What Rumored God of War Trilogy Remaster Should Take from Norse Saga

What Rumored God of War Trilogy Remaster Should Take from Norse Saga

As a die-hard fan who’s been following Kratos’ bloody journey since the original God of War trilogy, I can confidently say that the rumored remastered games are a cause for both excitement and caution. The Norse saga has certainly refined Santa Monica Studio’s approach to storytelling, accessibility, and combat, but messing with the classics could be disastrous.


God of War ranks among Sony’s longstanding premier series, evolving from its initial brutal action and Shakespearean storyline set in Greek mythology to the more introspective, tactical adventure of the Norse-themed games. Over time, this franchise has transformed significantly.

In a similar vein to how contemporary viewers have come to recognize the bearded, aged Kratos within Scandinavian lore, there are whispers circulating about the vintage God of War series potentially receiving an upgrade for a PS5 launch. Lately, Sony has been known, with mixed reactions, for re-creating and updating games that haven’t yet reached their fifth birthday. Given this trend, it is not implausible to envision these iconic GOW games getting a facelift, considering some of them are showing their age compared to modern standards. The validity of these rumors remains to be seen, but if the games are indeed in development, there’s much speculation about what features they might draw from the subsequent Norse games.

How the Classic God of War Games Could Adapt Features from the Norse Saga

Although there might be plans for re-releases, it’s quite improbable that these would involve complete overhauls similar to a remake like the one for Silent Hill 2. This being said, let’s consider potential scenarios based on this assumption.

Accessibility Features

In more contemporary “God of War” video games, there has been much acclaim for their intelligent accessibility features. Specifically, “God of War Ragnarok” received the Innovation in Accessibility award at the 2022 Game Awards. Some standard accessibility elements such as text-to-speech can be found in “Ragnarok”, but Santa Monica Studio went beyond expectations with considerate, practical features like audio cues, complete controller reconfiguration, and detailed subtitle personalization.

Modern games are being designed with various features that cater to individuals with cognitive, physical, visual, and auditory challenges, as well as those who are new to action games or video games in general. The upcoming rumored remastered God of War trilogy is believed to target novice players, so incorporating the Norse saga to enhance accessibility appears to be a logical decision.

Haptics and Subtle Attack Animation Changes

It may appear unusual, but the classic God of War series could certainly benefit from some fighting mechanics seen in the more tangible battlefield of Norse sagas. While there are significant alterations in combat for the 2018 God of War game, two aspects that significantly enhance its fight sequences – haptic feedback and detailed attack animations – could be incorporated fairly easily into potential remakes of the older games.

Advanced haptic feedback feels like a given: Sony never seems to pass up the chance to show off the power of the DualSense controller. But the Norse games also add a slight “drag” to Kratos’ attacks, slowing animations down slightly when a melee attack connects with an enemy, which lends combat a more brutal feel; such an animation choice makes it feel like the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos are actually ripping through flesh and viscera of the enemies, making the combat of newer God of War games feel much more brutal, immediate, and gripping, in contrast to the spectacle-driven combat of the older games, where the player tears through enemies like a hot knife through butter. The combination of engaging haptics and smart combat animations could greatly elevate the older GOW experiences.

The God of War Remakes Should Be Made With a Deft Touch

Regardless of what modifications the anticipated remakes of the GOW series may bring, it’s crucial that these changes don’t overstep the boundaries of the original concepts. Dramatic alterations to presentation or, even more so, storyline could essentially obliterate not only gaming lore but also the narrative history of the God of War franchise. However, there’s certainly room for enhancements in user experience and graphics, as long as these improvements accentuate the games’ existing qualities rather than replacing them with something new.

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2024-10-15 19:10