By Jack Grimme, Contributing Writer
Most of the time, I prefer to bury the lead for my reviews. I want there to be some level of suspense for the reader as I build towards the conclusion and reveal the overall score. However, that is near impossible to do with a game like God of War: Ragnarök. The original trilogy is easily one of the most beloved series of all time. And this game is a direct sequel to 2018’s God of War, which is essentially a soft reboot that finds the protagonist, Kratos, battling his way through Norse mythology. The title won Game of the Year and cemented the franchise as one of Sony’s most dependable exclusive titles. A betting man would comfortably place their money on Ragnarök being one of the most critically acclaimed releases of 2022. And it would not be an understatement to say that man hit the jackpot. God of War: Ragnarök is a home run. Let’s talk about it.
(Fair warning: the review will contain spoilers for the preceding titles, but not for Ragnarök itself.)
God of War: Ragnarök takes place a handful of years after the previous game. Kratos’ son, Atreus, has grown up quite a bit. He is now a teenager and just about as rebellious as you would expect. Kratos, on the other hand, is the same grumpy warrior that we have grown to love over the past 15 years or so. He is stubborn and assured, but still showing some growth and expanded empathy, albeit begrudgingly. The two, and the rest of the nine realms, are facing the consequences of the last game’s final confrontation. Kratos finally killing Baldur has brought on an impending apocalypse and thrown their world into a permanent winter. Whispers of Ragnarök, the aforementioned apocalypse, has everyone on their toes. Kratos is forcing Atreus to endure endless training to prepare him for what’s to come. Atreus considers this inaction and believes they are responsible for preventing Ragnarök. Kratos, as per usual, insists their only responsibility is to survive. A truly glorious introduction to Thor and Odin sets the protagonists off on a journey to find answers and some sense of salvation.
When you pick up a new copy of a flagship Sony exclusive, you can typically bank on some truly breathtaking visuals. As someone who has had neither the funds nor the opportunity to buy a PlayStation 5, I played this title on my nine-year-old PlayStation 4. And although it had my ancient console sounding like a jet engine, the graphics still had my jaw on the floor. Everything about this game is cinematic in the best way possible. The cutscenes blend seamlessly into the gameplay. The scenery is crisp and detailed. The character designs and animations are lifelike. Sony is far from a perfect company, but it is hard to deny the quality of their exclusive titles. From God of War, to The Last of Us, to Spider-Man, I could go on all day. The visuals and storytelling that they bring to their single-player games are, quite frankly, unmatched in the modern day. The bar was impossibly high and Sony, more specifically, Santa Monica Studios, still manages to impress.
I simply must commend the immaculate storytelling at work here. I have played video games my whole life. Gaming will almost certainly be one of my most consistent hobbies until I am six feet under. I have always noticed a stigma towards gaming and the quality of storytelling. I will admit that the average story in a video game is blander than your average book, movie, or television show. That is largely because games tend to focus more on gameplay and mechanics than plot or theming. However, every now and then you get a game like God of War: Ragnarök that truly showcases the storytelling potential that comes from player input and autonomy. It is much easier to connect with the protagonist when you are the one making the choices. Even in a linear story like this, you still have some control. You choose the upgrades, you pick the side quests, and you proceed at your own pace. The ending is always the same, but you can arrive there any way you want. Cory Barlog, the writer behind every God of War game, understands this more than almost anyone in the industry. He knows how to craft an innovative tale that truly immerses and rewards dedicated players.
There are honestly too many positives in this game to reasonably fit into one review. So I will do a bit of a lightning round before wrapping up. The hack-and-slash combat in this title is more refined than ever. The action is gory, graphic, and genuinely grandiose. There are plenty of ways to upgrade Kratos and Atreus, which keeps the gameplay fresh during your playthrough. The voice work in this game is pitch perfect. You can tell that the actors are devoted and knowledgeable about their respective characters. Christopher Judge, the bass-y voice behind the titular hero, is particularly outstanding. Every grunt and caustic murmur are masterfully delivered. Sunny Suljic’s Atreus is the perfect foil to Kratos with his optimistic, adventurous portrayal. Every single voice in this game is giving it their all and working together to bring the apocalypse to life.
Up until this point I have been showering the game with non-stop praise. A typical review would have a brief aside at this point to provide some criticism. I have almost no notes for the creative team behind this venture. There are a handful of moments where the hack-and-slash portions feel a tad bit too long. However, I feel like most of the time I only felt that way because I was itching to get to the next story beat. To spend more time mining for flaws would just feel forced and disingenuous. I had a fantastic time with this release. If a perfect game exists, it very well could be God of War: Ragnarök. It has everything a player could ask for and more. Every single inch of this world glows with the dedication and passion of the writers, designers, and actors. I am absolutely stoked to see them being rewarded for their commitment to the craft.
Score: 10/10
God of War: Ragnarök is available to play on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
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