God of War: Ragnarok Review (PS5)

The epic journey of Kratos, God of War, and his son, Atreus, did not come to an end four years ago when Santa Monica Studio released the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). The sequel to the multi-awarded game picks up soon after Kratos and Atreus learn that the Giants have been wiped out by Odin, an Asgardian god with a mysterious agenda.

With Fimbulwinter well underway across the Nine Realms, the two protagonists must find a way to stop Ragnarok from ending the world, while searching for answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesized battle that will bring ruin to all inhabited realms.

As the threat of Ragnarok grows ever closer, Kratos is torn between trying to prevent the cataclysmic event and actively protecting his son from the Aesir gods. God of War Ragnarok takes players through all the Nine Realms in search for clues that might shed light on what might have caused Fimbulwinter to start, the harsh winter that precedes the end of the world.

This is a much bigger and arguably better game than its predecessor in many aspects. One important gameplay feature that isn’t available in God of War (2018) is the ability to play with Atreus. While Kratos is accompanied by various iconic characters throughout his journey across the Nine Realms, there are many segments of the game where players take control of Atreus.

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Unlike the previous game, God of War Ragnarok has two big protagonists, which adds another layer of complexity not just to the combat system, but also to the story. Experiencing the game through the eyes of two different characters, each with their own ambitions, strengths and flaws, breaks the traditional God of War formula.

It’s a refreshing take that I absolutely loved (I even ended up liking Atreus’ combat style more than Kratos’), one that proves that you can come up with new things even in a sequel to a big franchise like God of War.

Make no mistake though, Kratos remains the centerpiece of the game, it’s just that he’s now sharing his time on the big screens with Atreus. Unlike four-year-old God of War game where Kratos and Atreus’ goals align, Ragnarok comes up with a different perspective where each has his own “secret” objective that doesn’t want the other to know.

Beyond the central conflict between two sides trying to achieve the same thing but with different tools, God of War Ragnarok is a festival of grunts. It’s a sign that Atreus has reached a level of maturity that no longer fits with the “boy” name from the previous game. It feels like Ragnarok is both Kratos’ swan song and Atreus’ journey of becoming.

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Although there’s a lot of drama conveyed through cutscenes and dialog, the main part of the game remains combat and exploration. You are now able to visit the Nine Realms, albeit not all from the start, and have a larger arsenal at your disposal.

While the Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos and Guardian Shield return alongside a host of new abilities for both Kratos and Atreus, new weapons are added to the series, which not only introduces new combat styles, but also allows Kratos to explore areas otherwise unreachable.

When it comes to combat, there are some changes that make some fights in the beginning of the game easier, but only if you manage to learn to use the new techniques well. The fluidity and rhythm of Kratos’ moves remain the same, but he now has a few more tools at his disposal.

There’s no longer a shield skill tree available, which means that you can use the parry mechanic right from the start. Tapping L1 at the right moment will parry an enemy attack leaving it open for devastating attacks. It’s one of the most useful mechanics in the game when fighting bosses. However, with three types of attacks (red, yellow and blue), you must decide quickly if you need to parry, dodge/roll, or interrupt.

These things along with all the new abilities, not just for Kratos and Atreus, but also for some surprise companions, keep the franchise’ combat system fresh and satisfying. Switching between weapons during fights is very smooth, although I noticed that sometimes my shield doesn’t come up to block the first time after switching to another weapon.

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There are tons of new upgrades for all weapons and armor, and even more resources to gather to actually make those upgrades possible. Not to mention that all weapons come with slots for add-ons that slightly change the way they work, and those can be upgraded too.

God of War Ragnarok brings a lot of variety to weapons and armor, so it’s pretty much impossible not to find a combat style that you enjoy. Another thing that I loved about the game is that you absolutely must learn to use all weapons because some fights become trivial with the right weapon. Learning to parry will also make the game significantly easier.

Thanks to the satisfying combat, stunning vistas and interesting puzzles, the world of God of War Ragnarok is a joy to explore. Sometimes I embark on a short journey on one of the Nine Realms to complete a side-quest or find a legendary chest, and I end up exploring for several more hours forgetting that this game has a great main story too. If not for the busted hint system that ruins the puzzle 99% of the time, this would have been an amazing achievement.

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The Good

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