Reinvention Is Key to God of Wars’ Continued Success

The God of War series has been a PlayStation staple for four console generations. Kratos' vengeful journey, starting in 2005, has defied expectations, proving remarkably adaptable across multiple gaming eras. Unlike many long-running franchises, God of War's longevity stems from its willingness to evolve. The pivotal 2018 reboot, transplanting Kratos from Ancient Greece to Norse mythology, dramatically reshaped the series' presentation and gameplay. However, even before this acclaimed reboot, Sony Santa Monica subtly refined the series, ensuring its continued success.

Reinvention remains key to God of War's future. Director Cory Barlog hinted at potential Egyptian or Mayan settings, and recent rumors suggest an Egyptian setting might be on the horizon. Ancient Egypt, with its rich culture and mythology, offers a compelling new backdrop. But a new setting is merely the beginning; future installments must reinvent themselves, building upon the successful elements of the Greek trilogy while enhancing them, much as the Norse games did.

The Greek trilogy, spanning a decade, progressively refined its hack-and-slash gameplay. By God of War 3, Kratos wielded a revamped magic system complementing the combo-based melee combat, and faced increasingly diverse and challenging enemies. The PS3's enhanced power enabled improved camera angles, showcasing the game's graphical prowess.

The reboot, however, sacrificed some elements of the original games. The Greek trilogy's platforming and puzzle elements were largely removed in the Norse games, partly due to the shift to a third-person, over-the-shoulder camera perspective. Puzzles persisted but were redesigned to suit the new adventure-focused approach. Valhalla, the God of War Ragnarök DLC, interestingly brought back battle arenas, adapted for the Norse setting, poetically mirroring the story's return to Kratos' Greek roots, completing a narrative circle.

The Norse games aren't mere reinterpretations; they introduced significant innovations, including the Leviathan Axe's throwing mechanics, a parry system enhanced by various shield types, and Ragnarök's fast-paced magical spear. These tools facilitated exploration across the Nine Realms, each with unique enemies, visuals, and characteristics.

Beyond combat and exploration, the Norse duology drastically altered the storytelling. Kratos' grief over his wife and his complex relationship with Atreus drive the narrative, a stark contrast to the original trilogy's more brutal approach. This emotive storytelling is crucial to the Norse era's success.

God of War's transformation reflects a unique approach to franchising. The creators view the Norse games not as sequels but as extensions of Kratos' journey—a philosophy guiding future installments. This contrasts with Assassin's Creed, which, despite frequent setting changes, has struggled to maintain consistent fan engagement. Assassin's Creed's open-world RPG shift, while profitable, diluted its core lore and proved divisive.

Assassin's Creed Mirage, a return to the series' roots, was a more successful course correction. This suggests that abandoning a series' core strengths can alienate fans, a pitfall God of War skillfully avoided. The Norse games, while radically different, retained Kratos' essence and the series' core combat mechanics. Each new game built upon this foundation, adding Spartan Rage options, new weapons, enhanced combat, and playable characters, enriching the experience without losing its identity.

Future God of War installments, regardless of setting (Egyptian or otherwise), must maintain this balance. While the Norse games prioritized combat, future games will likely be judged by their storytelling, the cornerstone of the Norse duology's success. Kratos' evolution from a rage-filled monster to a complex father and leader highlights the importance of strong writing. Future installments must build on this strength while innovating, aiming for even greater heights.