What is the appeal of OG God of War?

[Lokgamer]

Easy: hack and slash, combos, violence and epicness. A perfect formula for a perfect game.

 

[Zerpina]

I can't think of anything off the top of my head that made anyone like the game...

Joking aside, it was just a fun hack n' slash gorefest, and it was cool for the time. It wasn't some massive strategy or combo chaining series like DMC, but it was simply a game where you could turn your brain off and enjoy the blood and gore. Yes, the mythology was awesome, and it's a well done story, to be sure.

Some people just like this kind of game. I personally liked the first two games..
I never played GoW 3, though I suppose I should. Not like I don't have a jailbroken PS3 and PS4 I could play it on...

though I never cared for the handheld GOW games.

 

[Viviana Santos]

After reading all the comments, yeah, now I actually get why some people like these games. Greek mythology is cool in itself, and the games do have some really memorable set pieces and boss fights. However, I also realized that I’m not the target audience, but thanks to everyone for answering my question.

---

(Just a heads up that I like macho stuff like Berserk and Fist of the North Star)

 

[RetroZero]

Coming from a huge Hack 'n Slash fan (DMC is my favorite videogame series): The simpler combat is actually a positive from og GOW rather than a detriment. Yeah, games like DMC or Ninja Gaiden have a huge depth of mechanics and such, but how many people actually bother to learn them? Look on Steam/PSN/Xbox achievements at the percentage of people that completed DMC3 or any other one of those games above Normal difficulty and take a guess.

GOW is like a more acessible HnS and something i like to play when i want something more chill, not so demanding performance-wise. The spectacle is also a huge part of it. GOW being more streamlined is intentional and the devs knew it, that's why there's so many QTE''S and cinematic finishers. If you don't enjoy playing a game with that focus there's not much that can be done. I myself like both the depth of a more complex game and the wonder of a more basic one provided both are fun enough.

That said, GOW does have more depth to its combat than meets the eye. The thing is, most people probably don't know about it because you don't really need to learn them to perform well. I'd say that's a flaw: There's stuff you can easily overlook even at the highest difficulty because they're easy games. I'd suggest looking at ExtremeGameplays challenge runs if you wanna know more about them. Mechanics like collisions, ring-outs, air/grab loops, animation cancels, i-frame abuse from weapon switching are all stuff that's possible in those games but you won't see many people using or even having the knowledge of their existence because they aren't mandatory for beating the game.

 

[Viviana Santos]

Coming from a huge Hack 'n Slash fan (DMC is my favorite videogame series): The simpler combat is actually a positive from og GOW rather than a detriment. Yeah, games like DMC or Ninja Gaiden have a huge depth of mechanics and such, but how many people actually bother to learn them? Look on Steam/PSN/Xbox achievements at the percentage of people that completed DMC3 or any other one of those games above Normal difficulty and take a guess.

GOW is like a more acessible HnS and something i like to play when i want something more chill, not so demanding performance-wise. The spectacle is also a huge part of it. GOW being more streamlined is intentional and the devs knew it, that's why there's so many QTE''S and cinematic finishers. If you don't enjoy playing a game with that focus there's not much that can be done. I myself like both the depth of a more complex game and the wonder of a more basic one provided both are fun enough.

That said, GOW does have more depth to its combat than meets the eye. The thing is, most people probably don't know about it because you don't really need to learn them to perform well. I'd say that's a flaw: There's stuff you can easily overlook even at the highest difficulty because they're easy games. I'd suggest looking at ExtremeGameplays challenge runs if you wanna know more about them. Mechanics like collisions, ring-outs, air/grab loops, animation cancels, i-frame abuse from weapon switching are all stuff that's possible in those games but you won't see many people using or even having the knowledge of their existence because they aren't mandatory for beating the game.

Holy shit! This is by far the best comment on this post. You did an amazing job explaining the appeal of hack and slash games and even the appeal of God of War. Not only that, but you also pointed out that these games have more depth than I realized. Great job, man!

 

[BrawlMan]

t's pretty easy to label those games and Kratos as just edgy with no substance. This game is about a man that drowned in his own ambition, a general who wanted power above all and ended up paying the price: killing his own family and becoming a puppet to the greek gods. He had his redemption arc going since the og games until his newer games, the nordic mythology ones.

That really only applies to the first game. They fucked up in the sequels, and had to retroactively fix it with the prequel/side games. Ghost of Sparta aside. There was not much reason for me to care about Kratos after II. Not helping matters is that III clearly went way over bending backwards to make Kratos seem like the "lesser evil", and sympathize with him on some level.

 

[Graw]

I played the first two when they were new and didn't really like them. But I don't really like any of those 3d hack n slash/beat 'em up type games. I find them all boring.

 

[TheJoulesThief]

I'll be honest: I think the secret sauce to God of War 1 and God of War 2 is the vibration after every attack. Most vibration in hack n slash games come from getting hit but these games vibrated when you *hit*. It sells the illusion better of being a pissed off dude with 90s a soul patch in Ancient Greece. Otherwise, they're pretty much lighter hack n slash with a sprinkling of RPG elements. I personally love them, but I think 1 actually aged better than 2.

 

[Kovlak]

I never liked the God of War games. I hate games that buttonmash the controller into a pulp and Kratos is a dick. It's just not my thing.

I think God of War works as a guilty pleasure.

 

[beefbowl]

I think God of War works as a guilty pleasure.

I don't think anyone that enjoys God of War feels guilty about it. It may not suit you but it's a cool as hell series. They're not bad games either.

 

[Kovlak]

I don't think anyone that enjoys God of War feels guilty about it. It may not suit you but it's a cool as hell series. They're not bad games either.

I don't mean it like that. I mean that it plays on some of people's worst instincts, like the desire for carnage and being straight evil. And I don't think there's anything wrong with the game, it's just that it works as an escape valve. And it's great for people to release their worst instincts in a safe way.

 

[Tbest25 Tbest25]

I never liked the God of War games. I hate games that buttonmash the controller into a pulp and Kratos is a dick. It's just not my thing.

I think God of War works as a guilty pleasure.

He never meant to be a hero, and in the majority of games he gets punished by his actions.
It's fine if you don't like it

 

[Kovlak]

He never meant to be a hero, and in the majority of games he gets punished by his actions.
It's fine if you don't like it

Yeah. It's fine. I can appreciate how impressive the God of War games are. The old ones and the new as well. The spectacle is unrivalled. They're look like some of the very best games.

 

[fallenhdjhvhjhvf]

Kratos from the Greek franchise was made to be tragic in a non-sympathetic way, a tragic story doesn't necessarily need a likable protagonist or someone you have to root for.

 

[Kovlak]

Kratos from the Greek franchise was made to be tragic in a non-sympathetic way, a tragic story doesn't necessarily need a likable protagonist or someone you have to root for.

You're right, but in my case it's a bit tiring having to watch him being a dick constantly. Eh eh

 

[Michael Frank]

Coming from a huge Hack 'n Slash fan (DMC is my favorite videogame series): The simpler combat is actually a positive from og GOW rather than a detriment. Yeah, games like DMC or Ninja Gaiden have a huge depth of mechanics and such, but how many people actually bother to learn them? Look on Steam/PSN/Xbox achievements at the percentage of people that completed DMC3 or any other one of those games above Normal difficulty and take a guess.

GOW is like a more acessible HnS and something i like to play when i want something more chill, not so demanding performance-wise. The spectacle is also a huge part of it. GOW being more streamlined is intentional and the devs knew it, that's why there's so many QTE''S and cinematic finishers. If you don't enjoy playing a game with that focus there's not much that can be done. I myself like both the depth of a more complex game and the wonder of a more basic one provided both are fun enough.

That said, GOW does have more depth to its combat than meets the eye. The thing is, most people probably don't know about it because you don't really need to learn them to perform well. I'd say that's a flaw: There's stuff you can easily overlook even at the highest difficulty because they're easy games. I'd suggest looking at ExtremeGameplays challenge runs if you wanna know more about them. Mechanics like collisions, ring-outs, air/grab loops, animation cancels, i-frame abuse from weapon switching are all stuff that's possible in those games but you won't see many people using or even having the knowledge of their existence because they aren't mandatory for beating the game.

This is how an actual take looks like ladies and gentleman, take notes before you leave the classroom.
And you RetroZero, congratulations my man:

You are invited to the cookout, because that take was made by a 5 stars chef good chap. Have an screenshot (Ghost of Sparta btw).

 

[bombatomba77]

I always got the "makes you feel powerful" vibe from the game. But keep in mind I never played anything but the demo, so I am a real outsider. GoW was never really my bag.