Kratos' odyssey to death - A look back at God of War

It is 2018, the year that a new God of War appears on the PlayStation 4. The first trailer of this new part in the series made a big impression during E3 2016. Santa Monica Studio must have been relieved, because the last time the expectations for their game were so high was at the time of the PlayStation 2. Then Kratos became the icon of a platform.

Stubborn

Santa Monica Studio has been a stubborn developer since its founding in 1999. Founder Allan Becker wanted to break free from the Sony bosses in Foster City, to do his own thing in California. Although there were wild ideas for a game, it was decided to first screw up an engine and release a relatively simple title. The Wipeout-like game Kinetica was for Santa Monica therefore especially proof to Sony that the studio was able to stay within a budget and time limit. Kinetica was praised for the fun trick system and the challenging gameplay, and proved to be a valuable addition to the library of the brand new PlayStation 2.

Santa Monica's first game was also important for the engine that produced it, simply the Kinetica Engine. The studio worked amazingly well to mold its software into an action game, which, according to the developers, a journey through Greek mythology had the greatest chance of success. Partly inspired by games such as Onimusha, Soulcalibur, Castlevania and films like Indiana Jones, hack 'n slash game Dark Odyssey was born, later entitled God of War. One reason to step into this genre was the statement by Devil May Cry developer Ninja Theory that 'Western developers can not make action games'. We will see that sometimes, Santa Monica thought.

God of the PlayStation 2

In the first months of development, the design of the game went in all directions. For example, Kratos wore a blue-white Pteruges (a leather skirt) with matching blue stripes on his body, and was in fact a walking Greek flag. He also did random attacks because of his anger, but fortunately this was replaced by the fluid combat system that characterizes the entire series. The development also cost a lot of money, but Shuhei Yoshida, president of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, was so nice to give Santa Monica more budget under strict conditions.

This money was apparently well spent, because the first God of War hit like a bomb. What distinguishes the game especially from contemporaries Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden is the feeling of adventure. Kratos travels through a rather free interpretation of Greek mythology and arrives at places that had never before been portrayed so easily by a game. The story about selling his soul to Ares, the god of war, and the subsequent revenge may be a little thin, but how everything is portrayed was at that time phenomenal. The opening video, in which Kratos makes an attempt to commit suicide to escape his nightmares, is thanks to the storytelling voice of Linda Hunt to get goose bumps.

In terms of gameplay, God of War is simpler, but many times more brutal than comparable hack and slash games. The Blades Of Chaos fastened with chains to Kratos' arms make it possible to destroy entire groups of enemies and then to pull apart and flatten bystanders. The crazy fight on a boat with the Hydra, with which the game opens, is still freshly engraved in our memory and introduces Kratos as the anti-hero he is. Every other character would hesitate to attack the gigantic beast, but the demigod does not doubt it and chops it, then ruthlessly drops a crew member into the throats of the defeated monster, because he only needs a man's key had.

Bigger than great

God of War was an important contribution to the success of the PlayStation 2, so it was clear that there had to be a sequel. Within Santa Monica there were heated discussions about the platform on which the game was to be released. The PlayStation 3 was in sight and offered the possibility to produce dazzling graphics, but on the other hand, the developers did not know for sure if the new console would appear on time. Shuhei Yoshida jumped around the heels: God of War 2 had to play on the PlayStation 2.

In retrospect, it is admirable how well the game looked in 2007 for its time. From director Cory Barlog everything had to be nicer, bigger and better, with which the game even came close to PlayStation 3 launch titles. The follow-up is mainly characterized by the escalation of scale. The first God of War is already playing with camera angles that are zoomed out for miles and full-screen end bosses appear, but this pales in the grandeur of God of War 2. The battle with the statue during the first minutes of the game resembles a man who is building on feet, and concerns only the beginning of many memorable titan fights.

The pace of the game is also very good. New combos, weapons and magical powers make fights a lot more interesting, but they also alternate with fun puzzles and fun platform pieces. Santa Monica also placed higher on mythological characters, many with bared breasts or a shocking appearance. In the story Kratos is being sewn for the second time by a god, this time Zeus himself, whereupon he begins a massacre to change his own destiny. Kratos comes along all kinds of well-known figures. In this way, God of War 2 serves you something new, so you reach the end before you know it.

No draconian measures

After two fantastic parts, it was time to switch to a new platform. For Santa Monica and Sony there was no doubt about the need for a God of War 3, but not all gamers received the game as well as the previous one. The third part does little news on paper and follows a somewhat unfortunate story. Kratos is angrier than ever, is killed for the second time and goes for the umpteenth time a list with figures from Greek mythology to hunt over the blade. What saves the whole is a nice retrospect to the first part and a dramatic ending for Kratos.

The best thing about God of War 3 is the spectacle. In terms of scale, the game is many times larger than the previous part, with even bigger bosses. The game jumps from highlight to highlight, starting with a desperate fight against Poseidon, until the long battle with Zeus. Battles against ground troops are also more intense due to the possibility of displaying fifty enemies at once and because blood sticks to Kratos' body. This filth did not appeal to everyone, especially because God of War 3 all pictures very clearly on the PlayStation 3. The action goes from brute to luguber, and is exhibited in all bloody glory.

In spite of this, the third part was praised by critics and the game did very well in the shops. Prequel Ascension, the next God of War game on the PS3, could only be disappointing afterwards. It is not a bad game, but in terms of story it is not entirely neat between PSP game Chains of Olympus and the first part. It was also expected that the combat system and the set-up of the game got a freshening up, but the opposite turned out to be true. Ascension mainly inspired the elemental attacks that were introduced in the second handheld game from the series, Ghost of Sparta, making complex combos more complex. The multiplayer is also a nice extra, but in a somewhat disappointing God of War game.

Back from the dead

Because of the disappointing reception of Ascension for a God of War game, God of War 3 is seen as the end of the series. You could say that Santa Monica was ready with the series, since over the years it has been busy helping small developers in the saddle. Collaborations with Thatgamecompany, Giant Sparrow and The Chinese Room have produced wonderful games such as Journey, The Unfinished Swan and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture. Titles that have given Sony the artistic image that may have been lost lately.

The first images of the new God of War, however, prove that Santa Monica can renew one of Sony's largest franchises. Kratos has risen again from the dead, but like us we will never forget his adventures in Ancient Greece. Hopefully he learned from his actions, although we fear that the Norwegian gods are not sure of their lives. From 20 April we can finally travel again with Kratos.

My Latest Posts:

• Bleed 2 Review - Flashing non-stop action
• Dissidia Final Fantasy NT Review - Fresh and fun gameplay
• Dragon Quest Builders (Switch) Review - Build anywhere!
• Furi Review - A good fighting game with a number of flaws
• Iconoclasts Review - Metroid has never been so colorful
• Celeste (Switch) Review - Heavenly platformer