(Image credit: Sony Computer Entertainment)
God of War: Chains of Olympus amazed players on the PlayStation Portable, delivering the epic battles of Kratos on the compact screen. A feat achieved through an ingenious solution: a Jak and Daxter game running quietly in the background.
As revealed by Sony Santa Monica in honor of the franchise’s 20th anniversary, the team faced hardware constraints that complicated seamless loading. They dealt with this by playing a movie file backstage, ensuring the game remained true to the God of War aesthetic. The movie, none other than the opening cinematic for Daxter, a PSP platformer from Naughty Dog’s series, provided the necessary workaround.
This creative yet unexpected approach showcases the skill of Ready At Dawn, the developers who transitioned console giants to handheld wonders. Their inaugural project, Daxter, laid the groundwork that allowed them to expand into the realm of Chains of Olympus. Eventually, they were acquired and disbanded by Facebook.
I can’t quite grasp how having Daxter’s intro play supported the loading process for God of War without causing a bottleneck, but I suppose these technological puzzles are best left to expert developers. Meanwhile, the series’ 20th anniversary offers no new remaster, but players can enjoy new God of War Ragnarok skins and a plush Jörmungandr, adding excitement to the celebration.
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