A series of "leaked" images allegedly pertaining to the highly anticipated upcoming "God of War 4" game has surfaced online, featuring a number of interesting design updates to its iconic protagonist. The leaks also suggest a particularly interesting premise for the upcoming game - the Ghost of Sparta taking on the gods of Norse mythology.
Considering that the previous entries in the franchise saw Kratos battle and kill the majority of the Greek pantheon, the move toward Norse mythology, with its plethora of gods and other deities, seem like a very logical choice.
In fact, it could be noted that David Jaffe, the director of the previous "God of War" games, has actually announced before that the creative team has been considering Norse mythology for some time.
Such speculation seems pretty accurate, as a number of the leaked images seem to indicate locations such as Alfheim, the land of the faeries that appears to be represented as a sleek stone city, and Vanaheimr, a location that seems to be filled with lush forests that interact actively with the player.
Perhaps most notable, however, is the design update to the protagonist himself, as the leaked images show the iconic Kratos with a full beard and a set of pants. His weapon, or at least the one shown in the leaked images, also appears to be changed. Instead of his trademark dual blades, Kratos seems to be holding a one-handed axe, which he uses to cut vines and other flora in Vanaheimr's forests.
"God of War 4" had been announced as far back as PlayStation Experience 2014, with Creative Director Corey Barlog confirming that the game was already in development. After that announcement, however, updates to the project's progress has been very scarce.
The "God of War" franchise stands as one of PlayStation's most lucrative and iconic console exclusives, responsible for a huge influx of revenue for Sony's console when the games were released. Featuring an engaging storyline, innovative gameplay and the main character that is far beyond the normal level of awesome, it quickly became one of the most recognizable games of all time.
However, the last title in the highly successful franchise was released three years ago. In the world of video games, a follow-up title has been long overdue.
As of writing, Sony has not confirmed or denied the validity of the leaked images. The original post featuring the leaked images have since been taken offline.
