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Crytek nabs ‘God of War: Ascension’ director

God of War: Ascension multiplayer
Image used with permission by copyright holder

God of War: Ascension director Todd Papy has left the loving embrace of Sony Santa Monica for a job at Crytek, heading up an unannounced game. The new gig was first spotted on Papy’s LinkedIn page by All Games Beta, though the dev subsequently confirmed his Sony departure in a brief Twitter exchange. After letting one fan know that the fate of God of War hero Kratos is now in Sony Santa Monica’s hands, he decided to move on because he “needed a new adventure.”

Crytek remained relatively quiet after the 2011 launch of Crysis 2, but the studio came back in a big way in 2013 with the releases of Crysis 3Warface, and, mostly recently the Xbox One launch title Ryse: Son of Rome. Papy’s new job appears to be with the studio’s Frankfurt, Germany location (based on his Twitter profile). Crytek Frankfurt took a lead development role on all three numbered entries in the Crysis series, as well as the first Far Cry and Ryse

Another Far Cry is definitely out, since that franchise is in Ubisoft’s hands. Could Papy be working on Crysis 4, or perhaps a Ryse follow-up? Both are possibilities, but it could just as easily be a new game altogether. The Crysis series hasn’t managed to hit the heights that the first game did in two sequels and a spin-off, but it’s a franchise that Crytek is likely to stick with. 

Given Papy’s background with God of War, a Ryse follow-up seems a more likely fit for him than Crysis. Of course, this could also be something completely new. You never know with these wily developers. 

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Adam Rosenberg
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…
How to transmog gear in God of War Ragnarok

2018's God of War was the first entry where Kratos would get new pieces and sets of armor that not only altered his appearance but his stats as well. Prior games had some unlockable costumes, but these were purely cosmetic and rewards for players who beat the game or did certain challenges. This concept is certainly not new, but one feature that has been growing in popularity in titles with multiple armor sets, including PlayStation's own Horizon Forbidden West, is transmogrification.

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God of War Ragnarok shares a key strength with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Hafgufa flies away in God of War Ragnarok.

God of War Ragnarok’s main story is memorable, but some of the smaller moments are what have stuck with me most since completing it. I'm not just talking about its moments of quiet, but its optional Favors as well. These sidequests can be entirely ignored, but skipping them is a mistake as they contain some of the game’s best scenes. It's a trait that God of War Ragnarok shares with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, one of the best RPGs of the last decade.
In some large RPGs, sidequests can often boil down to boring fetch quests, or they simply may not have as much polish put into their writing. As a result, they can feel like content bloat that does more harm than good to the game’s pacing. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and God of War Ragnarok avoid this problem by elevating these sidequests, making the entire adventure feel more cohesive and ensuring that the small moments stick out as some of the best.
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Like God of War Ragnarok, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt features a lengthy main story full of memorable characters, set pieces, and boss fights. While those alone would have made it a strong RPG, it’s remembered as an all-time great because of how rich its world is, something that's reflected in its side content. There were quests like Ghosts of Past, which pays off the character arc of Witcher 2 character Letho, but it's entirely possible to finish the game without ever seeing it.

Others, like Return to Crookback Bog, turn what could just be some fun supernatural fights into a chilling tale about abuse and broken families. While The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s main narrative is strong, these side moments are what make it a game that sticks with you years after release. I can already tell the same will be true of God of War Ragnarok, as some of my favorite missions in the game are entirely optional Favors.
An early game Favor called The Weight of Chains sees Kratos, Mimir, and Atreus freeing a giant Lyngbakr sea creature that Mimir imprisoned while working with Odin. They manage to break its chains, but find that it now struggles to move and do what it used to. This sidequest takes a series of somewhat standard combat encounters and puzzles and spins them into critical aspects of a memorable tale. The Weight of Chains reflects on how Kratos and Mimir’s reckless actions have had irreversible consequences, but they now have an opportunity to be better people in the future.
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In the past, Kratos was perfectly fine fighting his way through monsters and gods alike bare-chested. Perhaps in his older age, or due to the new, chilly climate he finds himself in in God of War Ragnarok, he has taken to wearing a variety of armor to better protect himself. Aside from looking cool, these armors also add different buffs to Kratos' stats, allowing you to tweak your build to better suit your playstyle. That being said, there are a ton of armors in the game to find and upgrade.

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