Highlights
God of War's revival went beyond simply continuing the original franchise, with reimagined combat, a more personal story scale, and a more intimate presentation.
As God of War Ragnarok brings the Norse saga to a close, there remain unresolved storylines and opportunities for the next game to delve into new realms and mythologies.
To truly evolve, the upcoming God of War installment must undergo substantial transformations, adopting a fresh approach in its narrative style. Additionally, it has the potential to venture into captivating destinations such as Egypt, Japan, or the Celtic lands, allowing for a remarkable shift in aesthetics and themes.
God of War was not just given a reboot, but a complete reimagination. When creators set out to revive a franchise, their aim is often to recapture the essence of the original and provide fans with more of what they love. However, the revival of God of War went beyond this. Santa Monica Studio overhauled every aspect of the experience, from introducing a more strategic combat system to crafting a more intimate storytelling approach. Both God of War and its upcoming sequel, God of War Ragnarok, stand apart from the original franchise, and any future installment should aim to do the same.
Even before the game was released, it was confirmed that God of War Ragnarok marks the conclusion of the Norse saga. The game concludes with a somewhat definitive ending, as Kratos survives the death foretold in a prophecy and discovers that he may be revered in the future. Atreus reconciles with his father and gains independence, embarking on a journey to find the remaining giants. While the major conflicts of the Norse saga are resolved, there are still lingering questions regarding characters like Sindri and Tyr. Despite these loose ends, the next game has the potential to explore new territories and storylines.
The Next God of War Needs To Switch Things Up Again
The upcoming God of War installment needs to innovate in the same way as the 2018 reboot did. While it's likely that Kratos or Atreus will confront a different pantheon of gods, the changes should run deeper. Although a complete overhaul might not be practical, embracing a fresh style of presentation is essential. The distinctive one-shot camera style from God of War is legendary, but deviating from it could rejuvenate the franchise.
According to the God of War: Fallen God comics, it seems that Kratos could be headed to Egypt for his next journey. Setting the game in Egypt offers developers numerous exciting opportunities. Placing the camera further back would showcase the vast desert and expansive open areas associated with it. Moreover, the grand scale of the Egyptian desert would provide stunning cinematic shots. Being a cultural hub that interacted heavily with the Greeks, Egypt would enable Kratos to face adversaries from various mythologies and encounter figures that survived from the original trilogy.
Where Else Could God of War Go Next?
An Egyptian setting may not be a seamless fit. Interviews imply that the idea of setting God of War (2018) in Egypt was considered but ultimately rejected due to the intricate nature of the mythology, which portrayed real-life pharaohs as divine beings. This particular backdrop would necessitate incorporating numerous real-world historical elements, potentially causing complications. The game displays a tapestry featuring symbols from Egyptian, Celtic, and Shinto mythologies, implying that Kratos could just as easily journey to Japan or Celtic lands. All of these potential destinations would bring about a significant stylistic shift for the developers.
No matter where Kratos's next adventure takes him, the Santa Monica team will need to exert diligent efforts to seamlessly integrate the mythological weapons and concepts of that location into the gameplay, similar to their successful execution in the 2018 reboot. The most crucial aspect is that the studio takes the time to reimagine the series' potential once again. The accomplishments of God of War (2018) and Ragnarok were partly attributed to their ability to surprise and humanize Kratos, therefore, the next installment must be equally bold in departing from past entries.
God of War is available now on PC and PS4.