Even God of War?s splash screen is part of its one, long, continuous shot.
Kratos glowers, ax in hand, at one of the birch trees that his wife Faye marked with a golden handprint before she died. “New Game” and “Settings” are superimposed on the trunk, the handprints of developer Santa Monica Studios. Select “New Game” and you?ll take control of Kratos, prompted to swing the ax to fell the final log for Faye?s funeral pyre.
Plenty will happen to Kratos and his son Atreus as they journey from their one-room cabin to the highest point in the realm. The shot that begins with Kratos brandishing his ax will capture everything that follows. Even after the exiled God of War and his son have scattered Faye?s ashes, as they saunter down the mountain? developer credits flashing by? the camera remains a constant. As Kratos and Atreus head back into the open world, campaign finished, the tape keeps rolling. Much was made about God of War?s no-cut camera upon release. Critics praised the decision for its sense of intimacy and its ability to deliver an elevated intensity. Whatever happened to Kratos happened to the player. It provided the feeling that we were following the father and son from the beginning of their journey to the end.
Let?s be clear: all of that is true.
Unending Shot, Unending Story
Little attention has been paid, however, to the way God of War?s no-cut camera ground its unbroken open world story. Most folks who have completed a nonl...