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, revealed a surprising influence: 2013's often-overlooked God of War: Ascension. While Nightreign's initial impression suggests a Fortnite-inspired battle royale format – three-player teams battling in shrinking maps – a deeper look reveals a stronger kinship with Ascension's surprisingly well-crafted multiplayer mode, Trial of the Gods.
Ascension, a prequel to the original Greek mythology God of War trilogy, was often criticized for failing to match the epic scale of its predecessors. However, its multiplayer mode offered a unique experience within the franchise, a cooperative PvE mode where players, having been transported to Olympus, pledge allegiance to a god and battle across various maps.
Nightreign shares striking similarities with Trial of the Gods. Both feature cooperative gameplay with escalating enemy difficulty, time-limited matches on shrinking maps, and the unexpected inclusion of bosses from previous games. Both also prioritize speed and efficiency, demanding quick thinking and instinctive reactions from players. Nightreign even mirrors Ascension's increased player movement speed and enhanced jumping capabilities, creating a frantic, exhilarating experience.
The parallels extend beyond gameplay mechanics. Both games were developed by studios renowned for their single-player titles, without direct involvement from their respective series' creators. This lack of oversight may have contributed to the unique and sometimes overlooked qualities of both multiplayer experiences.
The response to Nightreign's network tests echoes the reception of Ascension's Trial of the Gods. Players describe a thrilling race against the clock, a stark contrast to the more deliberate pacing of Elden Ring's core gameplay. This heightened challenge, coupled with the fast-paced action, delivers a unique and intense experience.
AnswerSee ResultsThe unexpected connection between Nightreign and Ascension highlights the cyclical nature of game design, demonstrating how seemingly disparate genres can share underlying principles and influence each other in surprising ways. Nightreign's fast-paced, resource-constrained gameplay, while seemingly born from the battle royale genre, ultimately finds its roots in a now-forgotten multiplayer mode from a very different kind of game.
