Summary
While PlayStation has seen plenty of first-party franchises come and go over the years, theGod of Warseries has managed to retain its lofty position for almost two decades now. Debuting all the way back in 2005,God of Waroffered a blockbuster hack-and-slash experience like no other, and though it had a little hiatus in the mid-2010s, it returned with the home run that wasGod of War2018, cementing it even further atop PlayStation’s first-party Mount Olympus.
Now, nearly two decades on from its original release,theGod of Warfranchiseis in the best spot it’s ever been, with six mainline entries, a slew of spin-offs, two distinct sagas, and a bright future of near-endless possibilities ahead of it. But while a newGod of Warsaga seems inevitable at this point, Santa Monica shouldn’t rest on its laurels, but instead ensure that it continues to improve theGod of Warformula. This means trying to perfect the next saga’s length, something that neither era ofGod of Warhas done thus far.
The Next God of War Saga Needs to Find the Perfect Length
God of War’s Greek Saga Became Convoluted
WhenGod of Warfirst debuted in 2005, it offered something the rest of the gaming world hadn’t really seen up until that point. Whilegames based on Greek mythologyhad cropped up before, and hack-and-slash games were nothing too new,God of Warcombined these two defining features. This, along with the game’s high production value and over-the-top violence, setGod of Warapart from the rest of its competition.
Naturally, fans of the firstGod of Warwere desperate for more games in the series, and Santa Monica was more than happy to oblige.God of War 2released just two years later, building upon its predecessor’s already-great formula to produce an excellent sequel filled with more intense action set pieces, and more bombastic boss fights. After that, the floodgates opened. A Java mobile game calledGod of War: Betrayalreleased in the same year, with PSP gameGod of War: Chains of Olympusdropping just a year later. ThenGod of War 3arrived in 2010,Ghost of Spartahit store shelves just months later, andGod of War: Ascensionlaunched in 2013.
While many fans still have fond memories of theGod of WarGreek saga, and rightfully so, it seems pretty fair to say that things got a little too convoluted in the end. After seven installments in almost as many years, it became increasingly difficult for new fans to jump aboard theGod of Warfranchise, especially when some of those installments are actually subtle prequels to certain mainline entries. It was clear thatGod of Warneeded a refresh, and a new jumping-on point for newcomers.
God of War’s Norse Saga Felt Like It Was Over Before It Began
That’s exactly what fans got in 2018 with the stellarGod of Warsoft-reboot. Though it carries on the story of Kratos and contains plenty of references to his past,God of War2018 focuses on a new Norse era for the franchise, which sees Kratos and his son Atreus attempt to fight off the Aesir gods. While theGod of WarGreek saga got a total of seven games,God of War’s Norse sagagot just two games and a roguelike DLC.
WhileGod of War’s Norse saga explores the mythology thoroughly and provides incredibly satisfying character arcs for the vast majority of its heroes and villains, it does feel that Santa Monica is leaving this era rather abruptly, with it currently feeling as though there are plenty more stories to be told with Kratos and Atreus in the Nine Realms.
The Next God of War Needs to Strike a Balance
Though it’s much easier said than done,the nextGod of Warsaganeeds to try and strike a balance between the length of the Greek and Norse sagas. WhileGod of War’s Greek era outstayed its welcome a little, its Norse saga felt like it was only getting started. For its next saga,God of Warneeds to try and offer the perfect balance of both, delivering a story that remains engaging and clear while also ensuring that its mythology and characters are used fully.
God of War Ragnarok
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting goFrom Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.
