God of War PS4 Dev On Changes: “Change Is Often Regarded As Bad Because It’s Difficult”

SCE Santa Monica's God of War is looking mighty fine on the PlayStation 4. The graphics and epic scale have been maintained, the combat is still intense and combo-rific and there are plenty of twists thrown in with Kratos' son and this new Norse setting.

[UCForce]

Cory Barlog admitted that change isn't going to make people happy. But his passion to this game is something that make me understand and I'm willing to support. I'm very exciting for this game not just because Cory Barlog was GOW2 director, but it also his passion and risk are something worth fighting for. Just like I supported Horizon Zero Dawn since it was first revealed at E3 2015. The new God of War is still GOW but it will be more personal and grounded. Kratos is still Kratos but it will be like the old Kratos who was family man and General of Spartan Army before Ares tricked him and turned him into a monster. Kratos still doesn't trust any gods and he will kill them but he won't take vengeance like he did in Greek. Meaning he will kill them with more reasonable way. And his son, Kratos won't waste his opportunity as a father. His son need him and he need his son.

[SubZtx]

By all means don't make people happy... In a business where you should try to make your long time customers happy.... :p

[Kratos0289]

But they clearly are making people happy especially long time fans if they weren't the like/dislike ratio on those trailers should be in the middle or one sided instead the dislike bar is barley a blip lol

[KickSpinFilter]

I'm a long time fan and I'm real happy. If it was more of the same I probably would not care good time to mix it up a bit.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Ok......

Catering to the same GOW concept could also result in less sales.

Mind you, as a long time GOW fan, I love the change that they are doing. We've had over decade of "Mad" or "Angry at everything" Kratos.

I want a change. I'm completely fine with a change.

[-Foxtrot]

I'm not saying it looks shit or bad or anything to put the games quality down (before anyone starts) but change is fine when it suits what the game was like before hand...but when we've had the Last of Us which did this "father/daughter" like bond only to see it happen in God of War 4...it's like "Cool, looks awesome, new God of War, Yes...but...I've seen this not too long ago"

I would have preferred if it was his Wife (or will become his new wife) he was on a journey with. A bad ass female character like Kratos who can also handle herself...let him grow as a character with her and open himself up abit as he struggles because of the pain which happened between him and his last family.

I just don't want to be baby sitting a young kid for the entire game, I want some solo Kratos time...which is why I'm still holding out this game is just to get him to open up again only to see the kid die in the end setting up his rage for the next 2 games in the trilogy.

To be honest even if they had this setting and a character like Kratos on his own it would have been different enough. Maybe not even say it's related, they could have had a different name only for there to be a 100% confirmation at the end of the game they are set in the same Universe.

[UCForce]

Kratos used to be a father. And now, he won't waste it here.

[-Foxtrot]

Won't waste it? From what we've seen he doesn't seem like he's grabbing life by the balls, seems to be cold hearted still even against his "second chance" soooo...

Least being cold towards a women and seeing him open up over the course of the game/trilogy AND THEN he had a son with her near the end I could understand

[_-EDMIX-_]

@Fox- "from what we've seen he doesn't seem like he's grabbing life by the balls" You saw the whole game? When? Where?

Do tell.

" seems to be cold hearted"

Yes, he hates him SOOOO much, he is teaching him how to hunt.

everyone I hate I teach life skills...../s

Fox....we've been down this road before, you see a trailer and suddenly you know a 20 hour game LMFAO! Buddy, ...stop jumping the gun and exaggerating every single last thing.

So you did this with Battlefront 1, Resident Evil VII and now you have a new thing to hate based on trailers? lol

[UCForce]

"Sigh" Kratos does need his old humanity back even it's just fragile but at least he will be more wiser this time around. Like I said, Kratos still has rough personality just like previous games but he won't be way too much reckless. Also, I put my risk to trust Cory Barlog because he was GOW 2 director which is my favorite game. So yeah, that's something I dare to risk it.

[ClayRules2012]

Well said, bud.

Kratos is still the same guy people have come to know & love. But now, he's older, has changed a bit, and he's also a father, once again. He's got another chance to not screw up, and be apart of his sons life, while also trying Rockstar prepare him for what's out their in the world, wants Atreus to be prepared.

[-Foxtrot]

I disagree

He needs it back it just shouldn't have been a copy and paste of the pairing like it's trying to be the Last of Us.

We've just had that not long ago with a sequel coming. Should have been a different pairing.

[ninsigma]

Maybe, after everything, the kid could turn bad by the end of the game, setting up the next one.

[MetalGearsofWar]

I fully agree on the "Last of Us" inspiration.

Kratos is an angry bald dude that kills Greek gods in the most brutal ways.

He's not a hipster dad with inner deamons that ironically listens to pop as he kills with an battle axe because chains of olympus are too mainstream.

Game looks ok, tho.

[Rude-ro]

The stories direction is not kratos.
We are seeing the childhood of our future protagonist in the series.
A "passing of the torch" series from the god of war himself.
I think it is genius. They already went back and told the story of his demons of his past and the only other option would be a reboot...
Here, it becomes a whole new ip by raising the next protagonist by kratos.
Can not wait

[UCForce]

I know you are tired of TLOU inspiration. But why do you think is a bad thing ? GOW is evolved. The gameplay is still fast pace but more personal and grounded.

[Imalwaysright]

Surprised that you're not saying that this isn't a GOW game.

[_-EDMIX-_]

"To be honest even if they had this setting and a character like Kratos on his own it would have been different enough.""

Not really.

OH so keep it the same? LOL! Ok bud, if you want the same very year, Call Of Duty gots you covered....

[Kratos0289]

Big franchises like God of War need to change and evolve In order to remain relevant, I guarantee if God of War had just been the same the reaction would be nowhere near as positive as it was when it was revealed last year, This new entry in the franchise does it brilliantly striking a balance between the old and new, SSM nailed it last year with the exception of Zelda it was the most talked about game at E3 2016 even now that demo is approaching nearly 18 million views on YouTube

All I wanted was a continuation from God of War III set in either Norse or Egyptian mythology with Kratos still as the lead luckily for me I got all 3 :)

[Weeblordbad]

If it was another game like Ascension no one would have cared. They've made a game that's unmistakably God of War, but also unmistakably a new game. They've ticked all the boxes that should make a sequel a sequel, anyone downplaying it because TLOU did Ellie/Joel first are deranged.

[SubZtx]

What ruined Ascension was it was a prequel which killed the momentum of the truly epic part 3 by not moving the story forward.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

I love dev who are honest, and transparent about their product. Can't wait to play.

[SubZtx]

Corey needed to go start a new franchise or just make a sequel to something that looks just like this game (most ps4 exclusives lately even down to your parental figure teaching you how to use a bow). God of War used to be unique to the platform, now it looks like 5 other games...

[opinionated]

Sometimes it's just because it's bad though..

[UCForce]

But sometimes it's not bad.

[ClayRules2012]

God of War "in my opinion" really needed "Change" The current formula was getting stale & repetitive.

Now, I honestly understand not everyone is on board with the current direction SSM have chosen to go with Kratos & the series, but I kindly ask, if you've loved the previous games, and want to see more Kratos, give this a chance. This is SSM ( who're amazingly talented ) one of Sony's absolute best game studios. They understand the concerns gamers have towards this new change of direction for the series, but just because they're changing things up in terms of telling a more meaningful/powerful, less vengeful story ( like the previous games ) and are taking a much different approach to the gameplay, doesn't mean they've gone & F'd it all up ( Pardon my language ) They're taking a risk with this game, but at least they've decided to go outside of their comfort zone/what they know works, and are trying to do something newer/fresh.

I genuinely believe they'll deliver a marvelous game that people will be talking about for years to come. But, don't take my word for it, the work displayed in the demo & trailers speak of the hard work EVERYONE at that studio is doing. They believe in it =)

[Imalwaysright]

Without change stagnation sets in and I felt that stagnation with GOW 3. I'm happy that Santa Monica changed GOW's formula but I understand why others don't like it.