God of War (2018) Review

The God of War series makes its first appearance on the PlayStation 4, aside from the HD remaster that was released a few years ago. Find out what we thought about the latest game in the series in our God of War (2018) Review!

I’ve enjoyed playing through most of the previous games in the God of War series. I had a great time with them and felt like they were some of the best action-adventure games on the PlayStation family of consoles. I’ll admit that I was skeptical when a new game in the series was announced for PlayStation 4. I wondered if any life was left in the series after God of War: Ascension failed to innovate. God of War (2018) brings the series to a new generation of gamers in ways I never expected.

Story

God of War (2018) brings the series to a new mythological world, again starring a reimagined Kratos. The game is framed by one continuous camera shot, which sounds awful if you sit there and think about it, but it’s a beautiful thing to see in action as you see the relationship develop between Kratos and his son, Atreus. The plot is simple yet satisfying. Kratos and Atreus begin their story by navigating the aftermath of Kratos’ wife’s death and embarking on a journey to fulfill her final wishes. The story’s heart consistently remains Kratos’ relationship with Atreus, and it’s a compelling evolution to witness.

A New Kratos

If you’re like me, you’ve played many of the previous games in the God of War series, and you know that Kratos has had a long life of triumph and tragedy as he battled his way through ancient Greece. The Kratos introduced to us in God of War (2018) is true to the character we remember, but with much more substance. This character has begun a new chapter in his life, one marked by love and family. Heck, he even has a big beard. It’s the vulnerability of this new Kratos that’s truly striking. He has to rely on a son he barely knows and has a limited connection with to navigate the world. It’s so different to see someone as cold and stoic as Kratos rely on someone else and start to have a connection with other people. 

The Boy

The relationship between Atreus and Kratos, and how it evolves throughout the story, is easily one of the most compelling aspects of God of War (2018). These two characters contrast magnificently, with Atreus being an innocent child and Kratos being a grizzled warrior. Both of them find common ground in grieving the only woman in their lives. Kratos is initially unaffectionate when speaking to his son. He refers to him as “Boy” and expresses disappointment in his lack of combat skills and killer instinct. It’s disheartening to see how difficult it is for Kratos to connect with his son. He’s just trying to mold into a survivor. This fractured relationship serves as a significant reason to continue playing.

Expectations

This story is so relatable to me. Many of us have had relationships with family members we love but don’t connect with for whatever reason. I’ve been in Atreus’ shoes many times before, just looking for the approval of people in my family, but finding it very difficult to live up to those expectations. That realistic interaction between these characters makes this story so easy to get lost in. I can’t remember another father-son relationship in a video game that was as wonderfully crafted as this one is. It also helps that Kratos is now voiced by Stargate SG-1’s Christopher Judge, whose booming voice adds new dimensions to what was a fairly one-dimensional character.

Gameplay

Camera

As I mentioned earlier, God of War (2018)’s single-camera shot style never cuts from the beginning of the game to the end unless you die. I didn’t understand why this was such a big deal until I started getting into the game. This type of camera style allowed me to understand the magnitude of fighting an enemy ten times the size of Kratos. You never leave Kratos’ side during some of the most intense moments. Sometimes, you’ll sit there in silence with him; other times, in anguish. It evokes emotion that can’t be felt as effectively through traditional camera styles.

Atreus

Atreus becomes an integral part of your battles. He is, after all, your son, so he listens to your commands and gives you an extra weapon in your arsenal. Atreus is equipped with a bow and unlimited arrows (although he can only fire a few at a time before recharging). He’ll shoot arrows at enemies or jump on them to stun them. He even has his own skill tree that can be upgraded, which is a nice touch. Kratos has his own skill tree that can also be upgraded. While he is only killing to survive now, he still has that brutal touch that we’ve come to expect from the God of War series. The stun kills, in particular, are not unlike a Mortal Kombat fatality, hearing crunching bones and seeing a body ripped apart. They become repetitive, but it’s nice that this game stays true to the series’ roots.

Weapons

Kratos’ primary weapon in this game is the Leviathan Axe. I didn’t think much of it when I first saw it, but it has quickly become one of my favorite weapons. You start with simple light and heavy attacks, but they can be upgraded over time. My favorite feature of this weapon is that when you throw it, you can call it back by pressing the triangle button to mimic Thor’s Mjolnir. It damages all foes returning to your hand like a boomerang. If you don’t call it back and leave it lodged in an enemy, it will freeze them. This allows you to focus on other enemies with your fists. It’s a satisfying feeling to watch the destruction you can cause with one little weapon.

Combat

The combat in God of War (2018) can be pretty complex. You must balance Atreus, parrying with your shield, slicing, and tossing with your ax to find the right combination to defeat your foes. There are even special attacks that can be unlocked, like an ice beam that shoots from the axe. I’m not particularly good with games that force you to change up your battle plans minute-by-minute, but I never felt overwhelmed throughout my campaign. If I failed a battle, I would keep adjusting my strategies until I could complete it. The game forces you to do this by mixing in enemies with different immunities and vulnerabilities. Early on, there was an enemy who was immune to ax attacks, which forced me to use Atreus’ bow and my fists to take him out. Later in the game, you even acquire the famous Blades of Chaos, which are a ton of fun.

Upgrades

Some upgrades can help you take down enemies more quickly, but even the returning Rage of the Gods ability (which gives you a temporary boost of damage) didn’t make battles a cakewalk. There’s a challenge in this game until the very end. Armor for Atreus and Kratos can make a big difference in how you play the game. By modifying your armor, you can tweak stats for things like strength, runic magic, and attack cooldown rate. You can even slot equipment with runes that will give your character advantages like defense against certain enemies or accentuating your pre-existing abilities. Of course, you can choose the coolest-looking armor pieces if you’re inclined to do so. I may have done that a few times as well, although you’ll need all the help you can get for some of the big boss battles, like the troll that swats at you with a gigantic bat.

Open-World

God of War (2018) initially feels linear but opens up after the first few hours. I had a lot of fun exploring and solving the many puzzles, and the game encourages you to do just that. Occasionally, you’ll even stumble upon one of the more difficult opponents anointed with a purple health bar. These battles proved to be quite a test, as these enemies can typically take you down in one or two hits. The game is never truly open-world. It kind of herds you into the areas you’re ready for by gating certain areas behind story elements and milestones. You’ll even think you have a solution to move on to a location you haven’t been to before, only to find yourself needing to acquire a collectible or something of that nature. It integrates seamlessly into the story, and I found it hard to put down the controller.

Presentation

The world itself is a sight to be seen. It’s one of the most beautiful and realistic video game worlds I’ve ever seen. Everything from the blades of grass in the wind to the light glistening through the clouds and foliage to the very detailed enemy models and Kratos himself is perfectly captured, and it almost feels like I’m playing through a movie. Everything moves so naturally and appears to be effortless. It’s incredible to see, especially on a console. The expense of all this is that it runs at 30 FPS, which didn’t bother me, except for the occasional dropped frame here and there.

Final Thoughts

God of War (2018) breathes new life into a series I expected to be on the decline. All the moving parts in this game work together to make it a true masterpiece. This one will keep you busy long after you complete the 25+ hour campaign. The supporting cast of characters is strong, the boss battles are truly amazing, the exploration is fun and interesting, and the story is captivating. It is one of the best games available on the PlayStation 4, and I highly recommend it to everyone.