striking.

Both Nightreign and Trial of the Gods share key elements: cooperative PvE gameplay, escalating enemy difficulty, shrinking or confined maps, and a time-sensitive element. Both also feature boss encounters from previous games within their respective franchises. Furthermore, both games, developed by studios primarily known for single-player titles, adapted their core gameplay for a faster, more frantic multiplayer experience. This involved enhancements like increased movement speed and automated parkour mechanics, mirroring Nightreign's adjustments to compensate for the absence of Torrent, Elden Ring's mount.

The feedback from Nightreign's network test participants echoes the experience of Ascension's Trial of the Gods: a thrilling, high-octane race against the clock demanding quick thinking and instinctive reactions. This contrasts sharply with the deliberate pacing of Elden Ring's main game, forcing players to adapt to resource limitations and heightened pressure.

The comparison is particularly intriguing given the contrasting philosophies of the Soulslike genre and the God of War franchise. Nightreign's design, however, suggests a successful synthesis, offering a challenging yet exhilarating experience that harkens back to a largely forgotten multiplayer mode. It reintroduces a level of difficulty absent in recent Soulslike titles, while simultaneously delivering the power fantasy aspect reminiscent of God of War.

What game had the best now-forgotten multiplayer mode?

God of War: AscensionAssassin's Creed BrotherhoodMass Effect 3Batman: Arkham OriginsBioShock 2Other (let us know in the comments)AnswerSee Results