The majority of the journey is set in the realm of Midgard. The vision behind all of this is evident in Kratos' meticulously grizzled physique and weathered equipment, in the atmospheric effects that transform believably rustic environments into the stuff of dreams, and in the overall design and structure of the world itself. It is without a doubt one of the best-looking console games ever released, with every breathtaking environment and mythical character exhibiting impressive attention to detail and beautifying flourishes aplenty.
As if wild predators and ghastly fiends weren't obstacles enough, representatives from the pantheon of Norse mythology arise in an attempt to disrupt their mission, establishing the amplified stakes and the clash of impressive forces that you expect from God of War.Īnd like its predecessors, God of War is a technical and artistic showcase. It's the death of his mother prior to the start of the game that thrusts Atreus and Kratos outward her dying wish was to have her ashes spread atop the highest peak in the land. However, with his young son Atreus to protect and guide, we also see Kratos take a deep breath and bury his savage instincts in order to set a positive example.Ītreus was raised in isolation from the dangers of the wild world around him, and rightfully fails to grasp his place in it when confronted with the realities of a land protected by and under siege from gods. Part of him retains the old violent tendencies that made him a star long ago. A furious, bloodthirsty icon has transformed into a sensitive father figure. There are many reasons why the structural transformations are a good thing, but it's what's become of Kratos, the hulking death machine, that leaves a lasting impression. These major shifts don't signal the end of God of War as we know it, rather they allow the series' DNA to express itself in new ways. It also shifts its focus to Norse mythology, casting off the iconic Greek gods and legends that provided the basis for every previous game. Like so many popular franchises that have reinvented themselves in recent years, the new God of War dips into the well of open-world RPG tropes. More than a decade (and many games) later, it makes sense that Sony would want to mix things up for the aged hack-and-slash series.
The God of War series has, until now, stuck very close to the standards set in the original 2005 game.