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

The recent network tests for Elden Ring Nightreign, the upcoming standalone multiplayer game from FromSoftware, have sparked considerable interest. Unlike the expansive open world of Elden Ring, Nightreign adopts a more focused survival format where three-player teams must navigate shrinking maps to battle waves of enemies and progressively tougher bosses. This design bears a clear resemblance to the battle royale genre, with Fortnite's influence evident, given its staggering 200 million players this month alone.

Yet, Nightreign's similarities extend beyond Fortnite to a less celebrated title: 2013's God of War: Ascension. Often considered the black sheep of the God of War franchise, Ascension introduced a multiplayer mode that, while not as famous, offers striking parallels to Nightreign.

Released between God of War 3 and the Norse reboot, Ascension served as a prequel set in Greek mythology. While it couldn't match the epic scale of Kratos' battle against Zeus, it featured memorable set-pieces like the Prison of the Damned. More notably, Ascension pioneered multiplayer within the franchise, introducing the cooperative PvE mode, Trial of the Gods, which shares a conceptual framework with Nightreign.

In Ascension's Trial of the Gods, players, after encountering a doomed NPC during the campaign, can assume this character in multiplayer. Pledging allegiance to gods like Zeus or Aries, players engage in various PvP modes and the cooperative PvE mode, reminiscent of Nightreign's gameplay.

Previews from renowned "Soulsborne" content creators and IGN have highlighted Nightreign's mechanics, such as randomized loot, resource management, and environmental hazards that echo live service games like Fortnite. A notable feature is players dropping into levels via spirit birds, a nod to Fortnite's iconic imagery.

While Ascension lacks the battle royale flair, both it and Nightreign share core elements in their cooperative modes. Both games pit teams against increasingly difficult foes and allow players to confront iconic bosses from previous entries. Additionally, both feature countdowns and shrinking or small maps, crafted by studios renowned for single-player experiences yet venturing into multiplayer without their series' original directors.

Feedback from Nightreign's network test participants describes the game as a thrilling race against time, a stark contrast to Elden Ring's deliberate pacing. Nightreign's design encourages quick thinking and efficient resource use, enhancing the urgency and excitement of gameplay. For example, without Elden Ring's Torrent, players can now run faster and jump higher, channeling a spirit horse's energy.

Similarly, Ascension's multiplayer mode adjusted its single-player mechanics for faster pacing, with increased run speeds, extended jumps, automated parkour, and a grapple mechanic akin to Nightreign's Wylder character. These enhancements are crucial in the face of relentless enemy hordes, pushing players to move swiftly and decisively.

Nightreign's parallels with Ascension are intriguing, especially given the forgotten nature of the latter and the contrasting origins of the Soulslike genre and God of War. While God of War emphasizes raw power, the Soulslike genre, including Elden Ring, challenges players with persistent difficulty. However, as players have mastered these games and with the introduction of powerful builds, Nightreign aims to reintroduce a sense of challenge while allowing skilled players to experience the thrill of rapid, intense combat akin to Ascension's multiplayer mode.