Reinvention Is Key to God of Wars’ Continued Success

The God of War series has been a PlayStation mainstay for four generations. Kratos' vengeful journey, beginning in 2005, has defied expectations, thriving where other long-running franchises faltered. This longevity stems from a willingness to evolve. The pivotal 2018 reboot, shifting from Ancient Greece to Norse mythology, dramatically altered the presentation and gameplay, but even before this acclaimed change, Sony Santa Monica subtly refined the series, ensuring its survival.

Reinvention remains crucial for future success. Director Cory Barlog hinted at potential Egyptian or Mayan settings, and recent rumors suggest an Egyptian setting is being considered. Ancient Egypt, with its rich culture and mythology, offers compelling potential. However, a new setting is merely the starting point; future God of War installments must reinvent themselves, building upon the strengths of the Greek trilogy while innovating, much like the transition to the acclaimed Norse games.

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 combo-based melee combat, facing diverse and challenging enemies. The PS3's enhanced power enabled improved camera angles, showcasing the game's impressive graphics for its time.

The reboot, however, discarded elements of the original games. The Greek trilogy's platforming and puzzle elements were largely removed in the Norse games, a consequence of the shift to a third-person, over-the-shoulder perspective. Puzzles remained, but were redesigned to fit the new adventure-focused gameplay.

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

The Norse games weren't mere reinterpretations; they introduced new mechanics, including the Leviathan Axe's throwing ability, a parry system enhanced by various shields, and Ragnarök's fast-paced magical spear. These tools facilitated exploration across the Nine Realms, each with unique enemies and environments.

Beyond mechanics and exploration, the storytelling drastically evolved. The Norse duology delves into Kratos' grief and his complex relationship with Atreus, a far cry from the original trilogy's more brutal narrative. This emotive approach significantly contributed to the Norse era's success.

God of War's transformation reflects a unique approach to franchising. The Norse games aren't viewed as traditional sequels but as extensions of Kratos' journey. This perspective should guide future installments.

However, radical reinvention isn't a guaranteed formula for success. Assassin's Creed, despite frequent changes in setting and time period, hasn't maintained consistent fan engagement across generations. The shift to an open-world RPG design diluted its core lore, leading to criticism and a sense of disconnect from its assassin roots.

Assassin's Creed Mirage, a return to the series' origins, received positive feedback for its streamlined gameplay and story. Assassin's Creed Shadows aims to continue this trend. This demonstrates the risks of straying too far from a franchise's core identity.

God of War's success lies in its skillful navigation of change. The Norse games, while a radical departure, retained Kratos' core appeal and the series' fundamental combat. Each game built upon this foundation, adding features that enhanced the experience without sacrificing its identity. This approach, focusing on character development and enriching the lore, must continue in future installments.

Future iterations, regardless of setting (Egyptian or otherwise), must prioritize evolutionary upgrades that preserve God of War's strengths. While the Norse games excelled in combat, future installments will likely be judged on their storytelling, a key element of the Norse duology's success. Building upon this narrative strength while introducing bold new changes will be crucial for the next era of God of War.