Elden Ring Nightreign Channels the Spirit of a Forgotten God of War Game

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

The recent network tests for Elden Ring Nightreign, the upcoming multiplayer spin-off, revealed surprising similarities to a largely forgotten game: 2013's God of War: Ascension. Unlike the open-world structure of its predecessor, Nightreign adopts a streamlined survival format where three-player teams battle enemies in shrinking maps, reminiscent of Fortnite's battle royale style.

While Ascension is often considered a black sheep in the God of War franchise, its multiplayer mode, "Trial of the Gods," shares striking similarities with Nightreign. Both feature cooperative PvE gameplay where teams face increasingly difficult enemies and bosses from previous games (e.g., Hercules from God of War 3, the Nameless King from Dark Souls 3). Both also incorporate time limits and shrinking maps, creating a frantic, exhilarating experience.

Nightreign, like Ascension's Trial of the Gods, emphasizes speed and efficiency. Players are encouraged to act instinctively, utilizing enhanced movement abilities (similar to Ascension's increased run speed, extended jumps, and grapple attack) to overcome the challenges. This contrasts sharply with the more deliberate pace of the main Elden Ring game.

The comparison is significant, considering the contrasting philosophies of the Soulslike genre and the God of War franchise. Nightreign's design, however, suggests a deliberate attempt to recapture the intense, high-stakes action of Ascension's multiplayer, offering a different kind of challenge to seasoned Soulslike players. It reintroduces a degree of difficulty absent in recent titles, while simultaneously providing a power fantasy experience akin to the God of War series.

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