Ancient Deity's Legacy Revived: Elden Ring's Nightreign Surges

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 a surprising design influence: 2013's often-overlooked God of War: Ascension. While Nightreign's core gameplay, featuring three-player teams battling in shrinking maps, evokes the battle royale style of Fortnite, a deeper comparison reveals a stronger kinship with Ascension's multiplayer mode, Trial of the Gods.

Ascension, a prequel to the Greek mythology God of War trilogy, is often remembered as a less-than-stellar entry. However, its innovative (for the franchise) multiplayer mode deserves reconsideration. Trial of the Gods is a cooperative PvE experience where teams face increasingly difficult enemies and bosses from previous games, all within a time limit and on shrinking maps. This mirrors Nightreign's core loop remarkably well.

Early gameplay previews highlight the similarities: both games feature randomized loot, resource management, environmental hazards, and a frantic pace. Nightreign even shares Fortnite's iconic drop-from-the-sky mechanic, albeit with spirit birds instead of a battle bus.

The parallels extend beyond surface-level similarities. Both Trial of the Gods and Nightreign emphasize speed and efficiency, demanding quick thinking and instinctive reactions. Both games even employ similar gameplay mechanics to enhance pace, such as increased movement speed and enhanced jumping capabilities. This contrasts sharply with the more deliberate pacing of their respective single-player counterparts.

Ascension's multiplayer, created without the involvement of the original trilogy's directors, successfully adapted the single-player formula for a faster, more intense experience. Nightreign, similarly developed without the direct oversight of Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki, achieves a similar effect.

What game had the best now-forgotten multiplayer mode?

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The unexpected connection between Nightreign and Ascension highlights a fascinating design evolution. While seemingly disparate at first glance, both games demonstrate the successful adaptation of established single-player mechanics to create a thrilling, high-octane multiplayer experience. Nightreign, by drawing inspiration from Ascension's often-overlooked multiplayer, could potentially offer a refreshing and challenging addition to the Soulslike genre.