God Of War (2018) Review

God Of War (PS4):

Not Your Dad's God Of War -

Score: 10/10

When one thinks about God Of War, they think of many different things. Blood, guts, boobs, and more blood, right? Also maybe some Greek mythology, but history's boring.* So, what if we took these vital elements of God Of War and made you feel something while playing it? Like really feel something other than an insatiable bloodlust. What if God Of War characters were actually fleshed out? Would that be interesting to you? It better be, because by HOLY GOD is this game good.

God Of War is a reboot/sequel to the series of the same name created by Santa Monica Studios. The God of War series has always relied heavily on third-person camera work, hack and slash style gameplay, and the occasional platformer puzzle. The story thus far has centered around newly turned God Of War Kratos hunting down the Greek pantheon because they screwed him over and made him do some bad stuff in their name. With this new series, Santa Monica took the elements and story that made God of War an icon of gaming, and either evolved them or threw them away completely. This game is almost to its core a completely different experience than any God of War to come before, and it is all the better for it.

The story setup is this: Kratos has seemingly escaped his past to the backwoods or Norway. Oh, and he’s a dad now. Or rather, a dad again. This time, however, he isn’t out for blood. His son, Atreus, is his top priority. After the death of Atreus’s mother and an attack on their home from an unnamed stranger, Kratos must take Atreus to the top of the highest mountain to scatter his mother’s ashes. Along the way we witness Kratos, toting a fresh beard, having an actual personality. He teaches Atreus how to survive the harsh wilderness, along with valuable life lessons. Lessons that also apply to himself as the game progresses and Kratos comes to terms with his past actions. We also watch Atreus grow and learn what he really is.

The gameplay of God Of War has evolved to another plane of existence for this entry. The camera takes on a more cinematic and personal feel, resting just behind Kratos’s shoulder. There are also no load screens to speak of. Well, that may not be completely true. There are certain sequences that seem to take the place of a loading screen. This isn’t a complaint, however. During these sequences, I was still able to move Kratos and talk to Atreus. The game uses these interactive load screens to give exposition or tell a story centered in Norse myth. All the while the game is loading on the outside. All in all, this mechanic is a much more pleasant mechanic than looking at text on a screen. Think Mass Effect elevator loading screens but less mind-numbing, and you’ll get the right idea. Due to these new camera elements, the game takes on a movie-like feel throughout the entire experience.

The combat, while still hack and slash in nature, is more akin to an RPG. Kratos has a light and a heavy swing, and he has unlock-able moves, like older entries. However, the days of remembering button combos are gone. Each swing of his axe, Leviathan, is centered around a few simple button presses that unleash Kratos’s power. On top of this, Atreus has his own skill set based on his bow. His actions are hot-keyed to one button and are seamlessly used in the heat of battle. While Atreus is next to useless at the start of the game, by the time the credits roll, he evolves into a tiny ball of death capable of taking down enemies left and right. Also like an RPG, there are plenty of chests to open and treasure to be found. Much of this treasure is armor for Kratos to wear. You can deck him out in giant sets of armor that seem to be taken from Skyrim, or you can give him simpler, more magical (nipple exposing) straps of leather to wear. While the customization and crafting system doesn’t change anything already existing in other games, its addition here is a much needed.

The world of God Of War is by far the most vibrant. Adopting a slightly more open-world feel, Kratos and Atreus can explore five of nine realms from Norse Mythology. Every detail of these nine realms, down to the white hairs in Kratos’s beard is crafted with the utmost skill. Monsters such as drauger, ogres, trolls, wolves, dragons, dwarves, and even a few Norse Gods breathe life into this world. I found myself exploring every little nook and cranny available as soon as it appeared on my map. Boss fights have always been a big deal in the series and this is no exception. The set pieces in these fights make many in God of War 3 seem childish in comparison. The first time Kratos meets The Stranger is still implanted in my mind as one of the most buck-wild fights in any game. The brutality of the other games is still alive and well as well. Fountains of blood spray out of enemies and boke break just like they did in the past, despite its calmer and serious demeanor.

There are also plenty of puzzles to be solved, many leading to treasure. One of my biggest gripes with the God of War series in the past was that many of the puzzles killed the pacing of the game due to not all the pieces readily apparent to the player. To me, there is a fine line between telling someone the answer and giving just enough information to the player so they can figure out the puzzle themselves in such a way that the pace of the game isn’t thrown off. In this entry, I only came across maybe one puzzle that slowed me down in this way, and it still didn't come close to slowing me down like the previous games did. Every other puzzle, optional or otherwise, made me think and made me feel rewarded after solving it. 

The story ends in spectacular fashion. The ending leaves subtle hints of what is to come and other hints that are in your face and epic. Santa Monica Studios has said there are plans for 5 more games set within the Norse world. This game, to me, gives enough for 10 more at least and spanning multiple pantheons. History buffs will delight at the references to Norse Myths spread throughout the game. A certain revelation made right at the end made me throw my controller in a spasm of excitement (R.I.P my t.v), and the games true ending came at me out of nowhere hours after I had thought I had beaten it. 
The interactions between Kratos and Atreus stand out as some of the greatest moments in gaming for me. Knowing all of the terrible crap Kratos has done in the past only makes his character all the more compelling when he tries to do the right thing. Atreus just wants his father to accept him, but at the same time is struggling with who he actually is. The moments where Kratos stops, kneels down and speaks to Atreus from the heart are so genuine and heartfelt. As someone who looks up to my father highly, it really spoke to me. Kratos's interactions with others are just as noteworthy. Kratos is calmer, more collected, but his general His grumpiness towards the world speaks to me on a spiritual level. Kratos grappling with side characters like dwarven shopkeepers and a Scottish storyteller bring much-needed levity into the overall serious tone of the game. 

God Of War was one of those games I played as I was turning into a young adult that opened the world of gaming up to me. I hadn’t played that many bloody and adult games at that point, and seeing just how brutal they can be really jarred me as a teen. However, I’m happy to see God of War grow up the same way I did. The world has never looked better and has my vote for the greatest looking game of this current game generation thus far. The characters are fun, the set pieces are crazy, and God Of  War is my current game of the year. Anyone with a PS4 needs to sit down and give this compelling story a try. You will not be disappointed.

*I take it back, history isn’t boring. Please don’t hurt me, dad.