God of War III, an acclaimed action title from the PS3 era, receives a PS4 remaster with enhanced resolution and frame rates. The key question is: how well does this classic hold up?
Upon receiving the review copy of God of War III – Remastered, the original’s impact felt surprisingly fresh. Back in 2010, the PS3 Slim was highly sought after, and Sony’s Santa Monica Studios delivered God of War III, a visceral spectacle featuring the Titans and Kratos’s assault on Olympus. The tragic Spartan Kratos remains a notable figure here at the editorial office. While his morality and limited emotional range – largely between anger and rage – may be questionable, the bloody narrative retains its entertainment value and intrigue. This is largely due to the game’s stylish presentation, leveraging Greek mythology and cinematic storytelling centered around passion, violence, and revenge. God of War III (GoW III) concludes a trilogy detailing Kratos’s transformation from the god of war (after defeating Ares in the first installment) to his quest for vengeance against Olympus.
The wave of PS4 remasters since 2013 is significant. While economic factors undoubtedly play a role in re-releasing PS3 classics, the PS4’s lack of backwards compatibility is also a key consideration. Some players may have discarded their previous consoles, and a new generation of gamers has emerged for whom five years is a considerable timeframe. Furthermore, the PS4’s enhanced hardware offers the potential for a superior technical experience. However, the value proposition of a technical update to a last-gen title remains a pertinent question.
Given our prior coverage of the God of War series, this review will focus primarily on the technical improvements in this remaster. The most significant upgrade in GOW III – Remastered is the enhanced graphics, with the resolution increased to the PS4’s native 1080p (from 720p on PS3). The game also achieves a consistent 60 frames per second (fps), a welcome standard for modern titles. The 60 fps framerate not only provides a smoother visual experience, but also improves responsiveness in gameplay. The original PS3 release occasionally suffered from frame drops during intense combat, with the framerate dipping as low as 20 fps. The Remastered version maintains a stable framerate regardless of on-screen action, and loading times are minimal, even from disc. However, Santa Monica Studios has largely refrained from extensive manual revisions. Unlike titles such as Devil May Cry 4:SE, which featured updated details and backgrounds, GOW III – Remastered utilizes the same assets, albeit with updated antialiasing and rendering techniques optimized for the PS4 architecture. Consequently, the game’s age is occasionally apparent, particularly in the character models and the presence of artifacts such as moiré patterns. However, given GoW III‘s original visual fidelity, the game remains a visually impressive experience on the PS4.
Like Devil May Cry, GOW III employs fixed camera angles. While this creates a more directed experience, it allows for greater graphical optimization as the viewpoint is pre-determined. This contributes to the sensation of an interactive film, guided by the director’s vision. However, the fixed camera system can be restrictive, impacting the utility of the new photo mode, as camera rotation is limited. The PS4’s built-in Share function offers a comparable, if not superior (or at least simpler), alternative. As the audio, game content, and bonus materials are identical to the original release, the enhanced graphics and photo mode represent the only new additions in the Remastered version.
There are quite a few cool boss fights in God of War III
Ultimately, GoW III remains an engaging action game with a compelling narrative. Certain aspects of the game’s design, such as the labyrinthine environments and the hidden bonus locations, have aged somewhat. However, the game’s epic tale of revenge, rage, and retribution retains its primal appeal. For those who have played the PS3 version, the PS4 remaster offers a worthwhile upgrade primarily due to the smoother framerate. The decision to purchase hinges on whether the enhanced performance justifies the price for a game previously experienced. Conversely, for newcomers to GoW III, the PS4 version represents the definitive way to experience this classic title.
Comparison video of God of War III on PS3 versus the Remaster on PS4, showcasing the opening sequence on the Titan Gaia’s back and the initial boss encounter with Poseidon:
