I was playing Solitaire the other day with an old pack of dog-eared playing cards my family used to take on caravanning holidays in the Peak District. It was the only way I could avoid the ever-encroaching creep of multiplayer modes in games.
That’s not true, it’s a facetious story I made up to poke fun at game publisher’s urges to include multiplayer modes in every game they can these days. Of course, the good ol’ multiplayer mode is a blatant attempt to stop people from trading the game in, as well as leverage some extra DLC cash from your sweaty little paws but publishers and developers are still intent on trying to make us believe that they’re genuinely trying to add something with the inclusion of the same Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Horde modes that every other game released in the last five years has got.
Every now and then, though, something comes along that might genuinely add something new to multiplayer online gaming. God of War might just be the series to do that. Consider it for a moment. Yes, initially the inclusion of multiplayer sounds like another tack-on job that will take away resources from the single player mode but God of War exists in a genre that doesn’t naturally suit multiplayer modes. By necessity, if nothing else, they’ll have to be innovative about it.
Todd Papy is currently preparing to live stream some new info about the game (today at 4PM, UK time) and he promises to have more then.
Update: Some more info has just come through in the official press release. It’s competitive multiplayer, up to eight players online or offline and it’s set in Kratos’ past (as is the main game, of course). Players can customise (and, I assume, upgrade) their dudes and will align themselves with one of four ancient gods – Zeus, Ares, Poseidon or Hades in order to earn their favour and unlock new customisation options.
Here are some very pretty rendered images:
Source: US PS Blog
Bilbo_bobbins
Why would GOW be the series to add something new to MP? I don’t understand. All I can think of is Co-op levels.
colossalblue
because Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch wouldn’t really work in those gameplay mechanics (although Horde mode is practically made for it). So, as I wrote above – they might have to innovate in order to get MP modes that work with that style of gameplay.
Bilbo_bobbins
Even Horde mode is not new though. I cant think of something else other than Co-op personally, like you said DM TDM just wont work, so something new has to be done, hopefully.
Tuffcub
I bet it will about as good as the Dead Space 2 multiplayer.
zb100
Did Dead Space 2 have multi-player? ;)
Forrest_01
Yaaaaay – Shoehorned mp FTW!!!!111!!!
Omac_brother
If by multiplayer, they mean Co-op, Im all over it. If by Multiplayer, they mean epic battles as Pre-GOW1 Spartans across massive Dynasty Warrior style maps, I will bite. If by Multiplayer they mean, tacked on Ass Creed style MP, I give up.
Kevatron400
I think the AC multiplayer is quite novel in its own way – all the hiding ‘n’ whatnot.
Smallville2106
Oh dear
mrfodder
So an image of possible multiplayer map and could be fun. Run around and hack ‘n’ slash each other.
mrfodder
* saw
cc_star
GoW is my favourite Sony franchise, my initial reaction is that I’m disappointed.
I’m sure all sorts of marketing speak will come out today about why this is good news for people who buy the game, all I can think of is that it’s good news for publishers who will no doubt bring in online pass and all sorts of DLC money-making opportunities for themselves.
Forrest_01
Exactamundo.
KeRaSh
I can’t see this working unless it’s proper coop (not just a horde mode). Maybe they are running out of ideas for a great single player experience.
Nickboss1
Yes! Cant wait.
kjkg
Tenner bet they don’t do any form of splitscreen. Gone are the days when I could play a game with a real friend, in my room.
Bilbo_bobbins
This is missed massively for me, I love split screen gaming.
colossalblue
online or offline – up to 8 players. Possibly not split screen though, all on one screen – arena style? So you can keep your tenner ;)
ProjectJAY
Read IGN’s preview, they confirmed there’s no split-screen.
Bilbo_bobbins
boooooooo !
colossalblue
maybe they just didn’t bother playing long enough to unlock the split screen mode before they wrote about it.
Sick burn and all that.
stage1
Wouldn’t mind split screen if it has local multiplayer