Summary
Santa Monica Studio might end up makingGod of Wargames until it has tapped all available mythologies and Kratos’ journey has run its course, and perhaps it should. There is a wealth of opportunity for storytelling between Kratos and Atreus that the franchise has only begun to touch on withGod of War’sNorse saga, and there’s no telling how far the series could extend if given the chance. That said, it would also be great to see Santa Monica stretch its legs with new IPs and franchises all the same.
Rumors suggest that Santa Monica’s next game will beaGod of Warhalf-sequel, and if true there might hardly be room for the developer to stretch its legs fully. However, as Insomniac has taken Marvel icons under its wing, a few games come to mind when considering what popular superheroes Santa Monica could excel with. Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, and Black Panther are all spoken for already, but that could leave theGod of Wardeveloper seemingly free to adapt a rage-filled Hulk game. Still, while that may be the most obvious route, perhaps Santa Monica should refuse for multiple reasons.
God of War’s Santa Monica is Well-Versed in Furious, Emotionally Distant Men
Why a Santa Monica Hulk Game Could Be a Home Run
The reason why a Hulk game made by Santa Monica could be considered a layup is because of the obvious if not paper-thin parallels thatGod of War’s Kratosshares with Bruce Banner’s hulking alter ego. There’s truly no legitimate parallel when looking at the characters beneath the surface level, but simply having Santa Monica go from one shouting, muscle-bound lunatic to another wouldn’t exactly require a massive shift in direction from the developer.
Even if only gameplay is being taken into consideration, Hulk’s rampaging could easily be compared to how Kratos behaves when he’s imbued with the red-filtered rage meter, uprooting slabs of the ground to hurl at enemies or leaping about to slam down onto them with concussive force. In this regard, Santa Monica already has the most salient blueprint for a Hulk game.
Of course, gameplay as Bruce Banner would be essential in a standalone Hulk game, giving Santa Monica its biggest challenge yet since such sequences would likely need to be cerebral or puzzle-oriented, maybe taking cues from how Peter Parker can solve scientific conundrums for theEmily-May Foundation inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2.
A Hulk Game by Santa Monica Might Make Its Bruce Banner too Similar to Kratos
That said, even if gameplay was superb and immersive as the gamma-radiated monster, the thematic messaging in a Santa Monica Hulk game would always run the risk of clashing with its establishedGod of WarIP if anger and emotional outrage were employed again to drive home the same emotional beats. The true nuance ina Hulk gamewould need to come from how Santa Monica approaches its characterization of Bruce Banner either way, but a standalone game featuring the character would need to be written incredibly well and uniquely enough that his portrayal did not solely revolve around his tortured relationship with his other half.
Instead, withInsomniac now taking onMarvel’s Wolverinein what seems completely out of its wheelhouse at the moment, it would be terrific to see Santa Monica defy expectations and adapt a Marvel character—or DC character for that matter—that is on the other end of the spectrum from what its range would seemingly abide. Perhaps a She-Hulk game would make more sense and allow Santa Monica to branch out more from what it’s done traditionally, for example.
God of War Ragnarok
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting goFrom Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.
