This past weekend marked the initial round of network tests for Elden Ring Nightreign, FromSoftware's eagerly anticipated standalone multiplayer game derived from their acclaimed title, Elden Ring. Unlike the expansive world of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC released last year, Nightreign diverges significantly, adopting a focused survival format. In this game, three-player teams are tasked with navigating progressively smaller maps to combat waves of enemies and increasingly tough bosses, echoing the high-octane style of Fortnite, which boasts a staggering 200 million players this month.

However, Nightreign draws an even closer parallel to a lesser-known, often criticized game: 2013's God of War: Ascension. This connection is noteworthy and beneficial.

God of War: Ascension, released between 2010's God of War 3 and the 2018 Norse-themed reboot, serves as a prequel set in the Greek mythology universe. It follows Kratos' struggle to break his oath to Aries. Though it didn't match the grandeur of Kratos' battle with Zeus in the original trilogy, Ascension featured memorable set-pieces like the Prison of the Damned, a dungeon carved into the flesh of a colossal 100-armed giant. Moreover, Ascension broke new ground for the franchise by introducing multiplayer—a feature not seen before or since in the series.

In Ascension's story, players encounter an NPC in the Prison of the Damned who prematurely exclaims, "You saved me!" only to be crushed by the level's boss. However, in multiplayer mode, this NPC becomes the player character, transported to Olympus to pledge allegiance to one of four gods—Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, or Aries—each offering unique weapons, armor, and magic. This setup facilitates five different multiplayer modes, with Trial of the Gods being a cooperative PvE mode strikingly similar to Elden Ring Nightreign.

Previews from prominent "Soulsborne" YouTubers like VaatiVidya and Iron Pineapple, along with IGN's coverage, highlight Nightreign's similarities to live service games like Fortnite. Nightreign features randomized loot, resource management, and environmental hazards that challenge players further as the game progresses. It even nods to Fortnite's iconic skydiving entry, using spirit birds to transport players to their chosen drop spots.

While God of War: Ascension lacks the "where are we dropping?" excitement, it shares deep similarities with Nightreign's Trial of the Gods mode. Both games offer cooperative experiences where teams battle increasingly difficult foes, including familiar bosses from previous titles. Both feature countdowns and shrinking maps, and are developed by studios renowned for single-player games, without direct involvement from their series' original creators.

Nightreign evokes the same sense of urgency and thrill as Ascension's Trial of the Gods. Participants in FromSoftware's network test described their runs as a frantic race against time, contrasting with the leisurely exploration of the base game. Nightreign's design encourages quick, instinctual decisions, with players moving faster and jumping higher without Torrent, their spirit horse from the main game.

Ascension's multiplayer mode also adapted its single-player framework for faster pacing, using techniques similar to those in Nightreign. These include increased run speeds, extended jumps, automated parkour, and a grapple mechanic, all of which help players navigate through hordes of enemies efficiently.

Nightreign's resemblance to Ascension is surprising, given the latter's relative obscurity and the stark differences between the Soulslike genre and God of War. Where God of War allows players to embody a god-slaying warrior, Soulslike games cast players as struggling, often doomed characters facing formidable challenges. Yet, as fans have mastered these games and developers have introduced more powerful tools, the challenge has lessened. Nightreign seeks to reintroduce this difficulty while offering seasoned players a chance to feel like time-pressed, vengeful Spartans, much like Ascension did.