God of War Laufey (Image: Santa Monica Studios)
The beginning of this month saw the announcement of the newest mainline entry in the God of War franchise, God of War: Laufey.
It is currently available for Wishlisting, and the PlayStation Store page for the game offers the text:
“Experience the next chapter of the legendary God of War franchise – for both new and returning fans alike.
Death was supposed to be the end, but for Laufey (Faye), warrior and wife to Kratos, a new adventure is just beginning. Awakening unexpectedly in a strange land after her death, Faye discovers the plans she put in place to protect Kratos and Atreus in her absence are now at risk.
To save the ones she loves, Faye must fight through the afterlife of the gods – the Everywhen – where ruthless gods from across mythology vie for power in a land overflowing with dangerous magic. Harness Faye’s speed, control, and relentlessness to overwhelm even the fiercest of foes with decisive, deadly precision.
God of War: Laufey is coming soon to PlayStation 5 consoles.
Wishlist now.”
Brought to us by Santa Monica Studio, this new installment will have fans play as Faye as she fights her way through an unknown realm teeming with deceased gods and mythological creatures. Fans have already gotten a glimpse of two of the gods she will clash with – Begtse and Sekhmet.
This game promises to bring “Faye to the forefront — exploring the humanity, strengths, and flaws of the person whose legacy was beloved in the minds of many.”
Deborah Ann Woll will be reprising her role from God of War Ragnarök and portraying Faye once again. She will be accompanied on her quest by Rue, played by Perlina Lau, and Phranque, played by Jack Quaid.
Rue is the enchanted ribbon guardian of the sword Faye will wield, and Phranque is a cosmic cube that will do what he must to protect his friends and the creatures of the Everywhen.
Faye has been established as the Golden Hand of the Jötnar, and the developers have “built her combat to maximize lethality, power, and fluidity.” The combat system in this newest game will fuse the classic features of the original Greek trilogy with the strengths of the modern Norse era. Faye will be much more mobile than Kratos, easily taking fights in the air, as well as on the ground. This will allow players to explore many new defensive and offensive tools in their encounters.
Players will also have access to Faye’s magical prowess to aid them in battle since the Everywhen is flowing with the oldest of magic, and thus, enhances magical abilities. Faye can now strike her golden palm at an enemy and knock their soul out of their body. This can allow her to attack the soul directly, push it into other foes and unlock a plethora of combos and creative uses for people to discover.
The official PlayStation Blog confirms that “speed, control, and relentlessness define the tempo of Faye’s combat. Building and maintaining momentum from one attack to the next, across the ground or into the sky, she creates a relentless onslaught against her foes.”
The official announcement page on the PlayStation Blog contains an interview with God of War: Laufey’s Game Director Ariel Lawrence and Santa Monica Studio’s Head of Creative Cory Barlog, where they discuss the reveal, the inspiration for a Faye-centered story and the future of the series.
There is also a featurette that provides a more detailed breakdown of Faye’s introduction and journey, from God of War: Laufey’s Narrative Director Jimmie Myers and Lead Writer Elize Morgan.
The team at Santa Monica Studio promises to have “crafted an experience that has given [their] team incredible opportunities to take exciting creative swings, while staying true to the pillars of the God of War series.”
While there is no confirmed release date yet, more information will be provided about Faye’s adventure and the gods’ afterlife in the months to come.
The announcement concludes with the sentiment:
“On behalf of everyone at Santa Monica Studio and all our partners working on God of War: Laufey, thank you so much for watching the announcement video. We appreciate all the support fans have shown this series over the last two decades and hope you enjoy what we’ve got coming next!”
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