Day 12 of Game Design-Streaming Some PS4 Greats

Today two games were streamed on twitch. Both of them are renowned mainstream games renowned for graphics, gameplay, and story. They are both critically and commercially acclaimed. Looking at these PS4 exclusive gave us an idea was a learning experience.

The first game that we watched was Ghost of Tsushima.

This is an action-adventure game based on a character named Jin Sakai, the head of the Sakai clan. The game begins with the character taking a stand against the Mongolian invasion that is trying to take over their island. The battle ends with Jin left for dead. After he is nursed back to health, he goes out to recruit allies.

The game’s loyalty to its apparent inspiration can be seen. The game gives the option to switch to English voice acting but the Japanese one is so great that it brings authenticity to the game. The movement of the character depicted that samurai-like discipline that lends it more credibility.

The gameplay was a fascinating adrenaline rush. The initial tension in the stealth section was exhilarating. The kills executed in the shadow gave a nice feeling of achievement, even though I was not watching it. The open combat was great to look at. On the surface level, it looked as if it required careful planning, unlike some hack and slash games.

The samurai-showdown was reminiscent of the standoffs in the spaghetti western movies where the cowboys had showdowns.

The second game we looked at was God of War (2018).

It was a massively anticipated game before its arrival. The previous games took place in Ancient Greece but this game transitioned into Norse Mythology. This game follows Kratos, the last God of War in Ancient Greece, and his son, Atreus. They have to spread the ashes of Atreus’s mother from the highest peak of the nine realms.

The inclusion of Atreus as an A.I companion added things to the gameplay and story as well. Atreus helps Kratos in his way during combats and helps to look for things during exploration. In the story, we get to see how Atreus has changed Kratos. Now a man in fatherhood, his character has lost his violent aggression from the previous games and is showing a new side to his personality. This seemed like a redemption arc for Kratos and an opportunity to show character development for one of the most popular characters in gaming history.

The combat of the game has changed. It has retained its simple combat but now he yields a heavy axe called Leviathan. Enemies come in and Kratos kills them off. However, the inclusion of RPG brings something new to the table for the existing fanbase. I have only one word for the environments inside the world: Majestic. The detailing with a vast open area to the world of Norse Mythology will surely keep people hooked.

As I could watch only 1–2 hours of gameplay, I can’t comment on it. However, based on what I had seen, It was great.