God Of War PS4 Review-
I can honestly say with full conviction that even after playing all the older God of War games on PS2 and PS3 back in their heyday, I never could quite get fully invested in Kratos' disputes with his father Zeus and all the Greek gods that were fool enough to stand in his way. It wasn't that the games were awful or that the boss fights were not exceptional because they most certainly were. It was just the initial gameplay loop of going from point a to point b and fighting wave after wave of enemies all the while pulling off insane combos with Kratos' amazing arsenal of weaponry. What was lacking was unclear to me at the time when playing those older titles but upon playing through almost 98% of what God of War (2018) had on offer, I realized what was missing from the older God of War games. Not only does Kratos benefit greatly by having a companion with him almost 24/7 (and his own son Atreus nonetheless), but the sheer amount of exploration and optional quests and hidden boss fights which reward players with legendary level gear, not to mention the AWESOME new Leviathan Axe, which can be thrown to freeze enemies to walls and by pressing triangle, it comes rebounding back tripping up any foes caught in the path. This new point in time in the Ghost of Sparta's life sees Kratos attempting to change his ways not only for himself but for the benefit of his ever-watchful son who has no idea that his father is actually a god and that he may be as well.
The story is much grander in scale and in terms of lore, Kratos and his son Atreus just lost their beloved wife/mother. Her dying wish was for them to carry her ashes to a realm called Jotunheim, the land of the Giants and scatter them atop the highest peak there as it is sacred to her. Of course, Kratos cannot keep a low profile no matter how hard he tries as he is met with a knock on his home door one evening from a man he has never seen before. Unaware of just how important of an individual this man is at first, Kratos is quickly attacked and the fight ensues. It quickly becomes evident that this is no man, but a god, Baldur at that. He is dead set on causing Kratos and his son no end of problems, so Kratos reluctantly sets off with Atreus on their big journey to fulfill their loved ones wish. Kratos does not believe Atreus is near about ready and thus must be strict with his training.
The idea of Kratos having a kid to look after does not sound good on paper but it works very well not only in combat as the kid can shoot arrows to stun foes and warn of incoming attacks from blindsides, but we also get to see Kratos mature into a much more loving and respectful role as he tries to ensure Atreus does not suffer the same dark past that he did. The combat is amazing and fluid and once you have unlocked a few skills and perks on the skill tree, you will feel like a gladiator as the Leviathan Axe can be charged up with Frost energy to freeze foes with a well placed throw or by holding R2 Kratos can brutally cleave most enemies in two with numerous deadly finishing moves that all differ depending on the foe that you inflict it upon.
The exploration is also a major improvement over the older games. There are many secret areas that reward players for overcoming whatever challenges await such as freeing a lightning breathing dragon who is bound by magical seals. Soon you will unlock the ability to travel by boat and when you get to the Lake of Nine, the world really opens up. Not to mention, even though 90% of the main story takes place in Midgard, at a later point in the game, Kratos gains access to jump to other realms such as Muspelheim, Niflheim and Alfheim. Helheim as well and these locations each have their loot and rewards just waiting to be uncovered by a warrior capable of overcoming their trials. There are many tough bosses, but thank God this is no Dark Souls, and even the newbs among us can conquer most of the trials that await.
By far, the hardest enemies you will encounter are the scattered Valkyries who are all dotted about the map in different realms in the mysterious Hidden Chambers of Odin. Each one of these optional boss fights will push you to your limits and expect to die many times before finally accomplishing the feat of beating them all. The fact that the game makes it accessible enough to people who don't necessarily excel at action games is a highlight in my eyes because I am just not the type who can make it very far in a Soulslike game and I feel the genre is already becoming overcrowded, so it's good to see Santa Monica Studio is not trying to limit their player base by spiking the difficulty to extreme levels.
The positive feeling I was left with after finishing this game and all it's side-quests is that this is a new beginning for God of War. Not only does this Norse mythology beg to be explored further, but the father/son roles of Atreus and Kratos and how their bond strengthens over the course of the game is very heartwarming. We get to see Kratos' sensitive side, although he comes off as a strict grump at first, it is later shown that it is only done for the necessity of his child's growth. He knows what obstacles await their uncertain future and he wants nothing more than to ensure that Atreus is fully capable of managing on his own without his father. The game ends on a nail biter, as we see Kratos and Atreus make enemies with some very deadly gods, who will no doubt hunt the duo at every turn in God of War Ragnarok, but this is a true masterpiece in how to take a broken series and turn it into a fantastical and brilliant new beginning in a new land for Kratos. This is by far the best we have seen from Kratos yet and I can't wait to see what happens next!!