The God of War returns, as Kratos finally matures into an actual human. Yet, is that enough to help the series continue after the weak reception to God of War: Ascension?
The first thing players are confronted with in the new God of War is Kratos chopping down a tree. He then carries it back to his home so that he can use it in a funeral pyre for his deceased wife. It’s a very conscious change from the rest of the series, which often opened with Kratos in some insane over-the-top setting fighting some kind of larger than life threat. This God of War is quieter, more somber, and there’s a sense of the change Kratos is trying to live by as he talks sternly to his son, Atreus in his new home, the mortal realm of Midgard from Norse mythology.
The game’s core mission is to find a way to carry his wife’s ashes to the highest peak in the realms. Complicating matters are that the gods of Asgard are aware of Kratos and his son, tracking them for some unknown reason. Along the way, amid dangers and diversions, Kratos must come to terms with who he is and who he wants to be, in order to become the father he needs to be for his son. The story and the evolving relationship between Kratos and Atreus is the heart and soul of this game. There are moments where I’d linger so that conversations would finish, just to hear more of their interactions. While the adventure does get violent and more fantastical as it goes on, it never loses itself in spectacle. At no point is there a single moment of gratuitous nudity or sex either, a series staple, giving the game a maturity that feels genuine.
Graphically, this game is gorgeous. I played on a normal PS4, so I can’t say what those with a Pro console will get, but I was thoroughly impressed. Every texture, footprint, piece of clothing, and the characters’ skin and facial features look so good. Past games in the series often would show what that generation’s PlayStation was capable of, and this one is no exception. The new camera follows over Kratos’ shoulder rather than from above. During cutscenes and gameplay, it never breaks from what it’s looking at and just tracks along in a single shot. I only noticed clipping through the optional armors available when the camera did a close-up on Kratos during a conversation. Aside from that, the camera work is exceptional.
The music is suitably epic, as is often the case in this series, but it’s a different sort of epic. The original series often went for huge, loud scores, meant to convey Kratos as this unstoppable engine of death. The new entry plays with more weighty melodies, energizing the drama of every moment. This is complemented by the sound design, as every crack and slice, every roar and explosion is on point.
Christopher Judge (left) and Sunny Suljic (right) acting out a scene in motion capture gear.
Then there’s the voice acting! Kratos’s new actor, Christopher Judge, definitely helps sell the change in the Ghost of Sparta. While the last games had Kratos practically screaming with anger at almost every moment, Judge brings a sense of both shame and regret along with the anger. All the other voice actors are great, but this is definitely Judge’s show as he helps win a lot of sympathy for a man who was essentially an unforgivable monster.
The meat of the gameplay is combat, and while it was initially a challenge to adapt to (I started off playing the game with the Classic Control scheme that reverts it to the previous God of War games style), I found it more intuitive with the shift from just over-the-top combos to a more a strategic approach to taking down enemies. Atreus is probably one of the most useful weapons, fighting on his own or firing arrows when directed. The boy is even capable of elemental attacks and the summoning of powerful spirit animals as the story progresses. At no point did he come across as someone needing protection.
Kratos’s new weapon, the Leviathan axe, is a lot of fun to use both in melee and at range. Summoning it back is one of the most satisfying feelings! Kratos is not restricted to the axe either, being able to brawl bare-handed as well as unlock another weapon later on that creates an incredible moment. The other part of the game involves the exploration of a massive Nordic world, finding side-missions, treasures, new armor and gear, and tons of extra content. The game rewards players for going off diverging paths to explore. It is a different experience from the last few games, but no less fun, and once the story is complete, there’s still plenty to do afterward.
The only complaint I had about God of War was the lack of the series’ traditional New Game Plus at launch.
Kratos wraps his scarred wrists. Image courtesy of Game Rant.
God of War not only shows what the PS4 is capable of, it’s an amazing evolution of the series. It’s great for fans of the series who were hoping to see Kratos evolve into an actual hero, and those who have never played the past games will likely find themselves attached to the stoic man. God of War is a must-have for anyone that has a PS4.
