God of War III Catch-All

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With an influx of new information rumored to be released today, I figured I'd throw up a catch-all for this eagerly awaited game. Anyone else stoked for this?

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Known facts:

  • Kratos journeys to the Underworld, specifically Tartarus.
  • Game will run at full 1080p HD resolution.
  • Gaia is six times the size of Colossus from GoW2.
  • The franchise will continue beyond God of War 3, but the trilogy will have some kind of resolution.
  • Kratos is four times as detailed in the sequel; 20,000 polygons over God of War 2's 5,000-poly version.
  • Players begin the game with many abilities from previous God of War games unlocked.
  • New weapons will provide more contrast to the standard Blades of Chaos. The Cestus gauntlets, seen in the first trailer (below), were given as an example.
  • Up to 50 enemies on screen--an increase over God of War 2's 12-15 limit.
  • Enemies will now coordinate attacks, arrange themselves in formations, and jump on Kratos to weigh him down.
  • Titans--the massive god-like creatures from previous games--are now dynamic, "living, breathing characters," rather than background setpieces.
  • Since the gods are angry with Kratos, he now draws his magic powers from a supernatural source. Ooh.
  • Kratos can now control some monsters, such as the Cyclops, in vehicle-like fashion.
  • Future DLC packs are seen as a possibility.

God of War 3 trailers via GameTrailers.com

Screenshots:

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IMAGE(http://sev1512.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/pressannc14.jpg)
IMAGE(http://sev1512.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/pressannc12.jpg)
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Doh you beat me!

DAAAAAAAAAAMN : O

Kinda wanna buy a PS3 now... Was that actual gameplay or just a cut scene?

The lion gauntlets look kinda dumb but the game looks good. I've never played a GoW game and this makes me want to

Mex wrote:

Was that actual gameplay or just a cut scene?

#1 is a cutscene. The rest are gameplay shots.

Mex wrote:

The lion gauntlets look kinda dumb but the game looks good. I've never played a GoW game and this makes me want to :)

Agreed. Not sure how I'm going to like the gauntlets.

The first 2 GoW's are pretty awesome. I can honestly say without doubt that so far, this series has gotten better with each sequel.

Of all the supposed "PS3 SYSTEM SELLERS!" that have come, gone, and failed God of War III actually looks like a legit contender to move boxes.

That's HAWT.

1Up has posted a big story, too.

http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cI...

I don't know that any major graphics-heavy game this generation renders at 1080p. A number of high-end games (like Halo3) actually render at arbitrary resolutions substantially below 720p. Then, the video output circuitry resamples the video signal up to 720p or 1080p or whatever the desired output is.

So, I'm pretty skeptical of the 1080p claim. And I've got an eye for fine grain detail, so these things are important to me.

That said, the video clip was really impressive. If the game delivers on its promise, it might induce me to buy a PS3.

Makes me wish I could afford a PS3. Kratos is one of my favourite characters. Unabashadly angry at everything. He's like an emo-kid that did something his pain. Unfortunately for the world that was killing everything. *punches a baby* THE GODS MADE ME THIS WAY!

Obviously these are early screenshots but I'm finding myself a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, the game looks really good. But God of war 1/2 set new benchmarks for art execution and didn't rely on following trends. In these shots, it looks like Santa Monica is comfortable including the trendy amounts of bloom and depth of field; not a problem in itself but their implementation of depth of field is lacking and I'm sure they could use more tasteful levels of bloom. Look at these shots from 2 and show me where they have pushed the visuals besides fidelity.

God of War 2 screens:
IMAGE(http://www.journaldugamer.com/images/2006_08/godofwar2_05.jpg)
IMAGE(http://www.absolute-playstation.com/gp2a/god_of_war_2_hr_2.jpg)
IMAGE(http://freeki.es/imagenes/normal/God%20of%20War%20II_6083.jpg)
IMAGE(http://files.playstatic.com/ps2/god-of-war-2/thumbs/colossus0005.jpg)

I'm sure these guys are under a lot of pressure to get this game out ASAP, but I don't want to play that game, I want to play a refined, awesome looking murderfest.

I've only played GOW on the PSP so I'm stoked for this game. It looks absolutely gorgeous.

I have no doubt God of War III will move systems off shelves. How many, who knows, but it should certainly have a measurable impact.

I don't care for the series, but from an objective standpoint that's a solid list of new additions to the franchise with this one and some outstanding visuals. PS3 gamers who like the God of War games are in for a big treat.

I will play this title.

Anybody else get that funny feeling in their guts as Kratos dished out the familiar combos?

Please lose the f*cking Quick Time Events. Please lose the f*cking Quick Time Events. Please lose the f*cking Quick Time Events.

Who am I kidding. They'll probably even throw SIXAXIS motion crap into the mix.

This is going to be a system seller for me.

polq37 wrote:

I don't know that any major graphics-heavy game this generation renders at 1080p. A number of high-end games (like Halo3) actually render at arbitrary resolutions substantially below 720p. Then, the video output circuitry resamples the video signal up to 720p or 1080p or whatever the desired output is.

So, I'm pretty skeptical of the 1080p claim. And I've got an eye for fine grain detail, so these things are important to me.

That said, the video clip was really impressive. If the game delivers on its promise, it might induce me to buy a PS3.

A small group of tech people at Sony Santa Monica actually started working with the PS3 in its current-at-the-time incarnations at the beginning of the dev-cycle for God of War 2. It's possible they'll get the game running at 1080p. Considering they're not announcing the release date until June, and considering that all other God of War games have released in February or March, it's quite possible there's still about a year's worth of development time left.

The Cestus (lion gauntlets) look very similar to the gauntlet from Chains of Olympus, which was so awesome I actually used it more than the blades.

I'm ridiculously excited. I can't stop watching the trailer. God of War is one of my favorite all-time game series. I bought a PSP mostly for Chains of Olympus, and I knew I was going to be getting a PS3 for God of War 3 even before I knew about MGS4-exclusivity or Heavy Rain or LittleBigPlanet.

Mr.Green wrote:

Please lose the f*cking Quick Time Events. Please lose the f*cking Quick Time Events. Please lose the f*cking Quick Time Events.

Who am I kidding. They'll probably even throw SIXAXIS motion crap into the mix.

Interview with God of War 3 director.

God of War 3 preview.

Sony didn't show any tilt control features for the game at the press event, though that doesn't necessarily mean there won't be any in the game. "We're talking about it," says Papy, "but I think what we're probably going for is a little bit more visceral. So if you're ripping something or doing that kind of stuff [it could work]. Because the really fine motions...suck."

I actually like the QTEs in the God of War games.

MechaSlinky wrote:

I actually like the QTEs

That's it. You and I, we're done.

Mr.Green wrote:

That's it. You and I, we're done.

Professionally?

Man, I dunno what's up with GameTrailers, but it keeps crashing my browser. Chrome, Firefox, and when I tried it in Internet Exploder, simply trying to copy paste the link crashed it.

Crashes on me also. Now I'm infused with the rage of the gods. No big, I can watch on youtube or something.

Mr.Green wrote:
MechaSlinky wrote:

I actually like the QTEs

That's it. You and I, we're done.

They're done really well. Plus, the games are so ridiculously epic that the QTEs are always filled with something awesome to watch. If they were just cut-scenes, that would be fine with me, but I don't mind the occasional button-press. I get so immersed in the games that pressing O to stab something in the eye feels satisfying as hell. I wouldn't want the whole game to be QTEs. I just think they've been done sparingly enough that the few times they're done, they're alright.

The only other games I've ever liked the QTEs in (excluding music games) has been the Shenmue games, but that was entirely because I was just happy to finally be doing something.

In the first game, the medusa QTEs were the only ones that really got on my nerves.

I'll probably buy this when it comes out despite not having any previous experience with the series.

Then I'll probably trade it in after the QTE's piss me off.

MechaSlinky wrote:

They're done really well. Plus, the games are so ridiculously epic that the QTEs are always filled with something awesome to watch.

You see, that's the thing. You don't get to watch anything because you're only focusing on the part of the screen where the freaking button icons show up. There's nothing satisfying or fun about that, it's lazy game design and it's the number one cause of global warming. You don't get to justify QTEs to me, pal.

I get to watch everything, because I don't focus on the buttons. That's because I'm totally awesome.

I'm not saying they're the greatest invention ever created, I'm just saying that when they're in God of War, I find them unobtrusive and I tend to wail on the buttons so hard that I feel like I'm about to break the controller.

I wouldn't consider it lazy game design. It would be if it was most of the game, but it's only sprinkled in in a few places. I'm not really counting the minor-enemy-specific ones that keep popping up, like the medusa ones that Quintin mentioned (I agree, they could be a pain), as you don't have to do those. They're just optional insta-kills.

Anyway, during the big ones, like at the end of a boss fight, I would assume the choices are either cut-scene, QTEs, or absolutely nothing. I assume they want it to be a QTE to give you something to do and make you feel like you actually had something to do with taking the boss down. That's fine by me. If it was just a cut-scene, that would probably also be fine with me. I just don't want to flail the blades around a bunch and then the boss falls down, end of fight. I want Kratos to rip its frigging brain out! If I have to push a button every 15 seconds to see that, cool. Totally doesn't hurt the game at all for me.

Therefore, I like them.

I prefer the ones that require you to mash on a button over and over real fast, though. They feel more interactive.

Started playing through GoW again with the goal to complete it followed by GoW 2 to freshen up on the story and psych myself up for GoW3 and I have to agree with Mecha. The QTE's are unobtrusive and fun. They are placed close enough to where the action is happening so that you can see the progression of Kratos' fight with the enemy as you proceed through button presses or stick rotations.

Speaking in gaming terms, I'm not against the idea of QTE's. It's basically a dynamic button combo. When you get down to it, GoW and games like it are glorified button mashers and more often than not, people latch onto one or two combos in particular and use that as their meat and potatoes throughout the rest of the game, completely ignoring the other dozens of combos available. QTE's keep you on your toes, test your reflexes, and ensure that you can't mindlessly plow through the game repeating square, square square, triangle, triangle, triangle, ad nauseum.

What's also cool is that if you fail a QTE, most often you're just knocked away with a chance to try again. Think of when a Medusa turns you to stone. You have a chance to shake it off. Or when you're traversing a rope and an enemy falls only to catch your foot and you have to shake the stick to kick it off you. Essentially, these are the enemy's version of QTE's and they failed so you get a chance to knock them away just like you get knocked away if you fail a QTE.

I like them as well and I think they're a natural evolution of interaction in these types of games. They can't be pretty button mashers forever. The genre needs some innovation and in my opinion, these are a natural progression. I hope one day we'll look back at QTE's being a necessary stepping stone to groundbreaking improvements in these types of games.

More pics courtesy of 1UP

Looks like you get to use Icarus' Wings?
IMAGE(http://www.1up.com/media/03/6/8/2/lg/037.jpg)

Fighting a Centaur.
IMAGE(http://www.1up.com/media/03/6/8/2/lg/038.jpg)

Blinding enemies with the gauntlets.
IMAGE(http://www.1up.com/media/03/6/8/2/lg/035.jpg)

Mr. Congeniality himself.
IMAGE(http://www.1up.com/media/03/6/8/2/lg/034.jpg)

MechaSlinky wrote:

I prefer the ones that require you to mash on a button over and over real fast, though. They feel more interactive.

YOU REALLY NEED TO BE STOPPED!

GUAAAAAARDS!

I'm never going to stop until you have an aneurysm.

Mr.Green wrote:
MechaSlinky wrote:

I prefer the ones that require you to mash on a button over and over real fast, though. They feel more interactive.

YOU REALLY NEED TO BE STOPPED!

GUAAAAAARDS!

I gotta go with Mecha on this one. The "hammer the O to drive your blades into a minotaurs mouth" QTE was always satisfying; it just felt right. The medusa one was ok by me as well. I think the thing that they did so well with the QTEs was matching the controller event with the onscreen event (to a degree, at least). I'm trying to force my knife down while someone is trying to keep me at bay; I pound on the button. I'm trying to tear someone's head off; the circular stick movements feel appropriate.

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