Opening | God of War (2018)

God of War series has been running since 2005, when the first game was released. Two sequels, a prequel and two PSP games followed, six games in total in the span of 8 years with a similar formula, which led to certain fatigue. While they were developing the last game, God of War: Ascension, the series’ main developer, Santa Monica Studio, started the pre-production of a new IP, trying to introduce some fresh air in the team. And soon after that game’s release, Cory Barlog, God of War II director, returned to Santa Monica, building a second group after being linked to different projects (like working with George Miller in a Mad Max game). Everything looked promising until the first project, the new IP, got cancelled, the studio was hit by layoffs and suddenly, a “rumored new God of War” became the only project of the studio. Was another God of War game what Santa Monica needed? Was Kratos or his story still relevant?

Some, but not all, doubts, where resolved the first time game was showed, in June 2016. Everything was new: setting, gameplay, perspective and camera, story, characters (except Kratos)… So many changes than people even questioned why was called “God of War” and not just renamed as a new IP, or at least without Kratos, a character considered very limited. What we saw in that video (the only thing I watched before playing the game), showed some of the early moments of the final game (with some changes) but we didn’t know that. Almost two years later the game was received with almost universal acclaim and, personally, it has entered my favorite games list. After the release, all the doubts about Kratos, his story, the new camera or Atreus disappeared.

From the very beginning, this God of War is a completely different beast. Since the first game, God of War was characterized by spectacular openings, starting with the Hydra and peaking in God of War III, with one of the most amazing openings ever created. How to surpass this? Not trying to. This time the opening is focused in character and tone building, showing Kratos’ wife burial’s preparation, with Atreus’ help. A lot of information in a few minutes (Kratos married again, he had a son, Atreus, and his wife has recently died), but all those element will be properly developed along all the game. That’s the story background and the relationship between Kratos and Atreus, and the evolution of the latter is the key point of all the adventure. That evolution is in part guided by Kratos, his past experience, his faults and cruelties. An intimate element in an adventure that gets bigger and bigger as you progress, maintaining better than I expected some of the key elements of the saga (spectacular combats, beautiful vistas, big bosses, …). The combat is introduced gradually, teaching you the basics until you found your first big enemy during this opening. And after that, when they return to their home, a new actor appears in scene, a nemesis that will mark the beginning of the true adventure after this different but perfect game opening: