The launch of God of War Ragnarok is finally upon us, and while we know that the game has received one of the warmest critical receptions of any game in recent years, some developers at Sony Santa Monica were "freaking out" as recently as just three months ago.
In an interview with GQ UK, Ragnarok director Eric Williams discussed the difficult process of getting the project out the door, noting that "you never hear anyone say, 'the second time I climbed Everest, it was easy". We imagine following up on something as beloved as 2018's God of War can't be either, but Williams remained confident in the studio's abilities, maintaining that "when you work with people that are at the apex of what they do, you're going to get magic."
However, not everyone on the team was so sure the game was where it needed to be. Williams recalls the feeling of doubt some developers felt, saying that "they were freaking out three months ago, 'Holy crap, the game's not good. What are we going to do?' I can't even imagine how they feel today. I wish I had a time machine to go back and feel like that."
Currently sitting at a very healthy 94 on the review aggregator site Metacritic, God of War Ragnarok is the second highest-rated PS5 game of 2022, beaten only by Elden Ring, which itself sits on a lordly score of 96.
It just goes to show that even developers at the upper echelons of the industry doubt themselves from time to time. Hopefully, if the critical reception didn't already, the response of fans will reassure those at Santa Monica Studios that they had a hand in creating something truly epic.
What do you think of Williams' words and of the doubts some developers felt ahead of the launch of God of War Ragnarok? Let us know in the comments section below.
[source gq-magazine.co.uk, via ign.com]
Comments 16
I guess it's just about how high the standards you set for yourself. Never change SSM
I suppose its a combination of high standards and natural self doubt, I don't suppose anyone is ever truly sure of how their work will be received.
For what it's worth I played an hour or so this morning and whilst it's seemingly more of the same so far in what is very early in the game, though that same was already very good
@carlos82 I played about 4 hours last night, more of the same and then some. Plenty new things to do in the opening few hours that weren't in the last one.
I went to bed once I reached the first new Location, sucks being an adult and having to go to work sometimes 😂
As an artist, you constantly find yourself doubting your own work, even when completed, you're viewing your work with skepticism, acknowledging and fretting over the tiniest details that may not seem important to others, but it sticks out like a sore thumb to you. You constantly look back at your work thinking "I should have done this" and "I could have done this", wanting to constantly improve to the point you start to look for issues with your work that ain't there, I do that with every piece of art I've ever done, always improving but always accepting there's room for improvement, even if others think what you've done is perfect as is.
It’s easy to doubt yourself. It shows that they wanted to create something incredible and thinking it wasn’t “good enough” meant that they wanted to make the very best game they could. Doubting ourselves especially with something like creativity is tough to think “is this good?” When it comes to ourselves, we tend to think the worst.
Played for 2 and a half hours blown me away already hooked me in.Playing 120 fps silky smooth gameplay epic story so far Santa Monica my favourite developers thank you.
I reckon it's like when you spend 2 hours cooking a meal. You lose perspective and end up a bit underwhelmed in your creation, thinking of all the stuff you could have done differently or added to it, even though everyone else loves it.
As a creative it's difficult to be objective when you are so close to your work for so long. You can see some things are good and say "that's a badass moment" or similar but it's difficult to know if it's REALLY good as a whole, or more accurately, whether other people will really enjoy it. Comes with the territory.
@JustPlainLoco 100% agree. They will still be thinking what they didn't do. But you stow that away to try and do better on the next project. Always learning, always self-critical, the life of an artist.
This is honestly the best Sony exclusive ever. the game is really packed with content and the story with it's epic moments engaged me throughout the game.
I wish I could personally thank the studio and everyone involved for their tireless effort into making a masterpiece
@MightyDemon82 yeah I was in work for 7:30 this morning so just did the first part around his house. I've just had 2 days off as well, bloody Wednesday launches 😂
It just arrived! Currently downloading the day 1 patch, good to go shortly but have some work to finish first. Soon Boy!
@SamMR. Not only sony best exclusive ever.but easily one of the greatest games ever made. Kratos the g.o.a.t. 🐐 👑. Elden ring vs god of war ragnarok for game of the year.2 of the best games ever made.word up son
God of War 2018 was already tied for my 3rd or 4th favorite game of all time, I constantly interchange between it and Bloodborne, but 7 hours into God of War Ragnarok, and it's looking like God of War Ragnarok is set to dethrone God of War 2018 as my 3rd or 4th favorite game of all time, it really is that good.
@playstation1995 what will you do when you finally play GOW Ragnorok if it isn't one of the greatest games ever played ?
Surely you haven't played it ??
@KingPev. Oh word.fun fact god of war 2018 is game of the year and one of the best game ever made.whether i play it already i already know that god of war ragnarok is one of the best game ever made.kratos the g.o.a.t 🐐 👑.word up son
They were right.
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