Game Info
GAME NAME: God of War: Ascension
DEVELOPER(S): SCE Santa Monica
PUBLISHER(S): SCEE
PLATFORM(S): PS3
GENRE(S): Action
RELEASE DATE(S): 14 March 2013
If it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it. Right?
This is what I’ve been struggling with ever since previewing the start of God of War: Ascension‘s single-player campaign. After three core console titles and a couple portable ones too, the God of War franchise is well established. There’s no denying it works, nor that it’s a huge seller for Sony.
The problem is, the first thing I thought when playing through the opening thirty minutes of Ascension is that it plays like every other GOW game. It’s pretty as hell, but it’s still “Circle, Circle, Circle, Square, R1.” Rinse, repeat. There’s gore, there’s over-sexualisation, and for me, there’s that fifteen minute learning curve where I throw Kratos about in every direction because I forget that the right-stick is for dodging, not camera control.
As I was taking part in any one of Ascension’s numerous battles, I found myself wishing for more weapon variety, as in DmC: Devil May Cry, or an efficient parry or block system as I’d just experienced in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. The truth is, it’s not to be found in this fourth console iteration of the popular franchise. And why would Sony Santa Monica take that risk right now, on the cusp of a next-gen console that would be a more suitable platform for massive innovation in the franchise’s main campaign?
The risks that Ascension takes are in its new multiplayer, and while you can tell that there’s been a lot of time and effort put into this new campaign, its still the same old God of War. That’s not to say that being like the other GOW games makes Ascension bad… it just makes it samey. Fans of the franchise are most likely itching to bust some heads with Kratos, and fighting the Furies in Ascension will let you do just that.
Regardless of whether or not the game needs change moving forward, Ascension is a polished, traditional experience and will resonate with fans of the franchise. If you want change, give multiplayer a try, and lets hope Sony Santa Monica can push the franchise even further next time around using the power of the PS4.
Am I being too harsh? Too judgemental? You can head to the PlayStation Store right now and grab the same demo I got to play. Have a go and tell me what you think of me assessment of Ascension.
God of War: Ascension comes out on 18 March for the PS3. Head back soon for our full review.
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There is no y button on the ps3….. Atleast not in this galaxy
Very true. Fixed. Thanks for the heads up on this innocent mistake.
Lol, 'y' button? After playing the demo, some of the controls have been changed and certainly on the harder setting you can't get away with just bashing the buttons, you couldn't get away with it God Of War 3 either. God Of War fans don't want a lot to be different, that's why they love God Of War. Personally, I can't wait for more of the same.
Thanks, re: the "Y" button mistake. Fixed! I hope I didn't come off as too harsh… it's a very refined franchise, and while I'm sure it's exactly what fans want, I think some innovation will still need to be considered in future. Fair points though!
PLEASE READ STEVE! This preview is full of nonsense and fabrications., I'll explain.
You didn't even bother to try all/most of the new attacks. Did you even manage to upgrade your weapon to see the new combos + parry system (WHICH IT DOES HAVE!)? And there will be MUCH more weapons, items & magic in God of War: Ascension than any other GoW game and certainly DmC + any other game in the genre.
God of War now has world weapons (sword + spear in the demo, stun enemies with a kick so they drop their weapons), physical attacks (kicking + punching), clicking the left analogue sprints which does special moves with circle + triangle and square. L1 + O does a slam attack, seamless weapon switching by hitting O mid combo (with either a physical attack or whatever sub-weapon you have), the new tether mechanic, the new sliding platforming sections, new navigation system, promptless mini-games and a completely overhauled rage meter system & combat. Then there's a whole lot more to come in the final game, we haven't even been able to play with any magic yet (unless you played the total recall demo and had a small taster of the life cycle magic) and we haven't seen the wonder-tech in action or any other items/magic and all of the blades elements.
And your problem with forgetting the right analogue is for dodging is your folly. The automated camera in the God of War games is just so much better than player controlled cameras. First of all using the right analogue to dodge is a lot more comfortable than pressing two buttons simultaneously/ doubling up other buttons, the games looks more cinematic due to the way the camera pans around and frames the gorgeous vistas, the camera shows you where you should be going and why would you want to burden yourself with constantly having to adjust the camera when the game can do it perfectly fine for you?
The automated camera is one of the reasons God of War games are so amazing to play! I can't imagine it any other way without feeling it'd be a significant downgrade.
What other game in a AAA franchise that isn't a reboot has evolved its core mechanics as much as God of War: Ascension has from God of War III this generation? Nothing else comes close and Sony Santa Monica deserve some recognition for it.
Before you cry for them to do something new maybe you should play past games and pay attention to all the changes we've already seen in God of War: Ascensions demos let alone what will be present in the full game. A lot has changed and everything else has been improved to perfection.
So yes, you are being way too harsh and judgmental and should play the demo again and try out everything it has to offer. Also bear in mind this is the beginning of the game where the combat system is at its most basic VS. God of War 2 & 3 where you start off with every move available before you lose it all. I managed to upgrade the blades level 3 times in the demo (took me 3-4 hours) and the depth of the combat is as deep as DmC but more accessible making it much more enjoyable.
I’ve absolutely read what you’ve said, and have the following in reply:
1. I played the first 30 minutes, as stated, and my opinions of the game read as such. If I didn’t get to see an upgrade system, I can’t write about it. That being said, we’ll of course experience and consider the functionality you’ve mentioned in our full review.
2. We’re going to have to agree to disagree about perfect camera angles too.
On the whole, you’re proving my opinion correct in that die-hard fans — of which I\\’d assume you are, if you’ve got the nickname of Kratos — will get the most out of this. Some of that is just being able to see the subtle nuances.
At any rate, thanks for your opinion… but “nonsense and fabrications”? Again, going to have to disagree with you on that one as well, mate.
Cheers!
Steve