This past weekend marked the initial network test phase for Elden Ring Nightreign, the much-anticipated standalone multiplayer game derived from FromSoftware's acclaimed Elden Ring. Unlike last year's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, Nightreign shares little more than its name with its predecessor, opting for a condensed survival format over the open-world exploration of Elden Ring. In Nightreign, teams of three players parachute into progressively shrinking maps to battle hordes of enemies and increasingly formidable bosses. The design echoes the influence of Fortnite, a battle royale juggernaut that has attracted over 200 million players this month alone.
Yet, Nightreign's true inspiration may lie elsewhere, drawing surprising parallels to a less celebrated game: 2013's God of War: Ascension. This connection is not only intriguing but also beneficial.
The cooperative PvE mode, Trial of the Gods, in Ascension, strikingly resembles Elden Ring Nightreign. In the single-player campaign of Ascension, players encounter an NPC who prematurely celebrates being saved before meeting a grim fate. In multiplayer, this same character becomes your avatar, transported to Olympus to pledge allegiance to one of four gods—Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, or Aries—each granting unique weapons, armor, and magic for battling in five different multiplayer modes, one of which is the cooperative PvE mode, Trial of the Gods.
Gameplay previews of Nightreign, shared by prominent "Soulsborne" YouTubers like VaatiVidya and Iron Pineapple, alongside IGN's coverage, highlight similarities to live service games like Fortnite. Nightreign features randomized loot, resource management, and environmental hazards that challenge players by damaging their health and constricting their movement. It even nods to Fortnite's iconic skydiving entry, with players being transported by spirit birds to their chosen landing spots.
Nightreign, much like Ascension's Trial of the Gods, elicits a similar response from players: a thrilling, time-sensitive race against the clock. Contrasting with the leisurely pace of Elden Ring, Nightreign compels players to rely on instinct, accelerating gameplay and limiting resources. This shift, as VaatiVidya noted, is "made in the name of speed and efficiency." Without the trusty steed Torrent, players tap into their inner spirit horse, gaining enhanced speed and jumping capabilities.
Ascension's multiplayer mode similarly tweaked its single-player formula for faster pacing, employing techniques akin to Nightreign's: increased run speed, extended jumps, automated parkour, and a grapple attack for pulling objects closer—a feature also seen in Nightreign's Wylder character. These enhancements are crucial in the face of relentless enemy waves, pushing players to move swiftly and decisively, embodying the essence of Kratos' relentless fury.
AnswerSee ResultsThe connection between Nightreign and Ascension is unexpected, not just because Ascension has faded from memory, but also because the Soulslike genre, to which Elden Ring belongs, initially stood in stark contrast to God of War. While God of War empowers players to feel like god-slaying warriors, Soulslike games cast players as struggling, cursed beings facing daunting challenges. Yet, as players have mastered these games and developers have introduced more powerful tools, the challenge has lessened. Nightreign aims to restore some of that original difficulty, while still offering seasoned players the thrill of a time-pressured, Kratos-like experience.
