Back and Forth – Uncharted 4
Inspirations God of War Takes From Other Big Games
Naughty Dog has surely had a huge influence on God of War. The Uncharted series, in particular, can be felt in the way characters interact in God of War, and the way the story is told through periodical back and forth between Kratos and Atreus. This is a technique that Naughty Dog helped to pioneer and refine over the years, polishing it to a fine sheen in Uncharted 4. You learn a great deal about the game, its world, its characters, by simply listening to a conversation as you traverse the environment.
God of War uses it most effectively in its boat segments, with Kratos often muttering ‘stories are for the boat, boy’ when pressed on a subject. It’s a great way of adding context to the journey and extra character development in the quieter moments between the violence, gore, and monster slaying.
Speaking of the game’s quieter moments for a second, God of War’s puzzle sections are also very reminiscent of those used in the Uncharted games. They involve a lot of moving blocks, triggering switches with light and solving rune puzzles. They almost always play off of the dynamic between Kratos and Atreus, requiring both of them to progress. Uncharted fans will be right at home here, as the series has always placed a lot of agency on its companion characters to assist in puzzle solving. God of War puts its own spin on it of course, with Atreus able to shoot arrows, and the fact that Kratos can practically lift buildings, but the trademark Uncharted puzzle style is there at its core.
