God of War is an achievement for video games as a storytelling medium. Kratos and Atreus have the most genuine father-son relationship I’ve experienced in a game, and watching them grow to understand one another is incredibly moving. There’s lots to do throughout the entire game, which is a joy thanks to the exceptional combat and levelling system. If you have a PS4, you need to play God of War.
God of War
Developer: Santa Monica Studios
Price: $59.99
Platforms: PS4 (reviewed)
MonsterVine was provided with a PS4 copy for review.
I wrote an article about God of War’s transition in genre a couple weeks back. In it, I said that God of War was brave for being willing to grow in a way that few franchises can. While I wasn’t sure as to whether this bravery would pay off, I was optimistic. That optimism was duly rewarded, as God of War is a triumph for video games in general. It’s the type of game that very rarely comes around, which in a way, makes it all the more special.
God of War takes place long after God of War III. Kratos has killed Zeus (and just about every other Greek god), and almost killed himself to spite the remaining Greek deities. In a bid to escape this violent life of a god, Kratos managed to stumble into the world of Norse mythology, where he married a local woman and had a son, Atreus. Kratos’s wife dies, so the game begins with Kratos and Atreus cremating her. Since her last wish was to be scattered on the highest peak of the Nine Realms, Kratos and his son venture off to reach the summit of the mountain, all while fighting monsters, gods, and trying to bond over a shared feeling of grief. This emotional story never betrays the core ideas of the God of War series though, which is a feat in and of itself.
It’s difficult to adequately describe how touching the relationship between Kratos and Atreus is. What starts as a distant (at best) kinship between an angry father and a frail son slowly and subtly transforms into a relationship built on genuine trust and earned respect. There are lots of subtle moments that slowly build their relationship peppered throughout the entire game, which makes the resolution feel real and earned. As someone with a pretty stern dad, I saw a lot of realism in how Kratos would react to his son’s jokes and lighter moments as time went on. I think anyone with a stoic parent will get a bit extra out of this story, as you can tell that this game’s Kratos was developed by someone with experience in that regard.
The other characters are largely fantastic as well. The all-knowing head Mimir stands out as a fantastic midpoint between Kratos and Atreus. Mimir is perfect as an audience insert, as he’ll often say things that the player has on their mind. He answers questions, establishes backstories, and lightens the mood with jokes that don’t mess with the game’s tone. Freya is another stand-out character thanks to her tragic past and complex motivations. Her choices surprised me until the very end, but never in a way that felt forced. The dwarven brothers Brokk and Sindri add some crude levity to the somber story, but are able to be serious when the occasion calls for it.
The villainous gods Baldur, Magni, and Modi each serve their own purposes well, as they definitely make you want to violently kill them. These three are only the tip of the Norse iceberg though, so I can’t wait to see future entries tackles some real big-bads. I will say that I wish we got a peek at Odin though, as he was discussed throughout the entire game but never seen (his ravens don’t count, as cool as that may be).
God of War’s gameplay really surprised me, as it manages to ground the combat of previous entries without losing its soul. You won’t be double-jumping or using the over-the-top weapons from previous God of War games, but the combos and special moves Kratos can do feel in-line with the franchise’s combo-oriented combat. The Leviathan Axe is a thrill to play with, as you can easily fight up-close or at a distance with it. (Throwing the axe and beckoning it back like Mjolnir is far more entertaining than it has any right to be). Earning new combos slowly fleshes out your combat capabilities, and you’ll find yourself doing some Devil May Cry-level attacks by the end of the game. That’s not even counting Kratos’s hand-to-hand skills or the weapon you get midway through the game. I don’t want to spoil what it is, but using it is nothing short of exhilarating. There’s a real skill involved with swapping between weapons and fighting styles while blocking and parrying various enemies, which makes God of War never feel repetitive throughout its 20 hour average playtime.
Atreus’s role in battle is worth talking about, as it effortlessly weaves itself into Atreus’s character and development throughout the story. Atreus is controlled with a single button, which can be used to have him shoot arrows at opponents while you focus on close combat. At the beginning of the game, Atreus and his arrows are more of a novelty than anything. They barely do any damage, and he can only shoot a couple every so often. As Atreus grows as a man, you develop his combat abilities until he’s an indispensable part of combat. His arrows and special magic can be incredibly helpful as the game goes on, mirroring his growth from a fragile boy into a budding man. This kind of interweaving between narrative and gameplay is difficult to pull off, so I’ve got to commend Santa Monica in this regard.
That playtime, of course, isn’t accounting for the myriad of side-content that God of War confidently boasts. From dragons to free, to spirits to save, from armor to find, to Valkyries to battle; there’s no shortage of things to do after the base game. There are lots of islands to travel to and entire optional realms to explore, each with its own unique atmosphere, challenges, and side-quests. Diverging paths with treasures and secrets to unlock are commonplace, which makes God of War feel full of content and surprisingly non-linear for this type of game. There’s quite a lot of lore and artifacts for mythology enthusiasts to find as well, which serve to flesh out Kratos’s new world and the gods within it. This sort of dedication to its source material makes God of War feel like a dream come true for anyone with an interest in Norse mythology, while serving as a decent jumping-off point for those who come out of the game intrigued by this strange new world.
Visually, God of War is nothing short of gorgeous. Every character looks serviceably realistic, while still maintaining a distinct style that makes these larger-than-life characters feel fairly ordinary. You can tell that Baldur is an unsettling and powerful man, but at the same time, he looks like your standard scrawny weirdo. At the same time, the awe-inspiring World Serpent and the various trolls are all very clearly made to look otherworldly. The ridiculous gore (which does indeed make its return) is more visceral than ever, making Kratos’s kills feel heavier and more impactful. I have a launch PS4, so these stunning visuals are available to everyone, not just those with a PS4 Pro.
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 softer ever so slowly.
The Final Word
God of War is a masterpiece in storytelling and gameplay. The emotional tale of Kratos and Atreus is one that will resonate with players for years to come, largely thanks to just how well it’s told. God of War manages to keep the soul of the franchise intact while drastically changing its tone to a grounded story about father and son, making God of War one of the greatest achievements of this console generation.
-MonsterVine Rating: 5 out of 5 – Excellent
