《艾尔登法环》唤醒失落战争之神的灵魂

Elden Ring Nightreign's Network Test Reveals Unexpected Inspiration: God of War: Ascension

The recent network tests for Elden Ring Nightreign, FromSoftware's upcoming multiplayer spin-off, unveiled a surprising design influence: 2013's often-overlooked God of War: Ascension. Unlike the open-world Elden Ring, Nightreign adopts a streamlined survival format, pitting three-player teams against waves of enemies and challenging bosses within a shrinking map – a design reminiscent of Fortnite's battle royale structure.

While Ascension is often considered a weaker entry in the God of War franchise, its multiplayer mode, "Trial of the Gods," shares striking similarities with Nightreign. Both feature cooperative PvE gameplay where teams face increasingly difficult enemies and bosses from previous titles (Hercules from God of War 3, for example, in Ascension, and potentially similar crossovers in Nightreign). Both also incorporate time-limited gameplay within confined or shrinking maps.

Further parallels exist in gameplay mechanics. Both games prioritize speed and efficiency, enhancing player movement capabilities (faster running, higher jumps) to compensate for resource limitations and the relentless enemy onslaught. This mirrors Ascension's adjustments to its single-player mechanics for a faster-paced multiplayer experience.

The similarities extend beyond gameplay. Both games were developed by studios known for their single-player titles, without direct involvement from the original series creators (Miyazaki for Elden Ring, and the original God of War trilogy's directors for Ascension). This lack of direct oversight may have contributed to the experimental nature of both multiplayer modes.

Early player feedback on Nightreign's network test echoes the response to Ascension's Trial of the Gods: a frantic, exhilarating race against time. This contrasts sharply with the more deliberate pacing of the main Elden Ring game, forcing players to rely on instinct and quick decision-making.

The comparison between Nightreign and Ascension is significant, highlighting an unexpected connection between two seemingly disparate franchises. It also suggests that FromSoftware, known for its challenging single-player experiences, might be exploring new design spaces within the multiplayer arena, drawing inspiration from unexpected sources.

What game had the best now-forgotten multiplayer mode?

God of War: AscensionAssassin's Creed BrotherhoodMass Effect 3Batman: Arkham OriginsBioShock 2Other (let us know in the comments)AnswerSee Results