God of War (2018 video game)

God of War

Official cover art featuring Kratos and his son Atreus
Developer(s) SIE Santa Monica Studio
Publisher(s) Sony Interactive Entertainment
Director(s) Cory Barlog
Writer(s)
Composer(s) Bear McCreary[1]
Series God of War
Platform(s) PlayStation 4
Release Q1 2018
Genre(s)
Mode(s) Single-player

God of War (commonly referred to as God of War 4[2][3][4]) is an upcoming third-person action-adventure video game in development by Santa Monica Studio and to be published by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE). It is scheduled to be released in early 2018 for the PlayStation 4 (PS4) console. It will be the eighth installment in the God of War series, the eighth chronologically, and the sequel to 2010's God of War III. The game will be a soft reboot for the franchise and will take the series to the world of Norse mythology—all previous games were based on Greek mythology. Series protagonist Kratos will return as the main character, and he now has a son named Atreus. Kratos acts as a mentor and protector to his son, and has to master the rage that has driven him for many years.

Gameplay

Pre-release gameplay screenshot of God of War, taken from the trailer shown at E3 2016: Kratos (center) and his son (right) are battling a troll. The son can assist in combat, such as firing lightning arrows on the player's command, based on the orientation of the camera.

The gameplay will be vastly different from the previous installments, as it has been rebuilt from the ground up.[5] Although the previous installment, Ascension (2013), introduced multiplayer to the series, this new installment will be single-player-only.[6] The game will feature elements similar to role playing games (RPG), such as archery knowledge points, as well as a Spartan Rage timed-ability during battle. This ability appears to be a new take on the "Rage" ability of the previous installments.[7] There will also be crafting resources for the player to find.[8] The new installment features a third-person, over-the-shoulder free camera, a departure from the previous installments, which featured a third-person, fixed cinematic camera (with the exception of 2007's 2D side-scroller Betrayal).[7]

A major change is that Kratos will no longer use his signature double-chained blades, as he lost these at the conclusion of God of War III (2010). Instead, he will use a magical battle axe, which can be infused with elemental abilities and thrown at enemies. The E3 2016 and 2017 trailers showed that the axe can be engulfed in ice, to which Kratos can hurl at an enemy and magically summon it back to his hand. Kratos will also be able to charge the axe and let out a burst of energy that will damage nearby enemies. Game director Cory Barlog said that the axe has a deep rooted history and connection with the characters; it is connected to both the son and his mother.[9] Another new weapon that Kratos will utilize is a shield. When not in use, it folds up and appears like armor on Kratos' left forearm. When summoned, the shield can be used offensively and defensively.[10] Kratos will also utilize hand-to-hand combat, a feature originally introduced in Ascension.[7]

Although players will play as Kratos throughout the entire game,[11] there will be times when the player will passively control Kratos' son, Atreus. One button is dedicated to Atreus and its use depends on the context. Barlog stated that Atreus is "like magic, an additional combat resource, and [the player is] training him and teaching him." Atreus can shoot lightning arrows with his bow, depending on where the player looks.[12] Over the course of the game, Atreus helps in combat, traversal, exploration, and puzzle-solving. When facing a large amount of enemies, he will freely act as a distraction for the weaker enemies as Kratos fights the stronger ones.[8]

The developers claim that they have matched the new gameplay with the same level of accessibility of the previous installments. Barlog confirmed that the game will be open, but it will not be open-world, and quick time events will not be like they were in previous games.[5] The game will not feature any morality system or branching story; all players will have the same story experience. The developers also confirmed that some of the more controversial mini-games found in previous entries will not return.[9]

Synopsis

Setting

While the first seven games were loosely based on Greek mythology, this new installment will be based on Norse mythology. Barlog explained the transition: "it's kind of this BC–AD change over kind of thing. We're moving and starting from zero and kind of moving forward on that."[9][11] Before settling on Norse mythology, Egyptian mythology was also considered. Barlog said that half of the team was for it, but since "there's a lot more about civilization - it's less isolated, less barren", they decided on the Norse setting because they wanted the focus to stay on Kratos: "Having too much around distracts from that central theme of a stranger in a strange land."[13] In explaining why Kratos is now in the Norse world, Barlog said that different cultures' belief systems coexisted, but they were "separated by geography", suggesting that Kratos traveled from Greece to Norway (Scandinavia) after the conclusion of God of War III.[14] Barlog also confirmed that this game predates the Vikings; it is the time in which their gods walked the Earth.[12][13] Throughout the game, players will be able to visit some of the nine realms of Norse mythology.[9]

Plot

Many years have passed since Kratos took his vengeance against the Olympian gods. Having survived his final encounter with his father Zeus, Kratos now lives with his young son Atreus in the world of the Norse gods, a savage land inhabited by many ferocious monsters and warriors. In order to teach his son how to survive in such a world, Kratos must master the rage that has driven him for many years and embrace his newfound role as a father and mentor.

Development

At the first annual PlayStation Experience on December 6, 2014, Santa Monica Studios's creative director Cory Barlog confirmed that a new God of War was in very early development. He said that the game would not be a prequel, but it might be a reboot.[15] In April 2016, Polygon reported that concept art of the next installment had been leaked. The images showed Kratos in the world of Norse mythology; a concept originally considered by series creator David Jaffe after Kratos eliminated the Greek gods.[16] At the 2016 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the next installment was officially announced with a gameplay demo and confirmed the concept art to be true. The demo showed a fully bearded Kratos, who now has a son, and Kratos is teaching the boy how to hunt. The pair also battle a troll, a creature from the mythology. The end of the demo showed the title God of War and confirmed it is in development for PlayStation 4.[7][2] E3 also confirmed that Barlog had returned to the series as game director for the new installment. Barlog has been a major contributor in the development of the God of War series since the original installment in 2005, with his prior most notable role being game director of God of War II (2007). This new installment is his fifth God of War game that he has worked on.[12] Barlog stated that the game was deliberately titled God of War with no numeral or subtitle because although it is a continuation of the series, "we are reimagining everything."[9][11]

Most of the development team that worked on the original God of War is working on the new installment.[9] In regards to the camera change, Barlog said "We wanted a much more intimate experience, a much more up close, and a much more player-controlled experience, so the camera really is a mechanic that we're leaning into heavily for everything in the game."[5] The entire game will be a single shot, meaning there will be no loading screens or fade-to-black.[8] The frame rate will be 30 frames per second,[6] and the enemy count has been increased to up to 100 enemies on-screen; God of War III and Ascension could do up to 50.[9] Unlike the previous games, Santa Monica will not be making a demo specifically for public release. Barlog explained that making another demo would delay the game by a couple of months; he did not mention whether or not the E3 2016 demo would become available.[17] He also confirmed that the game was built for the standard PlayStation 4,[17] but the game "will benefit from the power" of the PlayStation 4 Pro; an updated version of the PlayStation 4 that can render games in 4K and was released a few months after God of War was announced.[18] God of War was absent from the annual PlayStation Experience event in early December 2016, with Barlog promising that "we will be showing something really awesome when it is ready."[19] In late December 2016, Barlog confirmed that the game was playable from start to finish.[20]

At E3 2017, a new trailer was shown featuring new gameplay, cinematics, and characters. In the trailer, Kratos was shown using a shield that he could use offensively and defensively. At one point in the trailer, Kratos finds a Greek vase with himself on it, wielding his infamous double-chained blades. During the trailer, an unnamed woman warns Kratos about the Norse gods, as they know what he did to the Greek gods, while a pair of wolves were also shown. The trailer ends with Kratos and Atreus encountering the World Serpent. Atreus is able to translate what it says, which is that it wants to help the pair. It was confirmed that the game would release in early 2018.[10]

Characterization

During early development, there was talk about having a different protagonist for the game, but it was decided to keep Kratos. Referencing the Nintendo character Mario and the Mario games, Barlog said that just like Mario, "Kratos is intrinsically tied" to the God of War series.[12] In regards to the new changes, Barlog said that:

I knew I didn’t want to simply reboot the franchise, starting over with a retelling of the origin story. I wanted to reimagine the gameplay, give players a fresh perspective and a new tactile experience while delving deeper into the emotional journey of Kratos to explore the compelling drama that unfolds when an immortal demigod makes a decision to change.

Barlog explained that Kratos had to change his cycle of violence and learn how to control his rage. He said that Kratos had made many bad decisions, which led to the destruction of Olympus, and wanted to know what would happen if Kratos made a good decision. The birth of Barlog's own son influenced the idea of Kratos' character change.[21] The canceled live-action Star Wars television series was also an influence.[22] The bond between Kratos and his son is at the heart of the game and Barlog said "This game is about Kratos teaching his son how to be a god, and his son teaching Kratos how to be human again."[8] Referencing the Marvel Comics character Hulk, Barlog said that in regards to Kratos, "We've already told the story of The Hulk. We want to tell the story of Banner now."[8] Christopher Judge, best known as Teal'c from Stargate SG-1, replaces T.C. Carson as the voice of Kratos in the game; Carson had voiced Kratos since the original God of War. Commenting in response to the change, Carson said, "Sony went in a new direction."[23]

During E3 2016, GameSpot mistakenly reported that Kratos' son's name was Charlie, which Barlog laughingly denied.[24] In January 2017, after a fan downloaded the God of War overture and saw the track's details that said "An introduction to Kratos and Atreus", Barlog confirmed on Twitter that Atreus is in fact the son's name.[25] Barlog said that Atreus knows that Kratos is a demigod, but does not know about his past, and Barlog confirmed that this would not be Kratos' last game.[6] In regards to Atreus' mother, Barlog said they are not talking about her yet, as she is a critical part of the story.[9]

Soundtrack

Bear McCreary, who is best known for his work on television shows, such as Battlestar Galactica and The Walking Dead, will be scoring God of War, composing all-new themes for the game. McCreary said that he was called into Santa Monica Studio in November 2014 to meet with music producers Pete Scaturro and Keith Leary to discuss "a secret project"; McCreary had previously collaborated with Scaturro and Leary on 2011's SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs. Ideas of folk music, mythology, Nordic ethnic instruments, vocal writing, and classical thematic development were discussed, to which McCreary correctly guessed that the discussions were about a new God of War. He met with Barlog early on, and they discussed Barlog's narrative vision for the game. After meeting with Barlog, he knew the franchise was in good hands because God of War II, which Barlog also directed, was his favorite installment.[26]

McCreary's initial efforts focused on writing the new main theme, or what he calls the Kratos Theme. He spent several months working with Barlog, Scaturro, Leary, Sony music director Chuck Doud, and the rest of the development team in making this new theme. McCreary described the Kratos Theme as "arguably one of my most structurally satisfying and catchy melodies." The main theme features low orchestral instruments, Icelandic choir, deep male vocals, powerful female vocals (in particular Faroese singer Eivør Pálsdóttir), folk percussion, and Nordic stringed instruments, such as the nyckelharpa and hurdy gurdy. When it was decided that God of War would be revealed at E3 2016, Sony wanted McCreary to perform his original score with a live orchestra at the press conference. McCreary opened the show with the new main theme before the unveiling of God of War, and performed the gamplay demo's music live during the presentation.[26]

On January 13, 2017, a live recording from E3 2016 of God of War's overture was released for free for a limited time. Barlog released the overture as a thank you to fans for God of War's E3 2016 trailer reaching fifteen million views on YouTube.[27]

Reception

Pre-release

God of War's E3 2016 impressions were positive. Marty Sliva of IGN said that although the original trilogy are three of the most influential action games of the past fifteen years, he was never able to connect with the series, mainly because of Kratos. The developing relationship between Kratos and his son and the more intimate experience of the new installment, based on the E3 2016 demo, has changed Sliva's attitude and made him care for the series.[8] Peter Brown of GameSpot said that changing the camera was a "smart move" and a change he was hoping for; "it's super impressive." He said the intimate moment between Kratos and his son killing the deer "inspired emotion from me," something that previous installments did not do for him. Alexa Ray Corriea, also of GameSpot, is also glad there is no fixed camera and that players can explore the world.[28] Steve Watts of Shacknews noted that like recent games, it has a theme of parenthood, and that "it's a more thoughtful premise than we've seen from the series, and it allows for narrative possibilities more complex than a deific murder spree."[29]

Accolades

Year Award Category Result Ref
2016 Game Critics Awards 2016 Special Commendation for Graphics Won [30]
IGN's Best of E3 2016 Awards Game of the Show Nominated [31]
Best PlayStation 4 Game Nominated
Best Action Game Nominated
The Game Awards 2016 Most Anticipated Game Nominated [32]

References

  1. ↑ Davis, Justin (June 14, 2016). "E3 2016: New God of War Announced". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Skipper, Ben (June 13, 2016). "God of War 4 kicks off Sony E3 2016 press conference". International Business Times. IBT Media. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  3. ↑ Loveridge, Sam; Mahboubian-Jones, Justin (March 24, 2017). "God of War 4 PS4 trailers, release date, price, gameplay and everything we know so far". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  4. ↑ Wagner, Jayce (June 13, 2017). "In The New 'God of War 4' Trailer, Kratos Is Old, Grizzled, And As Brutal As Ever". Digital Trends. Designtechnica Corp. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 Paget, Mat (June 14, 2016). "New God of War Set After Third Game, Won't Be Open World". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Paget, Mat (June 21, 2016). "God of War PS4 Doesn't Include Multiplayer, Won't Be Kratos's Last Game". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Newhouse, Alex; Crossley, Rob (June 13, 2016). "God of War Revealed for PS4 at E3 2016". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sliva, Marty (June 14, 2016). "E3 2016: God of War Made Me Care About The Series For The First Time". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 De Meo, Francesco (June 24, 2016). "God Of War Original Team Is Working On New Game, 100 Enemies On Screen Confirmed And More". WCCF Tech. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  10. 1 2 Pereira, Chris; Fillari, Alessandro (June 12, 2017). "E3 2017: New God Of War Trailer Released, Release Date Set For Early 2018". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  11. 1 2 3 Lillah, Sarmad (June 13, 2016). "First Details on God of War PS4 Game; Same Storyline But New Gameplay". SegmentNext.com. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Hussain, Tamoor (June 15, 2016). "God of War PS4 Director on the Challenge of Making People Take Kratos Seriously". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  13. 1 2 Bratt, Chris (June 15, 2016). "God of War team considered setting the new game in Egypt". Eurogamer. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  14. ↑ Paget, Mat (June 20, 2016). "New God of War: Why Kratos Is in Norse Mythology Now". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  15. ↑ Maiberg, Emanuel (December 6, 2014). "New God of War in Development at Sony Santa Monica". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  16. ↑ McWhertor, Michael; Good, Owen (April 5, 2016). "Rumored God of War concept art shows Kratos tackling Norse mythology". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  17. 1 2 Treese, Tyler (October 13, 2016). "God of War Designed for Standard PS4, Won't Have a Demo". PlayStation LifeStyle. CraveOnline. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
  18. ↑ Barlog, Cory (October 15, 2016). "oh we will benefit from the power of the Pro, for sure. You just dont need a pro to getthe experience we intend.". Twitter. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
  19. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (October 29, 2016). "New God of War Not Showing Up at PlayStation Experience, Director Says". PlayStation.Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  20. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (December 22, 2016). "New God of War PS4 Game Reaches "Very Exciting Milestone"". PlayStation.Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  21. ↑ Barlog, Cory (June 13, 2016). "First Look: Santa Monica Studio’s New God of War on PS4". PlayStation.Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  22. ↑ Minotti, Mike (June 20, 2016). "God of War director Cory Barlog says that Sony’s violent series is growing up with the industry". VentureBeat. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  23. ↑ Paget, Mat (June 15, 2016). "New God of War Does Not Feature Original Kratos Voice Actor". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  24. ↑ Shuman, Sid; Barlog, Cory; Judge, Christopher (June 14, 2016). God of War - E3 2016 LiveCast (YouTube). PlayStation.Blog, Sony Interactive Entertainment. Event occurs at 13:35. Retrieved June 15, 2016. Shuman: Does the son have a name by the way? Barlog: Uh, GameSpot says it's Charlie. Shuman: Charlie? Barlog: Charlie! [laughs] I don't know where that came from. Shuman: That's fun. [laughs] Barlog: Charlie, right? [looks at Judge] Did you leak that? Judge: I did. [laughs]
  25. ↑ Osborn, Alex (January 13, 2017). "God of War: Kratos' Son's Name Revealed". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  26. 1 2 McCreary, Bear (June 27, 2016). "God of War at E3". BearMcCreary.com. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  27. ↑ Barker, Sammy (January 13, 2017). "Download God of War's Live E3 2016 Overture for Free". Push Square. Gamer Network. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  28. ↑ O'Dwyer, Danny; Te, Zorine; Brown, Peter; Corriea, Alexa Ray (June 13, 2016). "God of War Reactions - E3 2016". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  29. ↑ Watts, Steve (June 14, 2016). "E3 2016: God of War Takes Unexpected Turn to Introspection". Shacknews. Gamerhub. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Game Critics Awards – Best of E3 2016". Game Critics Awards. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  31. ↑ IGN's E3 Crew (June 14, 2016). "Best of E3 2016 Awards". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  32. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (November 16, 2016). "All the 2016 Game Awards Nominees". GameSpot. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
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