Reinvention Is Key to God of Wars’ Continued Success

The God of War series has been a PlayStation staple for four generations. Kratos' vengeful journey, beginning in 2005, has defied expectations. While many long-running franchises struggle to remain relevant, God of War has thrived by embracing change. The pivotal 2018 reboot, transplanting Kratos from Ancient Greece to Norse mythology, dramatically altered its presentation and gameplay. Even before this acclaimed reboot, developer Sony Santa Monica subtly refined the series, ensuring its longevity.

Reinvention is key to God of War's future success. Director Cory Barlog hinted at exploring Egyptian and Mayan settings, and recent rumors suggest an Egyptian setting might be next. Ancient Egypt, with its unique culture and rich mythology, offers compelling potential. However, a new setting is only the beginning; future iterations must reinvent themselves, much like the transition from the Greek trilogy to the acclaimed Norse games.

The Greek trilogy evolved over a decade, refining its hack-and-slash gameplay. By God of War 3, Kratos wielded a revamped magic system complementing melee combat, facing diverse and challenging enemies. The PS3's enhanced power enabled improved camera angles, showcasing the game's impressive graphics for 2010.

The reboot significantly altered the original formula. The Greek trilogy's platforming and puzzle elements were largely removed in the Norse games, due in part to the new over-the-shoulder camera perspective. Puzzles remained, but were redesigned to suit the adventure-focused narrative.

Valhalla, the God of War Ragnarök DLC, notably brought back battle arenas, a feature from the original series, adapted for the Norse setting. This mirrored the narrative, seeing Kratos confront his past in Valhalla. This return to Greek roots, both mechanically and narratively, created a satisfying narrative arc.

The Norse games aren't merely reinterpretations; they introduced unique mechanics, such as the Leviathan Axe's throwing capabilities, a parry system enhanced by various shields, and Ragnarök's magical spear, enabling a faster, more explosive combat style. These tools facilitated exploration across the Nine Realms, each with distinct enemies, visuals, and characteristics.

Beyond combat and exploration, the Norse duology dramatically shifted the narrative. Kratos' grief over his wife and his complex relationship with Atreus form the emotional core of these games, a stark contrast to the original trilogy's more brutal storytelling. This emotive approach contributed significantly to the Norse era's success.

God of War's reinvention stems from a unique approach to sequels. The developers view the Norse games not as traditional sequels, but as extensions of Kratos' journey. This perspective should guide future installments.

However, radical reinvention isn't guaranteed success. Assassin's Creed, which frequently changed settings and time periods, illustrates this. While profitable, it hasn't consistently maintained fan engagement across generations. The shift to an open-world RPG design with Assassin's Creed Origins led to a more tenuous connection to the core lore, causing division among fans. Criticism focused on content bloat and a departure from the series' assassin roots.

Assassin's Creed Mirage, a soft reboot, attempted a course correction, returning to the series' origins and receiving positive feedback. Assassin's Creed Shadows appears to continue this trend.

Assassin's Creed's experience highlights the risk of abandoning what made a series successful. God of War skillfully avoided this. The Norse games, while a radical departure, retained Kratos' compelling character and the series' core mechanics. It built upon the foundation of the Greek trilogy—fiery combat—adding enhancements like more Spartan Rage options, new weapons, expanded combat options, and the ability to play as Atreus. These additions enhanced the series without detracting from its identity.

Future installments, regardless of setting (Egyptian or otherwise), must build upon this success. While the Norse games were judged by their combat, future iterations will likely be judged by their narrative. Kratos' character development from a rage-filled monster to a complex father and leader showcases the importance of storytelling. Future games must leverage this strength while continuing to innovate.