There was speculation of a new protagonist based on the findings from the clues in the game. Nothing concrete of course, but I countered that with SSM stating recently that they have more ideas for Kratos. So to me, that means Kratons confirmed.

The article is below if you didn't see it. What I got from that was Kratos + PS4 = fuck yea!

Sony Santa Monica: “I Think There’s Still Life in Kratos,” PS4 “Feels Like a Significant Boost”

March 8, 2013 Written by Jason Dunning

Now that development for (sexist?) God of War: Ascension has been completed and the game is going on sale next week, just what Sony Santa Monica will be doing next is a question many people, myself included, want answered. Are they going to  create something on PlayStation 4? Is it going to be another God of War game? Will they start a new franchise? 

To get an answer, CVG caught up with Jason McDonald, Lead Combat Designer, and Mark Simon, Lead Game Designer, on God of War: Ascension, specifically asking them what Sony Santa Monica is working on next:

We actually don’t know what we’re going to be doing after Ascension.

While that answer is more than a little anticlimactic, we did find out last year that Sony Santa Monica was working on an unannounced new IP that may feature vehicular combat, and could be something that is headed up by God of War 3 director, Stig Asmussen. It’s entirely possible that the team working on that new IP is separate from the God of War devs though, so the Kratos side of SSM truly may not know what project is coming next.

Until they start work on a new game, God of War: Ascension will be getting a lot of post launch attention, something that Mark says includes “DLC and supporting multiplayer.” We do know that some of the DLC is going to include free multiplayer maps, but if the whole team is still working on the game, maybe we’ll see some single player content?

As for the character of Kratos, who will be starring in his sixth PlayStation game on Tuesday, Jason and Mark were asked if they thought they could take him any further:

Mark: I think there’s still life in Kratos. He’s a fun character to design games around and I love playing him.

Jason: Yeah, I think the fantasy of Kratos is always compelling. There are not many characters that are like him.

Finally, the guys were asked what they thought of the PlayStation 4 when it was first unveiled:

Jason: Well, the first thing that hit me was just the power of it. It’s been a long time since the last generation started so it feels like a significant boost. It means that certain scenarios and ideas that we shied away from in the past, because they were too technically demanding, can be re-examined.

Mark: The thing is, when you look at the specs, there’s no way you can say ‘oh there is clearly this thing missing’. As if any games studio in the world would be saying ‘oh no, eight gigabytes of GDDR5 memory is not enough’. I mean, holy shit, how are going to use all of that?

 

http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2013/03/08/sony-santa-monica-i-think-theres-still-life-in-kratos-ps4-feels-like-a-significant-boost/

Intresting read that confirms my idea that God of War without Kratos is not God of War.

Agreed. My only concern is that SSM will try to reinvent the wheel and possibly fuck up one of my favorite series, but then again, those guys are wizards so I'll put my faith in them. They seem bummed from the reviews of Ascension, but I can't blame them. They'll probably use that as the motivation they need to make the next game something of legend.

I think it is always good to try new things in games as long as they maintain the core feel of the game, in this case EPIC STUFF!!!.  The fact that GOW formula still works till today (not for most reviewers by the looks of it), is that the first GOW was such a revolutionary game for the action genre, that even if you did not change it much, but optimize it then it can still feel fresh.

God of War: Ascension is an awesome game, but I think that for the next trilogy, they need to start with a bang! and it needs to be as revolutionary as GOW1 was, so some things must be added and changed in order to do that.

I think the best way to go is to do the game bigger in scope, and bigger in general (20-30 hrs SP mode).  I think it would be cool if it  could be more open.   Not "Skyrim open", but more open.  With areas similar to the area in GOW1 of the desert, but a bit bigger, and with caves to go in an explore. :D....and lots of EPIC boss fights.

I don't want another MGS with Solid Snake either. He's done as well in my book. Loved MGS4, I want him to rest forever.

Also: I'm not saying smoke Kratos. I simply want him around a lá MGS2. Even MGS2 didn't use Solid Snake but he was there! You saw him through the eyes of Raiden!

Or they could just give Kratos a new motive and new weapons. But I still want that new mythos. The elemental school effect of "Omg Zeus and Hades and stuff, Ive heard of these guys!" just doesnt work when you talk about guys that are so deep within the Greek Mythos :P. And I want this to become true so badly =>

No, my foregone conclusion would be a 10/10 ^_^

The campaign is a 8/10 which I compare to Ghost of Sparta (a PSP game!).

GoW1 in my book is a 9,
GoW2 which is a 9.5 perhaps even a 10,
and GoW3 a 10. (Im a sucker for that epilouge)

But the MP saves it by adding a +1.

So yeah, have to disagree :P. It could have been better and with SSM I never really felt like that.

But then again: The MP is also something I never expect from SSM

Thanks for reading!

Im a huge Uncharted fan and I love Drake. Want more of him etc: But the Uncharted cast could seriously carry their own game (if needed to) :P

Uncharted: Adventures of Sully or Chloe or hell even Cutter would work! I swear :P

I'd be all over a Young Sully adventure xD

Isn't GoW about the story but it got a 5/10 and yet the overall game got a 9/10? Sure gameplay and sound etc... are important factors but I'm quite sure the story matters the most thus should be weighted more heavily in this type of game. ( My opinion obviously)

Good review. From what I've played so far (On chapter 14), I completely agree with you about the story or lack thereof. All too often, I have to ask myself, "What is Kratos doing here again?", whenever I kill a boss or get to a new area. Other than that, this is the best God of War to date.

Not when it's a prequel that we already suspected does nothing but tell a story that is unneeded to begin with.

Regardless => I'd argue the actual adventure, gameplay, moments and audio visual part of the game is the highlights throughout the series. The story is what motivates you to continue but in this game: The actual environment acts as a pay off in of itself. The narrative lacking doesn't entirely hinder the game as much as it technically should. It's just too much of a bliss to play and see what happens next.

Some would argue GoW2 and 3 have shitty stories (which I disagree with) but ultimately the game still stands as a joy to play.

They nailed nearly everything somewhat aside from the story and its not the actual story that is bad. It's the way it is told. The narrative is lacking and the overall story isn't that filled with content as previous entries. Compared to other GoWs it is by far the worst. But the rest of the game is up to par and even beyond.

As I summed it up =>
God of War: Ascension does not ascend the story of Kratos in any way but it does offer an uplifting singleplayer campaign with some memorable moments and a very refreshing multiplayer which ultimately adds a lot to the game.