Sony Entertainment Interactive and Santa Monica's
God of War is a game that has given people a lot to talk about. When it was released in April of last year, the game received overwhelmingly positive reviews, which eventually led to the game being nominated for Game of the Year; an award it deserved, and also won.
Way before the game was released, we learnt that
God of War would be using a single shot technique that made the experience even more immersive for players. The way this would've played out, was by having the camera follow Kratos at all times, even during cutscenes.
The single shot technique was an idea that Cory Barlog, Creative Director for
God of War, had tried to implement in the 2013
Tomb Raider reboot when Barlog was part of the creative team at Crystal Dynamics; an idea that was rejected.
According to a recent interview with Game Informer,
Control video game Director Mikael Kasurinen revealed that Cory Barlog also pitched the single shot idea when working on Avalanche Studios'
Mad Max game; getting his great idea, once again, rejected.
Kasurinen says that he saw some of Barlog's ideas for
Mad Max being used in Santa Monica Studio's
God of War — more specifically the single shot technique — when asked about what was like working with Cory Barlog.
"
What was interesting was that the ideas that he had for Mad Max...I can see those things actually popping up in God of War. The idea of the camera and the moment being always with you; it’s like one single cut. And that’s what he wanted for Mad Max, as well. It was fun to then see that realised in God of War."
Barlog pitched the idea to both Crystal Dynamics and Avalanche Studios, but it wasn't until he was given full creative control over
God of War, when working for Santa Monica Studio, that he was able to finally implement this idea — because it was his own vision; and we all know how well that turned out.
Take a look:
His vengeance against the Gods of Olympus years behind him, Kratos now lives as a man in the realm of Norse Gods and monsters. It is in this harsh, unforgiving world that he must fight to survive…And teach his son to do the same. This startling reimagining of God of War deconstructs the core elements that defined the series—satisfying combat; breathtaking scale; and a powerful narrative—and fuses them anew.
God of War is currently available for the PlayStation 4.