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 influence: 2013's often-overlooked God of War: Ascension. While Nightreign initially appears similar to Fortnite, with its shrinking map and three-player team battles, a deeper look reveals a stronger resemblance to Ascension's multiplayer mode, Trial of the Gods.
Ascension, a prequel to the original Greek mythology trilogy, is often considered the black sheep of the franchise. However, its multiplayer mode deserves recognition for its innovative approach and surprisingly engaging gameplay. Trial of the Gods is a cooperative PvE experience where players, choosing allegiance to one of four gods, battle increasingly difficult enemies across various modes.
Nightreign shares key similarities with Trial of the Gods. Both feature co-op gameplay with escalating difficulty, time limits, and shrinking maps. Both also offer the unexpected opportunity to face bosses from previous games. Furthermore, both games, developed by studios primarily known for single-player titles, were created without direct oversight from their respective series creators.
Early gameplay previews highlight Nightreign's frantic, exhilarating pace, a stark contrast to the more deliberate gameplay of the main Elden Ring title. The game introduces constraints on resources and movement, forcing players to rely on instinct and speed, similar to Ascension's Trial of the Gods, which also increased player speed, jump height, and incorporated automated parkour and grapple mechanics.
AnswerSee ResultsThe comparison between Nightreign and Ascension is striking, considering the contrasting nature of the Soulslike and God of War franchises. However, Nightreign's design, by reintroducing a heightened level of challenge and emphasizing speed and efficiency, offers a similar adrenaline-fueled experience to Ascension's Trial of the Gods, allowing players to feel the thrill of a time-constrained, high-stakes battle.
