God of War Should Leverage this Exciting PlayStation 5 Feature

Highlights

PlayStation consoles have consistently been subjected to the pioneering advancements of God of War, showcasing sizable boss battles and fluid combat in the Greek narrative, and remarkable visuals and cinematic attributes in the Norse adventure.

The PlayStation VR2 is currently missing strong first-party titles to help drive its success, with only one major release thus far. Introducing a VR version of God of War could greatly enhance the appeal of PSVR2, offering players a shorter, more intimate adventure that takes place across the Nine Realms and enables them to fully immerse themselves in the game world.

By incorporating gameplay mechanics from Horizon Call of the Mountain, such as archery and the ability to wield Kratos' Leviathan Axe, a God of War VR game would provide a fresh and exciting experience, fulfilling the long-held fantasies of dedicated fans.

Similar to many other flagship PlayStation franchises, God of War has consistently aimed to stretch the technical capabilities of PlayStation. In the original Greek saga of God of War, it showcased large-scale boss battles against colossal enemies and seamlessly fluid combat, which pushed the boundaries of the PS2 and PS3. In the recent Norse saga, the focus shifted to mind-blowing graphics and innovative cinematic features like a continuous one-shot camera, thereby challenging the capabilities of the PS4 and PS5.

It is evident that God of War remains a prominent franchise for PlayStation, and with the tremendous success of God of War Ragnarok, this will likely continue for a significant period. As God of War continues to be one of PlayStation's flagship properties, it will strive to push the technical limits of the console it is developed for. However, there is one untapped aspect of the PS5's technology that God of War could readily explore.

God of War Still Needs to Come to PlayStation VR2

PlayStation VR2 has not been the success that Sony had anticipated. While it did surpass the lifetime sales of its predecessor in a short six weeks, this accomplishment is not significant. It is a common trend in the VR market for early adopters to make up the majority of the user base. The lack of games, particularly first-party system sellers, is one of the main reasons why many fans are not investing in PSVR2.

Since its launch, PlayStation VR2 has only had one major first-party release, which was Horizon Call of the Mountain. This game was marketed as the flagship title for the headset, showcasing its capabilities. However, while Horizon Call of the Mountain was a decent game, it did not live up to the expectations of being the best VR game ever created. It was considered too short and repetitive, and therefore did not justify the hefty price of the day-one headset. Currently, this game remains the only notable first-party exclusive for PSVR2.

A God of War game for PlayStation VR2 has the potential to be a game-changer. Compared to Horizon, which is more open-world, a God of War VR game would make more sense in terms of a shorter, smaller-scale adventure across the Nine Realms. Santa Monica has already presented the Nine Realms beautifully, but experiencing them up close and personal in VR would be even more awe-inspiring.

The gameplay foundations for a God of War VR game are already in place. The archery mechanics from Horizon: Call of the Mountain could easily be adapted for Atreus' bow in the VR game. Alternatively, players could wield Kratos' iconic Leviathan Axe, which could have a recall ability similar to the lightsaber throw mechanic in Vader Immortal. Using these familiar weapons in a VR setting would provide a fresh and immersive experience, fulfilling the dreams of longtime fans of the franchise.