One of the biggest surprises from the God of War: Laufey reveal wasn’t Faye herself, nor the fact that Kratos is no longer the main playable character.
Instead, it was a gameplay feature that longtime fans immediately noticed during the extended showcase.
Faye can jump.
That may not sound particularly exciting at first, but it’s actually a huge deal for the franchise.
A Classic God of War Mechanic Returns
The last time players could freely jump in a God of War game was back in God of War: Ascension in 2013.
When Santa Monica Studio rebooted the series in 2018, it completely changed the formula. The combat became more grounded, heavier, and focused on powerful strikes, defensive play, and cinematic encounters.
As a result, many of the classic mechanics from the Greek era disappeared.
Aerial combos, enemy juggling, launch attacks, and free-form jumping were all left behind as Kratos entered the Norse saga.
Faye Plays Very Differently From Kratos
Based on the gameplay shown during PlayStation’s State of Play, Santa Monica isn’t simply creating a female version of Kratos.
Faye appears far more agile and aggressive.
Throughout the demo, she can be seen leaping into the air, launching enemies upward, and chaining together aerial attacks before landing back on the battlefield.
The overall combat system looks faster, more fluid, and much more combo-focused than what players experienced in God of War (2018) and Ragnarök.
And honestly?
The difference is noticeable almost immediately.
A Return to the Series’ Roots
Veteran fans will remember that aerial combat was one of the defining features of the original God of War games.
Players could keep enemies suspended in the air, chain together lengthy combos, and create spectacular combat sequences that rewarded creativity and skill.
Those mechanics largely disappeared during the Norse era.
Now, with Faye taking center stage, Santa Monica appears to be bringing some of that classic energy back while keeping the cinematic storytelling and presentation that made the recent games so successful.
What This Could Mean for the Future
The return of jumping may seem like a small detail, but it could have a major impact on how the entire game feels.
More mobility means more combat options, faster encounters, and potentially a much deeper combo system than we’ve seen in recent God of War titles.
Combined with Faye’s unique fighting style and the game’s afterlife setting, God of War: Laufey already feels like a fresh direction for the franchise rather than a simple spin-off.
And honestly?
If bringing back aerial combat is any indication, Santa Monica may be preparing to blend the best parts of both the classic and modern eras of God of War into one experience.
