Part two of Sony's series of God of War director commentary videos is up, and it's a look at the game's first boss fight. It's another great bit of insight into the development of the game, in which Cory Barlog talks about lighting, snow tech, and how he hinted at things to come at this very early stage in the story.
The fight against "The Stranger" is an excellent primer for the rest of the game, and part of what makes it such a satisfying bout is its sheer length. It goes on for about 15-20 minutes, or possibly longer if you're struggling. It's surprising to learn, then, that the fight was initially two or three times the length of the finalised sequence, which would've taken the first boss encounter to potentially an hour or so. Of course, as with everything in game development, iterations and cuts brought the fight back down to what we've ended up with.
Give the above video a watch if you're interested to learn more, but beware: Barlog doesn't hold back on spoilers.
[source youtube.com]
Comments 30
I think they got it just right.
So three times as many cutscenes. Thank God this didn't happen.
I think it's the right length as well. Definitely one of the highlights of the game.
@CK97 If you watch the video, a lot of the cut-scenes during the fight were to cut the time down. The original plan was that these were interactive - in that you were the one that controlled the punches etc. The cut-scenes also helped compress the fight down...
I love these videos...hope they do some more!
Anyway, I think that first boss fight is perfect! No need for it to be longer...
I seriously can't wait for the sequel, I think it will be so good...the ideas and theories running around, also my own theories, make me hyped! Wish it was announced soon xD
One of the most memorable boss fights I've had in recent years. The way the landscape gets torn apart as you fight really makes it feel epic.
@BAMozzy so they ignored at least giving some kind of agency to players to break the flow of battle with a cutscene. K.
I haven't played it yet, but an hour is just too long for a boss fight. What you all say sounds about right for how long it is. Only an end-game possibly JRPG (with 50 forms) boss should be an hour lol. And even then, I don't know.
Was a tough fight, almost dropped the difficulty setting. Havent faced the guy again yet, but I'm sure I'll die a lot.
@CK97 It sounds like you haven't played the game to be honest.
@Jaz007 Yiazmat says hi.
I just felt like it was trying way to hard to wow me and wanted to get it over with 😂 I know, i know, I need to get over myself!!
I'm so glad they cut it. It does not even feel like a real boss fight (it is more similar to a cutscene honestly) and it is far too long even as it is. Honestly I didn't like this part of the game that much, it becomes boring and trite soon. At some point I felt like I was watching one of those filler episodes in Dragon Ball Z...
The game is fantastic but it has some flaws, and this is one of the worst imho.
@CK97 I prefer the way they did it tbh, it's good to have a bit of a cool down moment before you go again. Besides if they added those interactive parts in then people would complain about too many QTEs so they can't win either with some apparently.
I was already thinking it went on maybe a little too long, can't imagine it needing to be any longer.
I played on normal, and I died once right near the very end, and it was nice they put me back just before that, otherwise it probably would have seemed really too long if I had to start over.
The Stranger is an interesting character. On the one hand I think he's great and should have his own videogame, reminds me a little of Dante from Devil May Cry and John Constantine from the NBC Constantine TV show. On the other hand he's the lamest GoW boss I've ever fought and having to do it 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 times whatever it was never interested me and I kept waiting to get to the real final boss battle. Which should be awesome when the second half of the game comes out.
It felt too long for me, so relieved when it was finally over. Felt like a superhero movie.
Too long? Filler from DBZ? Ruined flow of battle?
Balls to this nonsense, and one of the reasons why we rarely get epic things like the amazing stranger fight. It is an absolute blast.
Can't complain man, the fight was epic and loved every second of it...
I have to admit that the final time you face "The stranger" near the end of the game is the only time I had to drop the difficulty level. Don't judge me
@themcnoisy When playing it I thought "Yes, I FEEL like a god of effing war here!" and the fact that the stranger was able to just take it and kept coming back for more made him feel like a real threat. Absolutely loved it.
@Nightcrawler71 That's more of a spoiler than his real name TBH...
The first fight was so epic and that was just the beginning. There are so many great moments in this game, a true masterpiece.
@CK97 So edgy. But don't worry, if this game is not for you (assuming that you actually played it), there are plenty of others to choose.
One of the best boss fights of all time and that is coming from someone who is a souls and final fantasy fan
Strictly speaking, the troll was the first boss. But it's an interesting point about the Stranger, regardless. I thought the fight was amazing; I played it on hard, and the third stage took me a few tries. Was just right.
I may have been expecting too much as a long time GoW fan regarding boss battles. I thought in between cut scenes the battles went on to long and that almost every cutscene should have given you some control of the action like they do in spots in the later battles.
I’m not saying bring back QTEs even though I like many from the past GoWs but some evolution of it. At least with the old one you felt like you had an impact on every part of the battle while with this one I felt like the controller was taken away multiple times. I was also not a fan of any battle that felt like Dark Souls where you did chip damage as that did not feel like GoW at all.
I thought it was a deffs cool fight but not super amazing, the boss fight on the way up the mountain though... easily one of my most memorable ones ever, the ending where it drops down around you in simply breathtaking
@bbtothe Wasn’t that one basically all QTEs though?
@doctommaso nah i mean the battle going up on the small circle lift and on the ground with the dragon, then when it comes crashing down and your left standing in between its jaws as they slam down around you, my favourite moment in the game
@bbtothe Oh that was a nice moment, yeah.
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