By Details about Kratos’ new opponents, diverse places to explore, and enhanced combat possibilities are revealed in God of War Ragnarok.
God of War Ragnarok Specifications
Platform
PS4 and PS5
Price
- Standard Edition: God of War Ragnarok PS4 [ $59.99 ]
- Standard Edition: God of War Ragnarok PS4 and PS5 [ $69.99 ]
- Digital Deluxe Edition:
God of War Ragnarok PS4 and PS5
Darkdale Armor
Darkdale Attire (Cosmetic)
Darkdale Axe Grip
Darkdale Blades Handles
Dark Horse digital art book
Official digital soundtrack
PSN avatar set for PS4/PS5 [ $79.99 ]
We’re getting close to going back to Midgard and the other nine realms. On November 9, God of War Ragnarok will be released on PS5 and PS4, and I’ve had the good fortune to play the PS5 version of Kratos and Atreus’ on-going adventure.
This article won’t contain any major plot spoilers, which is good because there is a ton to discuss on the gameplay itself, graphics, unique new foes, environments, and more. I won’t name names, but I will say that this sequel doesn’t waste any time in delivering great, surprising moments with a varied cast of legendary characters.
God of War Ragnarok Story
God of War Ragnarok comes just a few years after its predecessor God of War (2018). Fimblewinter occupies Midgard and covers the earth with snow and ice. The main character of the series, Kratos, must face a harsh winter environment with his son
Atreus. At the same time, they also have to fend off the frequent attacks of the grieving goddess Freyja, who demands the death of Kratos, who killed his son Balder.
God of War Ragnarok will not make you wait for the great stuff. After a chance encounter with the Aesir gods, Thor and Odin, Kratos and his allies set out to stop the All-Father and prevent Ragnarok from destroying the world
Mythical immersion on PS5
The land of Midgard sparkles on the PS5 thanks to clear 4K visuals and smooth framerates during the winter season (I played in Performance mode). The territories, including the residence of Kratos and Atreus, are being overtaken by Fimbulwinter. As people move through the snow, it breaks up and crumbles, with light reflecting off of the surface’s microscopic ice crystals. Frosted waterfalls resemble elaborate, imposing works of art. The tranquil ambience of a wintertime walk through the woods is well captured in this snow-covered Midgard.
Immersive haptics
Santa Monica Studio has made the most of the haptics offered by the DualSense wireless controller. In one scene, dogsledding is used to escape a dangerous avalanche. The haptics of the DualSense controller vibrated in my palms, simulating the sound of falling snowflakes as well as a deep rumbling of rushing land. When the boomeranging weapon is recalled, the haptics steadily increase until the axe lands in hand with a meaty thud. This gives the Leviathan Axe an extra visceral punch in fight. The variety of haptics also adds richness to more subdued events, such Kratos sleeping in his cot after a long day.
God of War Ragnarok Combat
Versatile combat options
Calm down
I admit it took me some time to get used to the new combat mechanics until late in God of War (2018). I was a little surprised by the options. In contrast, revisiting Kratos’ Ax and Blades of Chaos at the start of God of War Ragnarok filled me with confidence and fighting spirit. Having both weapons early on allowed us to use Kratos’ arsenal more fully.
Death from above
Kratos can now sprint jump off cliffs and smash into enemies below. The new combat options are a great example of God of War Ragnarok’s emphasis on verticality within the environment
Stay Frosty
Holding down the triangle button used to equip and retrieve the Leviathan Ax will apply the Frost awakening effect to your next melee or ranged attack. Pressing R1 during Frost Awaken will perform Frozen Breach. During Frost Awaken, hold R1 and aim to cast Frozen Spike – Quickly throw a Leviathan Ax, causing Frost his blast on impact. Kratos’ expanded elemental attack range brings fresh new options to every encounter. Blazing Blades of Chaos – Similar to Leviathan Ax’s Frost Awakening, equipped Blades of Chaos can squash the triangular button to unleash a fiery whiplash. This charges Kratos’ chained device with fire, perfect for melting down enemy ice defenses. More importantly, Kratos looks undeniably cool as he spins the chain of blades and stirs the flames
Huldra Homestead
Kratos and Atreus visit Brok and Sindri’s shop and home to get ready. So we upgraded Leviathan’s Ax to level 2, greatly increasing its damage and unlocking new tiers of abilities in his tree of skills. Atreus is also equipped with new armor. My favorite detail is the inclusion of Lost Loot Chests, which the Haldra brothers use to store resources that players may have accidentally left on the battlefield
Puzzels and Exploration
Exploring the Nine Realms gave me as much pleasure as cutting an undead Norse warrior in half. Whether it’s the dank swamps of Svartalfheim, the lush forests of Vanaheim, or the majestic plains of Asgard, each level has plenty of loot waiting to be discovered. Hacksilver (money), upgrade materials, gear, and more can be found along the way, so searching for seemingly unreachable chests is almost always worth the effort
However, the puzzles required to advance the story aren’t all that difficult, which is a shame given how great the puzzles in the old games were. Some of the puzzles you have to solve to open the precious chests, such as ringing 3 bells in a limited amount of time, are satisfying enough. There are also tricky weapons and magical puzzles
Sound and Visual
Regardless of the era, God of War games always have great graphics. The pre-PS4 title is still one of the most beautiful games, even on the best gaming PCs and Steam decks. It’s no surprise that God of War Ragnarok is another visual stunner.
I played the game on his PS5 and was impressed with the amount of detail in each environment and character. There were several times when I stopped just to take in the beautiful and awe-inspiring views. Photo Mode isn’t ready at launch, which is a shame, but we’ll be seeing people posting their best photos on social media when this feature rolls out.
Composer Bear McCreary provides another immersive soundtrack that expands the game’s epic scope. The sonic design is also subtle and direct depending on the moment. Best Gaming He recommends playing with a headset.
God of War overall Summary
There’s still a lot to discuss about God of War Ragnarok… but suffice it to say that Santa Monica Studio has done its best to create a truly memorable experience that will satisfy a large portion of the gaming community.
The game’s numerous hidden loading screens remind players that this is a PS4 title, but it doesn’t do enough to spoil an otherwise excellent work of art. God of War Ragnarok It definitely deserves a place in his list of best PS5 games.
In short, get God of War Ragnarok,
A fitting title worthy for the gods.
Pre-order physical editions of God of War Ragnarök
Pre-order fast because a lot of editions are already sold out and out of stock from PlayStation Website due to it’s great hype in the Gaming market.
- God of War™ Ragnarök Launch Edition – PS5 (Pre-order)
- God of War™ Ragnarök Launch Edition – PS4 (Pre-order)
- God of War™ Ragnarök Collector’s Edition – PS5 & PS4 (Sold Out)
- God of War™ Ragnarök Jotnar Edition – PS5 & PS4 (Sold Out)
Sharing is Caring, don’t forget to share POST with your friends
[…] Read More : God of War Ragnarök PS5 (US) | Review […]
I felt the ending was a ton of convenient Marvel movie tropes back to back. I loved it as a set piece but the story element wasn’t real satisfying.
My biggest issue with the premise of having Kratos die and then playing as Atreus is that he is a very boring character. His gameplay sections were the weakest in the game, he had very generic dialogue that felt like it was from a young adult novel. His supporting cast of angr and Thrud were pretty similar in that regard.
If they tried a TLOU2 it would fail miserably because Ellie >>> Atreus.
I find it strange they call this the final norse saga game because there was a lot of unanswered questions left.
Thank you for your feedback we really appreciate it.
I tip my hat to the second Sony title this year to have a proper postgame scenario instead of just plonking the player back before the last boss and asking them to take a 2-week side quest vacation during the apocalypse. Forbidden West did a great job with this, even changing the map up and redistributing your allies.
For me the gold standard is still Fable 2. That had a ton of stuff to do.
[…] Read More : God of War Ragnarök PS5 (US) | Review […]
[…] God of War Ragnarok meets the demands placed on it by being the follow-up to one of the best video games of the last ten years. In nearly every regard, it’s bigger and more extravagant than its predecessor, with better graphics, more characters, a larger story, and improved fighting with a variety of new weaponry and playable characters. God of War Ragnarok certainly displays all of that pomp, but it also tells a deeply relatable and moving tale about a father and son who are attempting to stay together as they grow apart. Christopher Judge gives one of his all-time best performances in this film, which supports the film’s overall message. One of the most sophisticated AAA gaming experiences ever, God of War Ragnarok is a must-play for anyone wishing to experience the gaming extravaganza of 2022. Tommy Franzese […]