God of War Creative Director Explains Importance of Boats in the Game
Cory Barlog, the creative director of the new God of War, has clarified the importance of boats in the game in a recent interview. They’re going to be an important narrative tool, in the sense that they’ll provide some quiet moments and changes of pacing. And, if you really think about it, boats fit the new setting of Nordic mythology much better than swimming would.
As any ardent fan of the God of War franchise, I absolutely can’t wait to sink my teeth into the new game. The Nordic mythology is also right up my alley. However, I’m especially curious to experience the new, darker, more quiet tone of the game. From what I’ve seen and read about the game, it seems to be taking a drastic turn from the cheesy, over-the-top feel of the previus game into more serious, somber waters. And, apparently, boats will be a major aspect of this new approach.
In a recent interview with Game Informer, the game’s creative director Cory Barlog spoke more about the importance of boats in the new God of War. According to his estimation, we’ll be spending somewhere between 25 to 30 percent of the game on boats. Initially, it was supposed to be swimming, but ultimately, the developers decided on using boats to get across bodies of water instead, as swimming would require too much in resources. Even though the boats apparently became somewhat of a running gag for the team, they will likely be a pretty important narrative tool.
According to Barlog, there won’t be any special mechanics for the boats. He said: “It’s not a sailing simulator. It’s not the focal point of the game.” Instead, they will provide us with quiet moments to really take in the game. We’ll likely also be able to interact with Atreus for some father-son bonding, as much as Kratos can do that. Or, as Barlog puts it: “You can slow traversal down and you can change the pacing and interaction style and point of view. All while having these moments that you probably couldn’t get in any other situations.” Of course, boats will be available to you whenever you need them, so that they wouldn’t detract from the game. It all sounds so different from the original games, and I’m very much hyped to see where the new God of War will go.
