It’s hard to fathom that it’s been over a year since God of War got its hooks into gamers and shook them wildly with a fresh, innovative take on the ash-clad Spartan we’d grown to know over the course of a franchise. It was considered by many, including us, to be the Game of the Year in 2018 so it’s no surprise that Santa Monica Studios has gone to some effort in developing a wonderful, feature-length behind the scenes documentary that showcases just how much work went into developing God of War.
Scott Rhode’s blog post detailed the project in more detail:
“After nearly three years in production, and 400 hours of footage, please follow this cinematic journey of second chances rooted in family, sacrifice, struggle, and doubt.”
“The ultimate goal was to go beyond a ‘making of’ piece and dig deeper into the experiences of those who spend relentless time and effort into making something great. All creative endeavors, especially those of this magnitude, require an incredible amount of dedication and focus that constantly toe the fine line that separates both success and failure. The hope is that once people see the experience of Santa Monica Studio unfold on the screen, they will recognize the undying passion for their work and the incredible respect they have for their craft.”
It’s a two-hour peak behind the curtain at the journey of Barlog and his team and it’s truly wonderful viewing. We rarely get afforded access like this in this industry and I hope other publishers and developers allow us this kind of opportunity in the future.
If you’re not in the midst of replaying the game yourself, re-reading Shannon’s review might change your mind.
