Upcoming PS4 exclusive God of War makes several big changes in comparison to the PS3 games. The PS4 game is based on Norse mythology, rather than Greek, and it will feature Kratos making parenting choices for his son. But this isn’t the only major difference that fans can expect.

In a new interview with the Official PlayStation Magazine (Issue #140, October 2017), God of War game director Cory Barlog confirmed that the game’s upgrade path would be getting an overhaul too. Barlog tells the publication that the team wanted to “leave behind” the classic upgrade path mechanic and the way that players would go into a menu to select the upgrades, as a way of “developing” the character of Kratos.

Instead, developer Sony Santa Monica Studios worked on “a way to contextualise it more in the world,” creating a system that was more fun. As such, the dwarven duo of Brokk and Syndri (they created Thor’s hammer, according to Norse mythology) will be responsible for Kratos and Atreus’ upgrades. They are there “to help you upgrade as well as develop your combat perspective [new moves and specials] for the two main characters.”

As Barlog has previously explained, Kratos’ new axe has story significance, and so it seems fitting that the characters behind his armoury hold narrative weight too. The God of War game director reveals that the two dwarves “tie into the overarching theme” as they are in a “family feud.” Brokk and Sydri haven’t spoken to one another in 50 years and they just “complain about each other and blame each other for the loss their ’talent’ and their abilities.”

As players progress through the game and interact with them, they will learn more about their story. “Through the interactions between them you are able to fully understand and actually help change the arc for each of these characters.”

Changing anything about a new series release, especially for such a beloved franchise like God of War, is always a risk. And Barlog does admit that after the game was announced at E3 2016, people told the developer that “this is not God of War, this is going to fall flat, this is really bad.” With the game not set to release until the new year, the verdict is still out on whether all of these changes will pay off, but right now it certainly sounds like its a step forward for the series rather than a step back.

God of War is slated to release sometime in early 2018 for PlayStation 4.

Source: Official PlayStation Magazine UK