Could 2026 be the year we get a new one God of War game? Last year there were rumors that Sony's Santa Monica studio was preparing something new – a compilation, a spin-off, new entryanything for its flagship series. Regardless of whether any of the speculation is correct, it's safe to assume that the studio behind the series is working on anything considering that it has been exclusively developing God of War games since 2005.
While I wouldn't mind another encounter with Kratos, the certified nutcase in me is yearning for something completely different from the Santa Monica studio. Forget God of War: it's time to be reborn Kinetics.
“What the hell? Kinetics? Thank you very much for asking. Kinetics is a long-forgotten debut game from Santa Monica Studios. Released on PlayStation 2 in 2001, four years before the release of the first God of War, Kinetics This was essentially Sony's blow to F-Zero. It's a fast-paced sci-fi racing game where drivers in kinetic suits become human. Although it is only remembered as the first game to use the engine that would later become the basis of God of War, Kinetics is a mechanically challenging arcade racer that deserves its moment to shine at a time when the genre is thriving again.
Kinetics at first glance it looks quite simple. You compete in “seasons” that take you through Grand Prix circuits. Outrun your opponents, speed up and grab bonuses to win. Simple enough, but there's some deceptive depth under the hood. First, a successful race requires careful maneuvering. Racers are essentially human motorcyclists who lie stretched out, holding a handlebar at each end of their body. This results in poor aerodynamics, as turning too wide will cause your rider to spin around like a flag in a gust of wind. Careful, controlled cornering is required, which is unusual for such a fast driver.
The tricks work out from there. If you get broken while turning, you can press the boost button twice to gain a boost and regain momentum. When you pass a boost zone, you can absorb and store that boost by holding down the circle button. You can also get boosts by performing tricks in the air, with more difficult tricks giving more boost when landing successfully. There are power-ups similar to those you get in Mario Kart, but you only earn one after collecting five crystals. These skills only add depth to the movement, such as giving the driver temporary traction that allows him to accelerate while moving closely behind another rider.
It all takes place on a complex series of courses in which players ride along walls, flip upside down, and take any number of alternative paths. And all this happens to the sounds of a high-octane electronic soundtrack. The atmosphere is off the charts, creating a racing game that is spiritually connected to modern games like Fast synthesis.
Revisiting it in 2026, I'm amazed at how ahead of its time Santa Monica Studios was in 2001. Kinetics This isn't the kind of racing game you can just pick up and master by holding down the boost button. You have to know how gently to press the stick to make a clean turn, or how much time in the air you have after a jump so you can perform a risky trick without crashing. It's a game about racing cars, but it's really about human athleticism. You must know the limits of your rider's body and push him to win.
I can't imagine Santa Monica Studios is thinking about revisiting it anytime soon, but if there was ever a time for a revival, it's now. 2025 has become a year of rebirth for arcade racing games thanks to hits like World of Mario Kart, Kirby Air RidersAnd Sonic Racing: Cross Worlds. This momentum will continue in 2026 when Star Wars: Galaxy Racer, Screamerand much more. Kinetics would fit right into this trend, filling the gap left by F-Zero's long absence. (Note: It's been too long, Nintendo!)
However, you don't have to wait for an unlikely awakening to try it. Kinetics available for $9.99 at PlayStation Storeand it's included in the PlayStation Plus Premium library. If you're itching for a new racing game to dive into while the 2026 games kick off, give it a try. And yes, I'm only recommending that you do this so I can have more crazies begging Sony Santa Monica to move away from God of War and bring back an obscure PS2 game. I'm just trying to keep things interesting here.
