"Elden Ring's Nightreign Echoes Forgotten God of War"

This past weekend marked the initial network tests for Elden Ring Nightreign, the eagerly anticipated standalone multiplayer game derived from FromSoftware's acclaimed masterpiece, Elden Ring. Unlike the expansive world of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC released last year, Nightreign diverges significantly, adopting a streamlined survival format. In this game, teams of three must navigate shrinking maps, battling waves of enemies and increasingly formidable bosses. This design echoes the influence of the wildly popular Fortnite, which has captivated 200 million players this month alone.

However, a closer look reveals that Nightreign shares even more in common with a lesser-known and often criticized title: 2013's God of War: Ascension. This comparison is far from a slight; it's a compliment.

God of War: Ascension, released between God of War 3 and the 2018 Norse reboot, serves as a prequel set in the Greek mythology era. It follows Kratos as he attempts to break his oath with Ares, the god of war. Though it didn't match the epic scale of Kratos's battle with Zeus, Ascension boasts some spectacular set-pieces, like the Prison of the Damned, a dungeon carved into the body of a 100-armed giant. Yet, it's often remembered as the franchise's black sheep, primarily because it didn't live up to the monumental finales of its predecessors. Nevertheless, Ascension deserves recognition for its innovative multiplayer feature, a first for the series.

The cooperative PvE mode, "Trial of the Gods," in Ascension mirrors the essence of Elden Ring Nightreign. As players progress through the Prison of the Damned, they encounter an NPC who prematurely celebrates their rescue only to be crushed by the level's boss. In multiplayer mode, this same NPC becomes your character, teleported to Olympus to pledge allegiance to one of four gods—Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, or Ares—each granting unique weapons, armor, and magic. This setup leads into five multiplayer modes, with "Trial of the Gods" being the cooperative PvE mode that parallels Nightreign.

Gameplay previews from prominent "Soulsborne" YouTubers like VaatiVidya and Iron Pineapple, alongside IGN's coverage, highlight the similarities between Nightreign and live service games like Fortnite. Nightreign introduces randomized loot, resource management, and environmental hazards that challenge players further as the game progresses. It even echoes Fortnite with its skydiving entry into the level, guided by spirit birds.

While God of War: Ascension lacks the battle royale aspect, deeper exploration reveals substantial similarities with Nightreign. Both games feature cooperative play against increasingly challenging foes, allowing players to face iconic bosses from their respective series. Both utilize countdown mechanics and operate on maps that are either small or shrinking. Moreover, both titles were developed by studios renowned for single-player experiences, without direct oversight from their series' original creators.

Player feedback from Nightreign's network test describes runs as a thrilling race against time, a stark contrast to the leisurely pace of the base Elden Ring game. In Nightreign, players must rely on instinct and speed, adapting to the absence of Torrent by channeling a spirit horse to enhance their mobility.

Ascension's multiplayer mode similarly adjusted the single-player experience for faster pacing, employing techniques such as increased run speed, extended jumps, automated parkour, and a grapple attack—mechanics that Nightreign also adopts. These new moves are crucial in "Trial of the Gods," where players face relentless enemy waves, necessitating swift, strategic movement akin to a Spartan warrior's relentless charge.

The connection between Elden Ring Nightreign and God of War: Ascension is intriguing, especially since the Soulslike genre, to which Elden Ring belongs, began as the antithesis of games like God of War. While God of War empowers players to feel like god-killers, Soulslike games challenge players with daunting odds as nameless undead. However, as fans have honed their skills and developers have introduced more powerful tools, the difficulty curve has softened. Nightreign aims to restore some of that original challenge while offering seasoned players the exhilarating rush of playing as a time-pressed Spartan, echoing the experience provided by God of War: Ascension.