Reinvention, revolution and reboot – three words that get thrown around a lot by games developers and publishers.
They may excite games journalists eager to get clicks, but they often fill gamers with dread, especially when the game about to get one or more of the three Rs applied to it is one that holds a special place in the hearts of fans.
God of War is one such series loved by legions of fans. It all started with 2005's God of War on the PlayStation 2, which introduced the world to the hyper-violent protagonist Kratos. Over seven games, Kratos slaughtered his way through a fantasy world inspired by ancient Greek mythology. The over-the-top violence and jaw-dropping set pieces helped to make the series a critic and fan favourite around the world (the earlier games were not approved for release in the UAE).
When word came that Sony was planning a new, unnumbered entry in the series that would do away with many of the things that had defined God of War, fans were understandably concerned.
But it turns out that all those worries were for nothing – God of War (2018) achieves that rare feat of updating a classic in a way that makes it even better than it ever was.
So, how exactly do you revitalise and reinvent a beloved franchise while keeping its existing legion of fans happy and also drawing in new ones? The recipe followed by Sony’s Santa Monica Studio goes something like this: add copious amounts of facial hair, one tiny companion, a new main weapon and camera angle and an entirely different mythology to mine for characters, creatures and story inspiration.
Combine it with incredible graphics and a voice actor who seems to have been born for the job (Stargate SG-1's Christopher Judge), and wait for the critical acclaim and record sales numbers to come streaming in.
The new game is defined as much by what it takes away as by what it adds: gone are the classic dual blades, replaced by a magical axe that takes more than a little inspiration from Thor’s magical hammer, Mjolnir. Throw it at enemies or other objects, and it stays there until you summon it back to your hand.
Greek mythology is out, and Norse mythology is in – and it’s obvious the visual artists involved had the time of their lives bringing various aspects of the latter to life in creative and often astounding ways.
God of War has to be the best-looking game of this console generation, and certainly on the PS4. It looks even better on the PS4 Pro, especially when using the "Favour Resolution" mode while playing on a 4K television.
Yes, the tech on display here is amazing, but it is used in service of the art instead of the other way round, resulting in something truly aesthetically pleasing instead of merely being arresting for its technical achievement.
The visuals are accompanied by an amazing soundtrack courtesy of composer Bear McCreary (Battlestar Galactica, The Walking Dead, Outlander) that provides the perfect musical backdrop to this epic yet incredibly personal adventure.
The fixed cinematic camera used in the previous games has been replaced by an over-the-shoulder camera. All the action, from start to finish, takes place in one shot, with no cuts or fades, and this helps to create a sense of intimacy in keeping with some of the new themes: that previously mentioned tiny companion is Kratos’s son, Atreus, and it turns out that being adept at killing monsters does nothing to prepare you for the challenges of fatherhood.
Atreus helps you during combat, and his abilities grow just as yours do. The combat is weighty and visceral, with difficulty levels ranging from slightly challenging to Dark Souls-esque.
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Read more:
God of War approved for UAE release
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While God of War has undergone a revolution, it is paradoxically also a throwback: it's a single-player-only game in an age where multiplayer is all the rage. There's not a single loot box in sight, and it plays perfectly on day one – no need to wait for weeks or months for the developer to bring out a patch to fix issues that should never exist in a game's final release form.
It will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the defining games of this generation.
Marvel's Thor-wannabes, and fans of action games or Norse mythology will have the time of their lives. But be warned – it's not for children or those who don't enjoy Game of Thrones-levels of bloody violence.
God of War shows just how far gaming has come since 2005, and if even only a handful of other developers can apply the lessons on display here to their own games, then we're in for an incredible few years.
God of War was released in the UAE last month
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The five pillars of Islam
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
History's medical milestones
1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery
1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place
1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill
1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Ibrahim's play list
Completed an electrical diploma at the Adnoc Technical Institute
Works as a public relations officer with Adnoc
Apart from the piano, he plays the accordion, oud and guitar
His favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach
Also enjoys listening to Mozart
Likes all genres of music including Arabic music and jazz
Enjoys rock groups Scorpions and Metallica
Other musicians he likes are Syrian-American pianist Malek Jandali and Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou Khalil
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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The biog
Full name: Aisha Abdulqader Saeed
Age: 34
Emirate: Dubai
Favourite quote: "No one has ever become poor by giving"
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
FINAL LEADERBOARD
1. Jordan Spieth (USA) 65 69 65 69 - 12-under-par
2. Matt Kuchar (USA) 65 71 66 69 - 9-under
3. Li Haotong (CHN) 69 73 69 63 - 6-under
T4. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71 68 69 67 - 5-under
T4. Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 67 73 67 68 - 5-under
T6. Marc Leishman (AUS) 69 76 66 65 - 4-under
T6. Matthew Southgate (ENG) 72 72 67 65 - 4-under
T6. Brooks Koepka (USA) 65 72 68 71 - 4-under
T6. Branden Grace (RSA) 70 74 62 70 - 4-under
T6. Alexander Noren (SWE) 68 72 69 67 - 4-under
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km
Price: from Dh362,500
On sale: now
