10 Insanely Cool Ways Video Games Were Revealed

4. Orchestral Introduction - God Of War (2018)

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Sony

One does not simply announce a new God of War. Kratos deserves a grander entrance. One preceded by a gratuitous orchestral performance of his theme on the world stage of gaming that is E3, perhaps?

Santa Monica's self-indulgent decision to do exactly that is now a core gaming memory for thousands, and justifiably so. The epic reintroduction of Gaming's Angriest Man eight years on hiatus was akin to reuniting with an old friend for audiences of Sony's conference. Corey Barlog and the team behind God of War knew exactly what they were doing, too. 

Instead of resorting to instant gratification, the initial trailer keeps Kratos out of sight, focusing instead on Atreus following Daddy's off-screen orders. When the Ghost of Sparta does finally come into view, he's not as we knew him. Bearded, visibly older, and exhibiting a sense of uneasy calm; father and son go hunting in their new realm far from sun-kissed Greece.

Sadly, God of War Ragnarok wouldn't get the same hype parade half a decade later, but we'll chalk that up to COVID-19 scuppering any chances of a repeat performance.

 
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Contributor

Joe is a freelance games journalist who, while not spending every waking minute selling himself to websites around the world, spends his free time writing. Most of it makes no sense, but when it does, he treats each article as if it were his Magnum Opus - with varying results.