PlayStation 4 owners have been treated to some phenomenal exclusives since the console released in 2013. The likes of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Bloodborne, Horizon Zero Dawn, and InFamous: Second Son are all standouts in their genres and will be remembered as the best the console has had to offer. The most recent exclusive game, Sony Santa Monica’s God of War, has received incredible critical praise, but where does it rank among other PS4 exclusives? Be warned, there will be some mild God of War spoilers ahead.
Gameplay
The God of War games have always been gameplay focused. From the series’ debut in 2005, the gameplay was all about gruesomely slashing your way through the Greek gods in cinematic set-pieces. It was always satisfying, but never very deep. 2018’s reboot, however, made the action smaller in scale, for the most part, focusing on what made the combat satisfying and why Kratos was a fun character to play as. The throw and recall attack with the Leviathan Axe is arguably the most satisfying single action in any recent game, yet there’s more to the combat than casually chucking an axe about. The enemy variety, which sees enemies be weak to certain types of attacks or elements, means you have to think about how you approach every encounter. The weapon upgrades, and entirely new weapons that you get later in the game, give you more options in each situation.
This is similar in other PlayStation 4 exclusives, like Horizon Zero Dawn, where each enemy has their own attack patterns and weak-points for you to exploit. That isn’t so much the case for the likes of Uncharted 4 where, while some enemies are more powerful than others, tactics don’t come into play on the same level.
The way each area of gameplay is connected so seamlessly in God of War also stands out. Weapons are often used in puzzle solving, and the father and son relationship is also a key part of combat, adding depth to both the action and the story. That’s something that makes God of War’s combat stand out among Sony’s other exclusives. Fighting bosses in Bloodborne certainly adds to your understanding of the game’s world, but in Uncharted 4, the climbing, shooting, and puzzle solving are usually separate sections of the game, doing little more than filling in the gaps between cutscenes. That’s not to say that those aspects aren’t great individually, quite the opposite in fact, but few games have the feeling that everything connected quite like God of War.
Story
While a gameplay shake-up was almost expected for God of War’s return, a change of tone and a move to a more emotional story came as more of a surprise. Kratos was always quite an unlikable character. He was perennially angry and had no relationships that led you to caring about him. Framing the new game’s story around his relationship with his son, Atreus, changed that completely.
The sternness and temper that make Kratos who he is weren’t lost, but nuance was given to his personality that shed light on his struggles with anger and making close, personal connections. The father and son’s journey to scatter their wife/mother’s ashes isn’t just about Atreus growing up and learning to cope in such a dangerous world, but about him and Kratos learning from each other. At the start, Kratos is rather dismissive of his son and has quite unrealistic expectations of him. As they spend more time together, Atreus’s emotional side rubs off on Kratos and he learns to be more understanding and a figure of guidance rather than fear. Their journey is compelling from start to finish, and a relationship unlike any we’ve seen in other PlayStation 4 exclusives.
The wider world outside the protagonist’s relationship is just as masterfully presented. The vastly different realms of God of War, and how they’re connected, create a world that feels ominously huge. The small personal moments and the vast, dangerous world combine perfectly, keeping the experiences fresh and the journey interesting.
The tale God of War tells, and how it presents its characters, is arguably more impressive than that of any other PS4 exclusive. Story and characterization are the stars of the Uncharted series, making Nathan Drake the most recognizable face in the world of PlayStation, but A Thief’s End’s story is the culmination of four games. Through spending time with Drake and his friends for 10 years, the ending is given emotional weight. However, the fact that God of War was able to elicit similar emotions from us over the course of one game is more impressive. To take a protagonist very few people cared about on an emotional level and turn him into someone deeper and more relatable is an incredible feat.
Visuals
PlayStation 4 exclusives are always stunning. Bloodborne, InFamous: Second Son, Uncharted 4, Horizon Zero Dawn are just a few of the beautiful games you can only play on Sony’s console. Santa Monica’s God of War certainly belongs on that list of visually impressive games. The design of its world makes it a game that’s always going to look great. The differing themes of each realm, such as the icy walls of Helheim and the mystical pathways of Alfheim keep the visuals surprising. Color plays a hugely important part in the design of those realms, creating a tone that matches its general theme. Areas such as the one surrounding Freya’s home are jaw-droppingly detailed, with the vibrant colors of each and every flower standing out.
The game’s cinematic presentation also helps maintain the general sense of awe. From the incredible first fight with The Stranger at Kratos’ home, to the dragon interactions later in the game, the set-pieces are on the scale of blockbuster movies. The single shot camera, that doesn’t cut from main menu to credits, also keeps you engrossed in what’s happening on screen, with the sweeping camera movements keeping the focus on the world.
Due to the quality of other exclusive games, God of War probably doesn’t stand in a league of its own. The linear structure of the likes of Uncharted 4 ensure that the detail is as high as possible, especially during cutscenes, and Bloodborne’s mastery is in how it creates an atmosphere through its visuals. Horizon Zero Dawn’s visuals are probably the most immediately striking, with the world that’s been overrun by nature combining beautifully with the futuristic creatures that roam it. The particle effects that see the snow swirl in the Northern woods and the tall grass that sways as Aloy stalks a robot are stunning, especially when playing in 4K with HDR.
Conclusion
Of course, which PlayStation 4 exclusive you consider to be the definitive best is a matter of taste. The dark tone and punishing difficulty of Bloodborne may put some off, Uncharted 4’s lovable cast of characters and perfect ending might keep it at the top spot, while the wonderful combat of Horizon Zero Dawn ensures that it’ll be in contention for most people.
What is most impressive about Sony Santa Monica’s game is how it takes the series forward in every aspect. The single shot presentation highlights the beauty of the world, Kratos is finally a character we can care about and his relationship with Atreus is compelling, the combat is deep and satisfying, and there’s so much to see and do. Of course, story-focused action games will have to be a genre you enjoy, but the overall quality and the surprising leap forward it is for the series means that it should be considered as one of the very best exclusives available on PlayStation 4.
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