God of War Ragnarök Review: A Worthy Successor, But Not Without Its Flaws
God of War Ragnarök, out on November 9 for PS4 and PS5, has a daunting task: following up the critically acclaimed and universally beloved 2018’s God of War, a game that not only transported Kratos to Norse mythology but also reimagined integral aspects of the franchise. While director Cory Barlog encountered resistance both from Sony and within the team, the game delivered beyond expectations. The success of the 2018 reboot places immense pressure on Ragnarök, especially with the additional challenge of concluding God of War’s Nordic saga. However, the answer is simple: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
God of War Ragnarök builds upon the foundation established by its predecessor, retaining its cinematic storytelling and immersive one-shot style. The illusion of a single continuous shot is only broken when Kratos travels through portals, effectively masking loading screens. While the game utilizes these portals to mask loading screens, it also employs unnecessary long tunnels, tight passages, and cramped areas where players must crouch, which can feel a tad artificial. Nevertheless, the captivating cinematography seamlessly blends with the compelling writing (Matt Sophos and Richard Gaubert) and direction (Eric Williams), resulting in a truly cinematic experience. The quality of the cutscenes is so high that you might find yourself wishing they would never end!
The Achilles’ heel of the medium, however, presents a challenge. Video games, by their very nature, demand player interaction, not just for a few minutes but for hours on end. This is especially true for AAA titles aiming to justify their price tag, often causing their stories to suffer as a consequence. God of War Ragnarök is no exception to this rule. That being said, with such captivating gameplay, it feels almost petty to complain.
Combat: Refined and Rejuvenated
Ragnarök faithfully retains the frenetic, satisfying, and occasionally humorous combat system of its predecessor, although the camera remains tighter than many would prefer. This combat system is further enhanced with a couple of fresh moves and mechanics, allowing Atreus, Kratos’ now-teenage son, to play a more active role in battle.
A significant change in the combat system lies in the utilization of the triangle button, on both the DualSense (PS5) and DualShock 4 (PS4). In the 2018 God of War, the triangle button was used to equip or recall the Leviathan Axe. However, if the axe was already in hand, pressing the triangle button had no effect. In God of War Ragnarök, holding down the triangle button infuses the axe with frost, making your next melee or ranged attack (R1 or R2, respectively, on both controllers) deliver an extra chill to your foes. This ability can be similarly applied to the Blades of Chaos, Kratos’ signature weapon from the Greek era, which is now available from the start in Ragnarök. Instead of frost, the effect is naturally fiery.
These abilities form part of God of War Ragnarök’s skill tree, where players spend earned XP to unlock a variety of skills for Kratos and Atreus, divided into melee, ranged, technique, and instinct talents. Players can choose to enhance these skills through multiple tiers, progressing from bronze to silver to gold. This tier system adds an interesting layer to character growth, allowing players to tailor their experience based on their playstyle. While there’s a reasonable amount of choice baked into Ragnarök, the tier system proves particularly intriguing. Character growth is, in many ways, defined by your chosen play style rather than simply arbitrarily assigning earned XP.
While many of the enhanced abilities improve the versatility of your weapons, that’s not the only way to upgrade them. Standard XP and resource gathering allows players to boost weapon quality and strength. Additionally, runes, obtained after defeating mini-bosses, can be slotted in for elemental effects. Both the axe and the blades offer light and heavy runic attacks in God of War Ragnarök. These attacks excel in crowd control and maximizing damage, though players must be mindful of their cooldown timers.
Weapons Aid in Traversal
Weapons play a crucial role in traversal too, with the Blades of Chaos functioning as grappling hooks – a ubiquitous tool in modern gaming. They allow players to climb to previously inaccessible areas, interact with objects to unlock loot or new areas, and even latch onto enemies to unleash havoc. Furthermore, Kratos’ movement adds another layer to combat. In God of War Ragnarök, you can sprint off cliffs and slam into enemies below, dealing damage to them and those in their vicinity.
The combat system in God of War Ragnarök showcases the ability to achieve much with less. Despite only featuring two weapons – the axe and the blades – the game offers a wide range of tactical options. Players can charge their weapons with frost or fire, hold buttons to trigger special combos, and coordinate their attacks for maximum damage output.
However, the game’s tight camera can hinder visibility and prevent players from seeing approaching enemies, resulting in unexpected hits. Kratos’ dodging animations also feel less natural at times. Although players can command their companions – Atreus or other characters – to assist in combat, their contributions feel limited in the heat of battle. In most cases, companions only target the enemy you’re engaged with or those in your field of view. They are hesitant to attack enemies outside your line of sight, leaving you vulnerable.
Furthermore, God of War Ragnarök incorporates classic level design, filled with fodder enemies that appear from the ground, serving mainly as XP farming tools. This is also true for some mini-bosses that randomly appear, purely for the purpose of earning XP. This can feel repetitive and lack narrative purpose, making combat feel more like an obligation than an exciting part of the game at times.
Graphics and Performance: A Visual Feast
Ragnarök, marking the first time the God of War franchise is natively available on Sony’s flagship console, delivers a visual spectacle. While the 2018 God of War received a PS5 patch in early 2021, enhancing its fidelity and performance to 4K 60fps, Ragnarök is the series’ first true release on the PlayStation 5.
Players can choose from three graphics modes: 4K 30fps for optimal visuals, 60fps with dynamic resolution for a smoother experience, or even 120fps if your TV supports it. All of this without the fan noise that plagued God of War on the PS4.
Unfortunately, I could only test Ragnarök on PS5, as I lack a PS4 or PS4 Pro. Therefore, I’m unable to comment on the graphical fidelity and performance on older Sony consoles.
Narrative: A Coming-of-Age Tale
God of War Ragnarök sometimes feels like a loot simulator, with many maps designed to strategically place chests. Some loot is tied to engaging environmental puzzles; however, much of the loot is readily available, even characters remark on your penchant for breaking objects and diverting from the main objective. While the fourth-wall-breaking commentary might be amusing, it can’t fully mask the monotony of the loot collection. Fortunately, it’s not as frustrating as the loot-heavy approach seen in other games, including some from PlayStation itself.
From the outset, God of War Ragnarök captures your attention with its compelling characters, drawing admiration and empathy. It serves as a coming-of-age story for Atreus, a naive teenager passionate about becoming more involved in the affairs of the gods. It falls upon Kratos, a seasoned warrior who has seen the harsher realities of the world, to protect his son from the dangers lurking within the nine realms. At the same time, Atreus yearns to uncover his true identity. Is he forging his own path in life, or merely fulfilling prophecies by seeking knowledge about them?
Even when the narrative isn’t actively progressing, the dynamic interactions between Kratos, Atreus, and the severed head of Mimir keep things engaging. The dry humor stemming from the father-son duo’s conflicting personalities – Kratos’ blunt honesty and Atreus’ inquisitive nature – remains a strong point. If anything, it has deepened as Atreus grows more confident in expressing himself.
A Vast World to Explore
Now, with Atreus a bit older, he can embark on his own adventures, mostly unbeknownst to his father. God of War Ragnarök provides a vast world teeming with activities and secrets, taking players across all nine realms of Norse mythology. From the exquisite beauty of Svartalfheim to the icy embrace of Niflheim and the eerie atmosphere of Alfheim, the game offers a unique experience in each realm. In fact, the scope of Ragnarök is so vast that it feels like two games in one as you progress through the narrative. The developers themselves acknowledged this, and even considered dividing God of War Ragnarök into two separate games due to its overwhelming scale, an idea that likely wouldn’t have been met with disapproval.
This would have transformed God of War’s Nordic saga into a trilogy, a possibility that holds strong appeal. However, the team ultimately decided against it, unwilling to devote 15 years to a single story, given that both the 2018 God of War and Ragnarök each required five years of development. Therefore, God of War Ragnarök acts as both the second and third chapters of a potential trilogy, traversing the nine realms in pursuit of identity and the desire to quell impending war, all while tackling quests for vengeance, facing off against a diverse array of monstrous enemies, employing a plethora of tools and combat techniques, and navigating through the apocalyptic backdrop of Ragnarök.
Pros:
- Highly cinematic
- Strong writing and direction
- Character growth defined by player choices
- Combat system maximizes versatility with a limited arsenal
- Offers a diverse and engaging experience
- Elemental effects add visual flair
Cons:
- Camera is too tight
- Companions could have been more helpful in combat
- Repetitive design with too much emphasis on old-school level mechanics
- Certain aspects of the game feel like a loot simulator
Rating (out of 10): 9
God of War Ragnarök releases on Wednesday, November 9, for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. It can be purchased on the PlayStation Store for Rs. 3,999 on PS4 and Rs. 4,999 on PS5.
