God of War

Describing each aspect of God of War would only serve to keep readers from going out and playing this game, which everyone should. Top to bottom, Sony Santa Monica has created a beautiful evolution of the series. The story is more nuanced and full of surprises, the characters have depth and their relationships grow, and the combat is more deliberate and forces the player to consider every action. Graphically, this is one of the best looking games on a console, filled with diverse and colorful environments and a sense of scope and scale that makes the world feel whole.

I expected great action from God of War, and it delivers that handily. But I didn’t expect it to be a thrilling journey in which every aspect of it complements the others to form what is nothing short of a masterpiece. It’s a game in which Kratos, a previously one-note character, becomes a complex father, warrior, and monster, embattled both on the field and within his own heart about how to treat his son; one in which the world opens up and shifts, offering rewards in both gameplay and knowledge of its lore that I treasured with each accomplishment. The obvious care that went into crafting it...

Despite this, Sony Santa Monica’s latest Kratos-starring installment is not a remaster, reboot, or re-imagining of the title that first introduced us to the deity-destroying antihero. 2018’s God of War is actually a sequel, picking up some years after Kratos murdered his way through Greek mythology’s “most wanted.”

The music and voicework in God of War is superb, combining the grandiose tone of Norse mythology with an intimate feeling of grief and growth. The orchestral choir pieces are incredibly powerful, and fitting of the cinematic moments they’re used in. God of War also knows when to use silence, which proves vital to the story’s more subtle and quiet moments. The voice acting is remarkable, with every character’s actor or actress fitting their roles perfectly. Atreus, Kratos, and Mimir get special shoutouts in this regard, especially for Christopher Judge’s impeccable ability to make Kratos grow s...

One of the best games of recent years gets even better, courtesy of a superb port and content that has withstood the march of time with aplomb.

While Kratos may have aged God of War symbolizes just how different a game can be from what fans have known and still surpass all expectations.

God of War feels like a breath of fresh air, thanks to a reimagined world and some deeper customization features. But at the root of the game is the classic God of War combat, slightly less gory but only slightly less grisly. Tearing monsters apart bare-handed is just as much of a rush as it ever was. And that's good, because even if it's time to grow up, it's okay not to change too much.

God of War on PC does have a few strange issues, but it is the best way to play the game if your PC is powerful enough. DLSS does a great job at reducing the load, but if you want an increase in quality over the PS5 version you will need a rig capable of handling it.

God of War has always been a franchise filled with over the top violence, memorable moments and big action set-pieces. The newest addition to the series on PS4 has those things, but those elements are far from the most interesting parts in the experience. Developer Sony Santa Monica took my breath away with its subtle and quiet moments as much as it shocked me with its gigantic scale boss battles and impressed me with its clever, varied combat. God of War successfully weaves together all of t...

In recreating the God of War experience, Sony Santa Monica has taken elements from different genres, as well as the series’ cannon, to breathe new life into the series. It wears its inspirations on its sleeve but presents itself as the best God of War we’ve ever experienced. Kratos is no longer the cardboard cutout of rage we used to know. Instead, through the window of Atreus, we see a God who is also a man, a man learning what it means to be human once more.