God of War III Preview

By John Gaudiosi Published 2 March, 2009

Zeus alors.

Sony has a lot riding on the fourth instalment in the God of War series. The first two PlayStation 2 releases were enormously popular, selling millions around the world, but by the time they came out PS2 had already vanquished Xbox, and indeed everyone else. By the time God of War III comes out, which may not even be this year, the story will be very different. Still, in the ongoing console battle between PS3 and Xbox 360, who better to fight Sony's corner than the, er, God of War?

Sitting down in Sony's Santa Monica studio to find out, it turns out the story, which picks up right where God of War II left things, has Kratos and an army of Titans out to eradicate the remaining gods Helios, Hermes, Hades and Zeus - a revenge story that sets up plenty of brutal battles with an onslaught of menacing enemies. "The biggest challenges in creating this sequel were living up to the high expectations fans have from the previous games and continuing to evolve this series," says lead combat designer Adam Puhl, by way of explanation. "We don't want people thinking, 'Oh well, it's the same game.'"

From a first look at playable code in high definition, the signs are positive. The work this team has put into the game is immediately evident from the bulging biceps of the Son of Zeus to the intricate, gory details as he eviscerates enemies, leaving entrails in his wake (always the best way to go). Factor in the additional development time that's still allocated and, simply put, this isn't your PS2 God of War.

"The challenges we continue to face are all the new tech that we're putting into the game, all that stuff with the Titans, and all the additional levels of detail and brutality that's in the game," explains Puhl. "At the same time, we're extending the gameplay system without extending the complexity of it. The game needs to stay accessible. It needs to stay where everybody can jump in and feel what it's like to play as Kratos."

'God of War III' Screenshot 1

The new Sixaxis-controlled facial massage option is welcome.

The team uses Kratos as the starting point for everything, trying to represent that brutality, that visceral essence, in the combat and in all the fighting (although hopefully not in his extra-curricular shagging). Kratos has certainly never looked this real in gameplay. You can actually see the reflections in his Golden Fleece armor and his scars ripple on top of his muscular body as he gets stompy and wild out in the battlefield, running into crowds of hundreds of armed enemies without a care in the world.

For all the change though, the new PS3 Kratos was actually inspired by a concept painting done for God of War II. It was a painting of Kratos ripping a dead vulture in half, and when he was ripping it in half, he looked so violent it was almost bestial, according to the recollections of art director Ken Feldman.

"I saw that and I said, 'That's how I want Kratos to look in God of War III, that's the way I want the public to feel about who this character is,'" Feldman says. "That drove the way we wanted Kratos to be and that drove the way we sculpted our technology. We have dynamic maps and that's where we're able to blend between these things and really make him feel like he's actually in a battle. We didn't just want Kratos' muscle to bulge. We wanted the player to feel like they're in a battle."

Speaking of which, the new God of War is definitely more blood-soaked than any of its previous incarnations, and that's mostly thanks to the graphical power of the new console. The team used the Titan gameplay from God of War II as a starting-off point for this gory adventure. "If you look at the way Kratos obliterates enemies now, he stabs a guy and it creates a gash in the skin and when you're ripping a Cyclops' eye out, it has tendons trailing behind it," says Puhl, illustratively. "When you slice open a Centaur, its body actually opens up and the guts will spill out. These levels of detail help make the combat experience more realistic." Yes, lovely.

Kratos now has multiple options when it comes to eviscerating the rank-and-file. He can grab a grunt and run him against a wall, crush his skull to pieces, or use him like a bowling ball and throw him into a crowd of enemies. The developer has also updated the contact-sensitive moves. New weapons open up additional attacks. Kratos now has a Fire Bow to set enemies and surroundings ablaze, and he also has the Cestus, a set of chained gauntlets similar to the Gauntlet of Zeus from God of War: Chains of Olympus.

"The theory behind this is that we're trying to get inside of Kratos' head and show his rage and show his anger in these moves," says Puhl. He's cross, is he? "We want the player to really feel it when you're killing these enemies and understand where he's coming from."

The team is also crafting a living, moving world for Kratos to rip apart. The gameplay sequence I'm shown features Kratos standing on the towering Gaia's shoulder as she walks up the side of Mt. Olympus. To offer some Titan perspective, Medusa's Temple from God of War could fit in Gaia's palm on the PS3. But that's just the scale; there's also more depth.

"If Gaia's shoulder moves down, Kratos switches to a completely different stance," says Puhl. "Kratos is going to dig his blades in and go into a wall-climb and grunts are going to fall off of Gaia's arm and as she reacts, Kratos is going to react to all the things that are changing. There are all of these additional levels of detail that we get like depth-of-field and all of the additional tech pieces. If we had put all of that in God of War II, it wouldn't run any more."

'God of War III' Screenshot 2

Return to Centaur.

Feldman also says that God of War III ups the ante when it comes to the enemies themselves. Since the audience wasn't going to be captivated by fighting grunts all the way through, the team set out to create bigger, badder, meaner, and fiercer creatures. "We've introduced new gameplay with these bosses," he says. "We're re-introducing the Cyclops as this almost tank-like thing that you can drive around and destroy. We're offering a more in-depth redesign of some of the things gamers may already be used to."

During the demonstration, Kratos uses his chain-swords to control a Cyclops like a remote-controlled tank and take to the skies hanging on a flying Harpy to cross a large pit. Gamers will be happy to know that God of War III actually puts more control into their hands. This Kratos is capable of feats never before imagined, and players will be able to pull off fatalities that make the Saw movies look like Disney films.

In other words, even at this early stage, God of War III doesn't disappoint your bloodthirsty American correspondent. It's setting Sony up for the kind of killer application that it's after. Now it's just a matter of waiting for the launch date.

God of War III is due for release exclusively on PlayStation 3 late this year or early next. Expect a firm date at E3.

Picture of John.

About John Gaudiosi

Read more articles from John by visiting the John Gaudiosi archive page.

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Comments (69) Latest comment 3 years ago

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  • jamhead #1 3 years ago

    I am looking forward to this. I was even thinking of firing up the old ps2 yesterday just to re-play GOW2 but couldn't be bothered with the faff. Damn you sony and your non BC PS3!!!!

  • Santino #2 3 years ago

    can't wait for this, would love to play through the first 2 again but i can't as i don't want to buy a ps2 to do so :(

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #3 3 years ago

    This year looks really good for PS3 and PSP, Sony have been busy finally getting there games together.

  • FreakyZoid #4 3 years ago

    Some of it sounds almost Shadow of the Colossus-style. I wish they'd shown that off in the recent video.

  • GitSomE_UK #5 3 years ago

    I've never played a God Of War game.

    Is it worth getting GoW 2 to get warmed up for this?

  • NotSoSlim #6 3 years ago

    Sony release all 3 games as a special edition box set. Sell by the millions that would

  • Rash' #7 3 years ago

    by the time i'd played the original my appetite had been spoilt by Ninja Gaiden so i didn't really see all the fuss, but having recently played the PSP version and seen the titans trailer i can't wait for this.

  • FenderMaster #8 3 years ago

    loved the first, found the second a little bit meh... i hope it's not because of Jaffes absence, since afaik, he isn't involved in this one either
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/09 @ 14:30

  • Nova5lag #9 3 years ago

    I hope this is good... but I got so very bored of the PSP version. :(

  • jamhead #10 3 years ago

    @GitSomE UK

    I would play both GoW 1 and 2 if you have time - and it sounds like you do - if this isn't coming out until next year. They both show the ol' ps2 in it's best light and the story is a pretty important to the whole experience. Deffo both in my top 10 favourite games on the system.

  • Wastelander #11 3 years ago

    I LURVE God of War, but those screens at full resolution look rough as a badger's arse.

  • NotSoSlim #12 3 years ago

    @ wastelander

    Game is a long way away

  • asphaltcowboy #13 3 years ago

    @GitSomE UK: It's worth playing 1 and 2 to warm up for this!

    Probably the one game that desperately makes me want to get a PS3.

  • HuggyAtHome #14 3 years ago

    Why not get the first 2 titles on PSN and allow all of us to play this before GoW3 hits - would really build up the hype and probably make Sony a mountain of cash. Plus both of them were fantatstic.

  • Dr.Mott #15 3 years ago

    "loved the first, found the second a little bit meh... i hope it's not because of Jaffes absence, since afaik, he isn't involved in this one either "

    I think it's more to do with the GOWII suffering from "Second-Chapter-in-a-Previously-Unplanned-Trilogy" syndrome.

  • FenderMaster #16 3 years ago

    @ Dr.Mott

    ah, you mean The Matrix syndrome?

    Then the last should blow hardest

  • Vic #17 3 years ago

    Considering the development time remaining, this could set a new benchmark, much in the way that Killzone 2 has.

  • hiddenranbir #18 3 years ago

    Shouldn't he be angry at himself? I mean, let's remember how this all began in GoW. He was a selfish warmonger that wanted to butcher every single inhabitant in this world. In his blood lust he managed to kill his wife and child. Typical that he isn't taking responsibility for his actions.

    Also wasn't his godhood taken away in 2 because he was abusing his powers, causing a lot of unnecessary war in the world? Basically continuing his butchery that got his family killed?

    I want a spin-off where I stop this monster!

  • septimus #19 3 years ago

    High hopes for this. Played God of War 2 on my PS3 and it did look really good for a PS2 game. Scaling works really well with it.

  • gaselite #20 3 years ago

    "Zeus alors."

    Formidable.

  • mcbi4kh2 #21 3 years ago

    @hiddenranbir

    Let me be the first to introduce you to the spoiler tag.
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/09 @ 15:52

  • IneptPercy #22 3 years ago

    This is another game to make it onto my 'must buy a PS3 for' all I need now is another 8 games for that list and a £200 prices tag.

    Eitherway, more of the same in hi-def is good enough for me.

  • ChadSexington #23 3 years ago

    Have you noticed how Kratos only kills mythological beasts? That's racist.

  • FenderMaster #24 3 years ago

    @IneptPercy

    Metal Gear Solid 4
    Flower
    Valkyria Chronicles
    Disgaea 3
    Uncharted 1/2
    Motostorm 1/2
    Killzone 2
    Nobi Nobi Boy
    Resistance 1 (not two)
    Ratchet and Clank

    +the eventual Team Ico sequel

    There, that's more than enough reason to buy one!!

  • Gazza_UK #25 3 years ago

    so wait if he kills all the gods in this one ... what they gunna do in GoW4 (there will be a GoW4!) ? ? ?

  • ChadSexington #26 3 years ago

    BritishBlue: "The violence is too juvenile for me, as is the ultra-macho, emotionless protagonist."

    From that comment, I take it you don't play any games then.

  • FenderMaster #27 3 years ago

    ^^ Kratos long lost bro...

  • Dave52 #28 3 years ago

    @FenderMaster - "Resistance 1 (not two)"

    I thought Resistance 2 was excellent, of course it won't see the light of day now that KZ2 is here.

    I really liked Chains Of Olympus on the PSP, so GOW3 should be a blast...!

  • penhalion #29 3 years ago

    Sounds fantastic. If it has any wiff of a quicktime event, then I'm giving it a miss though. I can still taste the bitter bile that was the end of GOW 2 (Zeus fight) and I ain't wastin' any more of my life going through another one of those nonsense battles.

  • DUFFMAN5 #30 3 years ago

    Strangly I have just started gow II, even though I have owned for well over a year (about 2 hours in) loving it already the first as we all know was awesome. This along with Uncharted 1 and I expect 2 are making me lean towards a ps3, to sit along side my excellent 360.

  • sifujames #31 3 years ago

    Really looking forward to this - GOW3 might be the game that persuades me to by a PS3 (I've held off getting a 360 or PS3 so far). Now Sony need to do the sensible thing and sell this as a bundle with a PS3 for no more then £230 and watch sales go through the roof (unfortunately we all know they won't - it'll still be £300...)

  • Azazel #32 3 years ago

    You can actually see the reflections in his Golden Fleece armor and his scars ripple on top of his muscular body

    Am I the only one starting to notice some kind of pattern with games that can be abbreviated 'GoW'?

  • Svecke #33 3 years ago

    So.... QTEs?

  • zedzee #34 3 years ago

    "By the time God of War III comes out" the PS3 may have - with a little luck - "vanquished".

  • Spekingur #35 3 years ago

    GoW3 will move PS3 consoles.

    All this brutality goes down well in Americaland, I wonder if they have put any sexy things in the game? To cause controversy, of course, for free advertisement.

  • FenderMaster #36 3 years ago

    @ Dave52

    each to his own man, I can see the quality in it, guess it just wasn't for me.

  • infoxicated #37 3 years ago

    I loved GoW 1, but didn't get to play GoW 2 all the way through. Completed Chains of Olympus on my PSP, though, and it was great.

    This will be a day one for me, for sure!

    http://ww w.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/0...

  • Scimarad #38 3 years ago

    I loved God of War but I still haven't got around to playing GoW2.

    I have to say, I think I'd be happier if I was trying to stop Kratos rather than helping him!

  • Burkey123 #39 3 years ago

    @ FenderMaster:

    You left out Littlebigplanet!

    On topic, I've never played a GoW game so I think I'll play 1 and 2 before I get this.
    Edited by 2 at 02/03/09 @ 19:21

  • Obli #40 3 years ago

    GitSomE UK: It's worth picking up GoW1 and 2.

  • FenderMaster #41 3 years ago

    @ Burkey123

    damn, why do I always forget LBP!!

    Amyway... yeah, anyone who says they're waaiting for some PS3 exclusives either needs to do some research, or stop talking out of their arse, it has the best , and most diverse range of exclusives this generation!!

  • KillallHippies #42 3 years ago

    This is probably the worst sentence i have read i years. It pains me to think somebody was paid to write this:

    'Sitting down in Sony's Santa Monica studio to find out, it turns out the story, which picks up right where God of War II left things, has Kratos and an army of Titans out to eradicate the remaining gods Helios, Hermes, Hades and Zeus - a revenge story that sets up plenty of brutal battles with an onslaught of menacing enemies.'

  • rommy667 #43 3 years ago

    Loved the first 2 really are class and this is the one that migh make me get a ps3.................

  • electrolite #44 3 years ago

    Oooh excellent. One of my least-favourite PS2 games is back. How I look forward to those haven't-we-grown-out-of-this-yet bulging biceps in high-def, the charmless, American-teenager targetted characterisation in glorious 7.1 surround sound, and the monotonous Golden Axe in 2D gameplay on a DS3.

    It's what the PS3 was made for (dies a little inside)

  • bad09 #45 3 years ago

    Hmmm, been contemplating trying out the first two before I try this, from the comments it seems I should.

    (my new PS2 and games will be 2nd hand Sony as you'll get nowt from me on that side - you smelly non b/c PS3 gits)


    Edited by 1 at 02/03/09 @ 22:13

  • Pro_Gamer #46 3 years ago

    Protip: If you have not played God of War before, you can complete it with a turbo button controller. Prepare to be dissapointed.

  • shotgun44 #47 3 years ago

    I must admit; bought a PS3 for this exclusive! Actually used my BC model to finally play the second one! I freakin love the God of War series. The scale is actually epic; to use the word in its original context!! Cannot wait!

  • bad09 #48 3 years ago

    "you can complete it with a turbo button controller"

    You call yourself "Pro"_Gamer yet you have knowledge of this thing, this....turbo button controller..????


    *cough* *cough* LOL @ Pro_Gamer

  • Ryze #49 3 years ago

    @IneptPercy

    +1

    @FenderMaster

    er... no.

    @penhalion

    With the addition of motion, these could be less annoying and actually might be decent methods of performing finishing moves, or interacting in cut-scenes.
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/09 @ 23:32

  • Pro_Gamer #50 3 years ago

    A turbo button controller is fine for a game like this. It's not like it takes any skill to play.

  • GitSomE_UK #51 3 years ago

    From the positive comments here looks I'll be getting 1 & 2 ready for this.

    I've no idea how I missed out in this in the first place, I've played just about everything else!

  • JediMasterMalik #52 3 years ago

    Loved all 3 of the previous GoWs, I hope this lives up to the promise, the extended trailer was fucking amazing.

  • JediMasterMalik #53 3 years ago

    It seems "Pro_Gamer" has never heard of a difficulty setting.

  • Pikol #54 3 years ago

    is it running in 1080p?

  • Widge #55 3 years ago

    Go to Pro_Gamer's profile, realise that he spouts the SAME OLD BOLLOCKS in just about any PS3. Assign value of 0 to comments.
    Sorry mate, but if can't communicate past one dimension then everything you say is void.

  • Zebula77 #56 3 years ago

    There's no way this will disappoint, even if they just remake the same game with better graphics, I'll still love it. Obviously, I sincerely hope they revitalize the series and by the looks of it, that's exactly what they're doing. Can't wait!

  • Les #57 3 years ago

    Man, I really need to finish PoP fast and start on GoW 2. And maybe pick up the PSP outing as well. Really loved the first game except for the sections that involved rotating spiky things... ;)

  • andywilkie35 #58 3 years ago

    I'm not a massive fan of hack and slash games, yet I absolutely adore God of War

    Really looking forward to this, think I'll play through the first two again in the run up to release

  • sifujames #59 3 years ago

    @electrolite

    Well seeing as how Sega couldn't manage to do a proper Golden Axe for the HD era, I guess it's up to Sony. Personally, I love the GoW games precisely because they're a throwback to the old 8 & 16bit side scrolling beat em up/hack and slash games - wander along, get surrounded by hordes of enemies, kill them (possibly with magic) and carry on. Lovely. I'm even hoping that Capcom's next project after SF 4 will be a new Final Fight, that's how much I miss those types of games.

  • FladgeMangle #60 3 years ago

    I can't help thinking that it's a little early to do a preview of this game, it's hardly imminent is it?

    I can see a repeat of the over-hyping and impossible-to-live-up-to expectations that have plagued quite a few titles lately. It only serves to generate massive comments threads following the lower than anticipated review scores.

    Oh hang on... nice one Eurogamer :o)

  • TruWari3r #61 3 years ago

    Truth be told, without God of War 2 and Uncharted 2 I'd probably sell my PS3.

  • BobsUncle #62 3 years ago

    So Kratos has big bulging muscles eh? Come on, lets call him gay and start another bandwagon for everyone to jump on.

  • JediMasterMalik #63 3 years ago

    Of course he's gay, he's ancient Greek :p

  • Sonic_D #64 3 years ago

    I enjoyed 1 & 2 to a point and then got bored with the samey combat. There was no real incentive to vary things and the enemies and QTE became dull. Shame really as it could have been much mroe fun.

  • JediMasterMalik #65 3 years ago

    Again, difficulty settings.

  • ChadSexington #66 3 years ago

    @ BritishBlue:

    That's my point - to complain about games having juvenile violence and ultra-macho, emotionless protagonists is like complaining about the sun rising in the morning.

  • Daryoon #67 3 years ago

    Just been playing GoW2 after finding it for a fiver, and all the positive reviews. Have managed to complete the first level and claw my way out of the Underworld.

    Eh, does it get any better? Because so far I've found it to be pretty sub-par. Devil May Cry did this sort of thing much better. They're both juvenile pap, but at least DMC was *fun* juvenile pap. GoW, so far, just feels like a big mess, made by a committee of designers saying "wouldn't it be cool if...?" "yeah, do it! ALL ON THE FIRST LEVEL TOO!" with no regards for decent game design or pacing.

    I'll give it a little bit longer, but currently the biggest draw is the comedy factor. It's taking itself far too seriously!

  • Obiwanshinobi #68 3 years ago

    Personally, I love the GoW games precisely because they're a throwback to the old 8 & 16bit side scrolling beat em up/hack and slash games - wander along, get surrounded by hordes of enemies, kill them (possibly with magic) and carry on. Lovely.

    Yeah, I'd say GoW is about delivering that old arcade goodness rather than Castlevania or PoP goodness. I like it.

    Just been playing GoW2 after finding it for a fiver, and all the positive reviews. Have managed to complete the first level and claw my way out of the Underworld.

    Eh, does it get any better? Because so far I've found it to be pretty sub-par.

    Neither GoW nor GoWII did much for me during early levels. I started to actually like the first one in the sewers, then the desert sold it to me definitely. GoWII became quite magical in that cave where you obtain the bow. Those games are about journey. Just let the child in you admire. Howard and Wagner books, Heavy Metal magazine, Berserk (manga), oldschool brawlers, Another World, Heart of Darkness (game) may not be your things, but here they are all in one, playable package. Even the visual style is pretty much that one of Frazetta or Vallejo.

    I'll give it a little bit longer, but currently the biggest draw is the comedy factor. It's taking itself far too seriously!

    Good God. I found one line by Kratos quite amusing: Let me pass and I will let you live old man. Guess what happened next. I'm not sure how, but God of War manages to be as serious as videogame can be. Almost like The Getaway. Perhaps "comedy factor" just wouldn't work here.
    Edited by 1 at 04/03/09 @ 06:10

  • Les #69 3 years ago

    Well, finished PoP (awesome game) yesterday and started on GoWII. The difference in graphics between PoP and GoWII is of course quite big but after a couple of minutes I had adapted myself again to SD visuals. Must admit though that it is easier with RPGs than action titles (but mainly due to the improved animation in the latter).

    Played it only for a short period, finished the fight with the Colossus and quit at the first save point. Does look promising though.