A checkpoint option for boss bouts has been revealed for God of War Ragnarok. Controversy has erupted in the video game business over two competing notions, as there is a drive for expanded accessibility features, which some think undermines game developers’ aims about difficulty. Santa Monica Studio, the creators of God of War Ragnarok, definitely favours the former. Santa Monica Studio has added many accessibility options, including boss battle checkpoints.
God of War Ragnarok has a total of 70 distinct accessibility settings. Aim assist and lock-on cameras, as well as evasion help and camera centring, are among the gameplay-impacting features available. There are other choices for puzzle clues and larger button-press windows. The majority of the accessibility features, however, are aimed towards folks who may have visual or hearing impairments, or who have trouble with accurate button pushes. Santa Monica Studio wants to make God of War Ragnarok available to all gamers.
There are many reasons to allow checkpoints during boss encounters. A mid-fight checkpoint would enable players to take a breather without losing progress during boss battles, which may be lengthy and gruelling, infuriating and stressful, or perplexing and unsettling. At their most basic, God of War boss battles may be challenging, and the mid-fight checkpoints option will make bouts easier to understand and finish.
God of War Ragnarök accessibility features revealed.
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Santa Monica Studio does not enable its accessibility settings by default; rather, it gives them and lets God of War Ragnarok users to choose what their ideal gaming experience will be. Santa Monica Studio noted in a statement that it has worked with Naughty Dog, Insomniac Games, and many prominent people as consultants to advance accessibility in gaming as part of a “industry-wide endeavour.”
Santa Monica Studio does not place a premium on difficulty, like From Software does with their RPGs. That isn’t to say that the developer isn’t giving difficulty alternatives for people who want them. The “Give Me Balance” difficulty balances combat and narrative equally. From there, players may choose to make the game more or less tough, with two choices emphasising less fighting and two emphasising more combat. “Give Me God of War” is intended to be “as challenging as possible,” and it is only accessible after you have completed the game.
Certain online groups are likely to be divided by God of War Ragnarok’s accessibility features. Finally, players that need or want mid-boss checkpoints, as well as any of the other hundreds of accessibility improvements, will have them. That is all Santa Monica Studio want from God of War Ragnarok gamers.
God of War Ragnarok will be available for PS4 and PS5 on November 9th.
