God of War

When the credits roll after 30 hours or so you’ll be left satisfied by God of War but also with more questions than perhaps you started out with. You’ll be eager for more. I know I certainly am. This is a new start for Kratos, and I can’t wait to see what’s next in store for him and Atreus as they deal with their Norse adversaries. The God of War series has a bright future it would seem, one that many of us didn’t expect or think was possible. And I’m extraordinarily happy about that.

Republished on Wednesday 1st June 2022: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of June's PlayStation Plus lineup. The original text follows.

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.”

A triumph of brilliant design and exceptional production values that rightfully has the world fumbling for superlatives.

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...

In God of War, story and gameplay unite for a gripping, memorable journey with unerring focus. Kratos’ new beginning is masterfully written, emotionally resonant, and a thrilling challenge.

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 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.

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.

A lot of what goes into God of War feels as though it was cherry-picked from the modern gaming zeitgeist. The semi-open world structure, loot system, and a much deeper narrative focus work well, but are all trends being pushed by most other big games. As a result, God of War can feel slightly homogenised in a way that some fans may find unappealing. Thankfully, a strong sense of setting and brutally satisfying combat help maintain that God of War identity. If it wasn’t made abundantly clear already, this is the first in what will most likely be a new trilogy for the God of War franchise, and t...

Finally, God of War is a brilliant reinvention of a character who was out of place and out of time in the current generation of video games, and an evolution in the way relationships between two or more of them are depicted in such a creative environment. It’s a game you really need to look into if you love old-fashioned, wrapped up single-player experiences with a lot of content in them. It could’ve been even bigger in scope and more cohesive, but it feels already huge for a debut and a ...