Was God of War III Remastered Worth Buying on PS4?

In early 2015, Sony announced that God of War III Remastered would be released for the PlayStation 4, bringing the finale of Kratos’s original saga to its current-gen console. The news was met with a mixed reaction. Some fans were eager to experience the game with enhanced visuals, while others questioned the necessity of remastering a title that was only five years old and still held up as a visual showcase on the PlayStation 3. The decision raised a key question for players: was the PS4 version worth its full launch price, or were there better ways to experience this classic action game?

This analysis examines the factors that influenced that purchasing decision at the time, from the quality of the original game to the specific enhancements and value proposition offered by the remastered edition, which was scheduled for release on July 17, 2015.

The Original PS3 Experience

God of War III first launched on March 16, 2010, for the PlayStation 3 and was immediately regarded as one of the console’s defining exclusives. It served as the epic conclusion to the Greek mythology trilogy, picking up directly after the cliffhanger ending of God of War II. The game’s narrative and scale were immense, pitting Kratos against the entire pantheon of Olympian gods in a final, bloody quest for revenge.

The core gameplay remained true to the series’ foundations. The combat system was a refined version of what came before, focusing on brutal, weighty attacks and spectacular magical abilities. While perhaps not as focused on intricate, high-speed combos as contemporaries like Bayonetta or Devil May Cry, the combat in God of War III was exceptionally polished and visceral. Every swing of the Blades of Exile felt impactful, and the game’s infamous finishing moves against bosses were more cinematic and gruesome than ever.

What truly set the game apart was its sense of scale. The opening sequence, which sees Kratos ascending Mount Olympus on the back of the Titan Gaia, remains a landmark moment in gaming. Players fought entire battles on the bodies of moving Titans, with the environment shifting and crumbling around them. These set pieces were a technical marvel on the PS3 and created a spectacle that few other games at the time could match. Even five years after its debut, the original God of War III was still a stunning game that pushed its hardware to the limits. This visual fidelity was a major reason some players were skeptical about the need for a remaster, as the original already looked better than many newer titles.

Technical and Content Upgrades for PS4

The primary appeal of God of War III Remastered lay in its technical enhancements. The most significant upgrade was a jump in resolution from the original’s 720p to a full 1080p on the PlayStation 4. This provided a much sharper and clearer image, allowing the game’s intricate art design and detailed character models to stand out even more. Accompanying the resolution bump was a performance target of 60 frames per second. The PlayStation 3 version ran at a variable framerate that often fluctuated between 30 and 60 fps, so a more stable, higher framerate on PS4 promised a smoother and more responsive gameplay experience. For a fast-paced action title where timing dodges and parries is critical, this performance boost was a meaningful improvement.

Beyond the technical polish, the remaster included new content. A Photo Mode was added, an exclusive feature for the PS4 version. This allowed players to pause the game at any moment, manipulate the camera, apply filters, and capture stunning digital photographs. Given the game’s breathtaking vistas and cinematic moments, the Photo Mode was a fitting addition for players who enjoyed sharing their in-game experiences.

The package also bundled all the downloadable content released for the original game. This consisted of several alternate costumes and weapon skins for Kratos, as well as the Challenge of Exile mode. This mode added seven new, difficult challenges for players to test their combat skills against, providing extra content for those who had already mastered the main campaign.

The Question of Value

While the graphical and content enhancements were welcome, the central debate around God of War III Remastered revolved around its value. At its launch, the remaster was a full-priced title. In contrast, the original PlayStation 3 version was widely available, both physically and digitally, for a fraction of that cost.

For players new to the franchise, an even more compelling alternative existed on the PS3: the God of War: Saga Collection. This compilation offered tremendous value, bundling five full games into one affordable package. It included God of War III, HD versions of the first two PlayStation 2 titles, and the two PSP prequels, Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta. For a price often lower than the PS4 remaster alone, a player could own the entire core story of Kratos’s Greek adventures.

This put potential buyers in a distinct dilemma. For someone who had never played the series, the Saga Collection on PS3 was arguably the superior starting point, offering far more content for the money. For veterans who already owned God of War III on PS3, the decision came down to whether the 1080p resolution, improved framerate, and Photo Mode were worth the price of a new game. The enhancements were noticeable but did not fundamentally change the core experience.

Ultimately, the remaster was best suited for two types of players: dedicated fans who wanted the absolute best-looking version of the game, and those who had moved on to the PS4 and no longer had access to a PS3. For most others, particularly the budget-conscious or newcomers, waiting for a significant price drop on the PS4 version or opting for the cheaper, more comprehensive PS3 collections presented a more logical choice.