Before we begin, I would like to point out that this will be my first time ever playing anything from the God of War franchise as my young, adolescent mind thought its previous storylines were too convoluted. Essentially, I am diving in head-first into the eight instalment of God of War, a sequel to 2010s God of War III.
From my understanding, God of War has always been about Kratos and his battle against the gods of Greek mythology. However, the latest instalment of the franchise sees Kratos take his thirst for blood to new waters, a Norse mythology-inspired world to be exact.
First featured at the 2016 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), God of War went through a major reboot with game director Corey Balrog looking to reimagine everything from the ground up. With this being my first time actually playing God of War, imagine my excitement and anticipation while I was waiting for the game to start after its seamless transition from the start menu (you’ll get what I mean when you see it.)
The Dad I Hope to Become
The story revolves around everyone’s favourite God-slayer and all-round badass, Kratos. However, he now has a sidekick in the form of his son, Atreus, an inquisitive and capable ally that you will have to rely on heavily in the game. While many will remember Kratos as a bloodthirsty warrior, the latest title will see his more pragmatic side as well as a much calmer demeanour than before.
After the first 30-minutes of the game, you will come to see why Kratos isn’t the same rage-fueled warrior he once was. With his beloved Faye now gone, it is up to him to teach Atreus the ways of the world. Speaking of the world, we now see Kratos in Norway with the focus being on Norse mythology this time, instead of the usual Greek mythology we’re used to seeing in previous instalments.
The narrative between Kratos and Atreus alone is enough to send me into a fit of laughter every now and then, especially when Kratos says “Boy!” to Atreus almost every few minutes. You can sense that his patience is wearing thin but alas, nothing can be done as Atreus is just a child. While Kratos cuts himself as a cold-hearted, hard-love father figure, there is more to him than the story leads on.
The relationship between our two favourite characters reminds me a lot about my relationship with my father, especially in my adolescence. From making silly mistakes like not knowing how to kill a magical antler with a bow and arrow to asking too many questions when I’m being told to keep quiet, I see a lot of myself in Atreus, much like how I see a lot of my father in Kratos. Of course, minus the bloodshed.
What’s New About Kratos in God of War
While a sequel to God of War III, the latest instalment is described as a “reimagining” of the franchise, as said by art director Cory Barlog. Rebuilt from the ground-up, the gameplay for God of War takes a completely different approach from the rest, featuring a new third-person perspective with an over-the-shoulder free camera system.
With today’s modern world of video games resembling the likes of top Hollywood movies, the cinematography of God of War is top notch. The game has no camera cuts, allowing for one long continuous shot. This is noticeable during cutscenes, where the camera immediately puts you in the thick of the action without any loading times or fade outs.
Kratos also receives a weapons upgrade as he now carries a magical battle axe known as the Leviathan Axe, created by Brok and Sindri, dwarven brothers who also created Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir. Much like Mjölnir, the Leviathan Axe has magical properties and comes with abilities that allows you to mix up your combos when in battle.
It can also be used as an offensive projectile (much like Mjölnir) and then summoned back at will. Aside from using it to dispatch enemies from a distance, Kratos can also use the axe for puzzle-solving, which is heavily used in the game. It can be used to create new path openings or to solve timed riddles to unlock chests.
Another addition to Kratos’ arsenal is his shield, which sadly doesn’t come with a name. The shield is on Kratos’ left forearm and when deployed pressing L1, the shield pops open, moving Kratos to a more defensive position. It can also be used offensively, knocking enemies back and allowing you a split-second to counterattack.
There is also a Spartan Rage ultimate ability, which is a time-based ability, which can be used at any time, although you only do get it during your fight with ‘The Stranger’ (one of the best fight scenes and cinematics in the whole game!)
An Adventure of Sorts
One of the great things about God of War is the smooth flowing transition from cutscene to action n a blink of an eye. Gone are the days of rotating pinwheels and loading screens, which take forever (looking at you Grand Theft Auto V). God of War takes you into the thick of the action without skipping a beat, which means you’ll have more time to fully engross yourself into its captivating story.
With the story taking place in Scandinavia, both Kratos and Atreus must traverse the land with great caution. The enemies you will face range from a wide variety, which means you will have to implore different fighting styles to deal the maximum damage output.
Certain enemies require themselves to be stunned, which can be done through Atreus’ arrows, which you have control of. You can also deal melee damage with Kratos’ fists to increase the stun bar and when it’s filled, pressing R3 allows you to deal the finishing blow. Depending on the type of enemy, you can rip them from in half or break them in half, amongst others.
Over the course of the game, you will gain experience points (EXP) and Hacksilver (in-game currency), which can be used to upgrade your weapons, armour and abilities for both Kratos and Atreus. While you can upgrade abilities and skills at any time, upgrading your weapons and armour comes few and far between (or maybe I’m just that slow at the game that it feels that way).
Be sure to keep your eyes peeled at the many chests and loot scattered across the land, from chests to human carcasses. While most only give you Hacksilver, some have great rewards, which will increase your overall ability when a battle starts.
Boss battles are some of the more rewarding fights, but they are also some of the toughest. What’s great about God of War is that it allows you to save the game at any time, given the fact that there’s isn’t any loading time between cutscenes. Boss fights are trickier than regular enemies as you should probably already know by now, but that doesn’t mean that you must make life difficult for yourself.
There will be a small clue thrown in while you’re neck deep into a boss fight, whether it’s a casual inanimate object that can be used against them or just Atreus pointing out the obvious.
Looks and Plays Like a Dream
One of the key elements of God of War that has gotten me hooked is its cinematography and its landscaping. It’s clear that the guys over at the SIE Santa Monica Studio have poured their heart and soul into the game, with great results.
Visually, God of War looks stunning. The explicit detail of every footprint, every swing of the axe and every conversation between the characters have been perfectly orchestrated, making the game look like a dream. Of course, it is 2018 and the bar just keeps getting higher for AAA game titles.
However, that doesn’t mean that God of War doesn’t deserve the credit it is due. The gameplay between Kratos and Atreus works wonderfully well, whether you’re searching for clues on how to progress to the next stage of the game or when you’re in battle. From calling out enemy attacks before they happen or pointing out a clue you may have missed; the game gives you a small spoonful of help before throwing you into the deep end. If you have ever played any game that comes with a puzzle element, it is easy enough to spot the clues that are right in front of you.
Game of the Year Contender
Sure, we’re only mid-way through April but God of War has got my vote for Game of the Year. From its graphics to its narrative and even its storyline, God of War does an impeccable job in keeping the balance between Kratos’ rage and his hard love for Atreus. It also maintains the balance between telling the story and letting you play it out as it goes along. Of all the games I’ve played so far this year (and it’s quite a few, given my obvious lack of a social life), God of War has managed to maintain my short attention span and I foresee it staying that way for quite some time.
While many have probably finished the game already through speed runs and whatnot, I decided to take my time with the game because that is what it deserves; my complete and utter devotion and attention (and because I have nobody else to give it to so why not a video game).
