Is God of War fun, or is it hard to get excited about going back to the real thing? I can’t do that in Easy Mode
The predecessor retained the brilliant hack-and-slash action and deeper, more thoughtful strategy. If you enjoyed opening baddies from brain-stem to bellybutton in God of War, you’ll have a wide smile plastered across your mug during Ragnarok’s thumb-blistering melees.
This may not be an issue for a lot of people. If you’re screaming “Just dive in and experience the new one!” I understand what you’re saying at your screen. The God of War series is not easy to understand. There are many ins and outs when it comes to its characters, world, and lore. Playing without knowing all of them can lead to serious FOMO when a joyful character reunion or side plot point doesn’t hit the way it should.
I could go back and pick up where I left off. It is quite challenging and full of complicated controls that I do not recall. An Easy Mode, but even that is challenging. And the reason I stepped away from it in the first place? I couldn’t win the battle without a serious equipment upgrade, and there was a boss I wouldn’t be able to beat without one. I didn’t think there was a way out of it. Basically, I got stuck, and I didn’t have a lot of interest in going back.
God of War Is Not What You Need to Play, But It Is How You Should Play The Game (Isn’t)
My solution: cheating. Not cheating at all. This isn’t a full-throated defense of cheat codes or hacks. Rather I will fire up some God of War videos on TV and not be too upset about it.
When I realized that I could just watch a 15-minute video, instead of watching a game, it was a revelation. And it’s especially helpful for a situation like this, where I am invested in the characters and world but am at a standstill when it comes to actually playing it. I try for two videos on the site: one for story and one for gameplay. Even though the studio might make changes in the game, a refresh of how the first one worked is always helpful.
God of War is a franchise that uses this kind of story explanation. The entry point for the franchise was sort of refreshed in the new game, but it was not a remake. There was already a lot of story I hadn’t seen in the fourth game in the series. Going choose-your-own-adventure on some YouTube videos about the franchise makes filling in the blanks quite easy.
If you asked most “serious gamers,” they’d tell you these methods are wrong, that in order to understand the full story you have to play the game and earn that knowledge. And OK, that might be true. I am fine with that. Oh, also: I don’t care.
Video games are something I do for fun, to relieve stress. I don’t need to earn my entertainment. I work hard to make money to pay for entertainment—that’s enough. I have a lot of videos to binge, and the release of my film is only 21 days away.
Kratos is not packing a shotgun in turn-based battles or harvesting resources on a farm. The follow-up to acclaimed games usually builds on what happened before it, but this one doesn’t fix what isn’t broken. That’ll be more than enough for most, but given how much 2018’s entry changed the game, literally and figuratively, it’s worth mentioning to nip any potential disappointment in the bud.
Those expecting a re-enactment on the same level as before should put their expectations aside in the snow. It is obvious that the product of a game that has still been refined and polished is bigger and better.
Rather than recycling this same relationship dynamic, God of War Ragnarok — which picks up a few years later — takes it in riveting new directions. Atreus is now a teenager, more mature, confident and, to Kratos’ dismay, cocky. They are at once closer than ever and pulled in separate directions, a complicated scenario shaped by both Atreus’ teen angst and the events the two set in motion during the last game’s conclusion.
Like a god-slayer critiquing his teenage son’s combat skills, I can make a few nitpicking comments about what I like about the movie. While I loved the game’s story, especially in regard to how it focuses on Atreus and further evolves his relationship with Kratos, it can feel bloated at times.
I was more interested in the new shades of Kratos and Atreus that were revealed, as well as taking a fresh look at their relationship, than in the broader story-line.
With cinematic style to spare, the Leviathan Axe andblades of Chaos are back to deliver a variety of up- close and ranged attacks. Spartan Rage and Runic attacks are back, as well as the ability to call on Atreus to bring his own brand of punishment. There is no excuse for permanently eliminating enemies the same way twice, because there are so many upgrades, unlocks, and other enhancements to consider.
The deity-destruction daddy is not the only one who has new tricks in his tunic. The clawed, horned, and fanged variety of enemies has been beefed up with many of them using status effects on Kratos to take his place. The screen-swallowing bosses, which were in a short supply last game, are back in larger numbers, representing some of the most inspired monsters ever fall before Kratos.
In addition, it feels faster and more fluid to play combat, which is supported by new death from above attacks, as well as a friendlier, more streamlined user interface for managing character progression, and the blood-pumping game has never been better.
The only button you might mash more than Kratos’ brutal attacks is the controller’s screenshot-snapping input. God of War was one of the PS4’s prettiest games, and its sequel is just as easy on the eyes. I cannot imagine a console putting on a more beautiful interactive adventure like this one, even without the horse’s under the hood.
God of War: A Re-imagined World in a Puzzle-Driven Multi-Player Regime, and its Importance for the Survival of Dark Matter
When not splitting skulls and lopping limbs, you’ll explore Ragnarok’s nine, breathtaking realms, each packed with puzzles, collectibles, crafting resources, side-quests, and, yes, constant justification for the game’s photo mode. New areas, like Vanaheim – with its dazzling detail and rainbow-shaming color palette – will immediately drop jaws. But it’s equally impressive how returning realms, such as the blizzard-battered Midgard, have been re-imagined in the wake of Fimbulwinter’s years-long freeze.
Fan-favorite side characters from the first game, including severed head Mimir, dwarven brothers Brok and Sindri, and Witch of the Woods Freya, are joined by a number of new faces, like heavy hitters Odin and Thor. Sometimes, the expanded cast makes for a story that’s too complex, but sometimes I’d like to see a simple, quiet journey by Kratos and Atreus.
The comic relief was delivered by the sibling blacksmiths. The characters brought some light to God of War, but they try too hard, being overly friendly and suggesting things before you even need or want them.
I’d also argue the game overstays its welcome a bit, especially for a story-driven, single-player campaign. It can be pointed out that there’s not much variety until the credits roll, but there’s also some padding in the form of quests that, while engaging, seem superfluous.