God of War Ragnarök is a game that marks me coming full circle in a way. A few years ago, when this game was revealed I thought it looked really interesting despite being a massive Xbox fanboy at the time who still believed in console wars (unbelievably cringe, I know). Pair that with the critically well received and GOTY winning first game and my interest in these games and PlayStation as a whole was at its peak, so I bought a PS4 and the first game alongside it. Unfortunately, I got distracted by all the other games I wanted to play on the console and despite buying both games pretty early, didn’t actually get to them until this year. I lamented about how long it took me to actually get to these games in my review for God of War 2018 and I still do now, I simply do not know how I put off two incredible games like this for so long. Ragnarök specifically is everything I could have ever asked for from a sequel to 2018 and manages to tell one of the most powerful narratives I’ve experienced in gaming as well as just being a damn fun game.

While initially I thought the gameplay in Ragnarök was gonna be a straight rinse and repeat of 2018’s, I was surprised at how much they added to it. Starting with the good the game really took the criticism that many had with the first game and instead of reusing bosses and the same kinds of enemies ad nauseum, instead added tons of really cool boss fights and several different types of enemies each with their own weaknesses for you to figure out. The combat is just as satisfying as it was in the first game and certain new weapons and skills you obtain over the course of the game go a long way to make it remain so. There also just feels like there’s a lot less annoying puzzles to deal with, allowing the game to focus mostly on action which I felt was a really good call. But then there’s my complaints with the gameplay, chief among them being the sections where you play as Atreus. While Atreus is certainly an interesting and divulging character in this game it just felt like to me there was nothing that the game could do to make him as satisfying and fun to play as as Kratos himself is. Instead of using a badass axe or twinblades, Atreus simply uses his bow to beat up enemies which feels kinda weak and unsubstantial, he also just has a much smaller pool of moves that he can use due to his skill tree being much smaller than Kratos’ so it just feels like he designed to be inferior. His sections feel much shorter to make up for this and they do often have some very interesting story stuff going on so that’s a plus as well, but typically whenever I played these sections I just wished I was back playing as Kratos instead. My only other problem with the gameplay is the slow pacing of it, at least when it comes to traversal. The settings you explore in this game are really interesting, but a mission often consists of exploring a certain path and fighting a boss at the end of it, only to traverse back through that path to get back to the gateway that leads back to the main hub. It’s a tiny bit exhausting to have to go back through the area you just explored on foot with no way of fast travel or faster traversal to get you back through and all you’re really get from it is more dialogue among the characters, but still it’s not a huge issue and doesn’t take away from the game all that much.

God of War Ragnarök’s narrative is in a lot of ways the absolute polar opposite of its predecessor’s and yet the fact that both can tell such effective and emotional stories is an achievement that the writers at Santa Monica should be proud of. Instead of a simplistic and small stakes story of a man and his son taking his dead wife’s ashes up a mountain Ragnarök opts to tell the story of a father and son coming to grips with the end of the world and its approach to telling this story is just as cinematic and heavy as it sounds. Kratos, despite learning to be honest and open with his son in the prior game is still not a perfect father, he is still deeply untrusting and overprotective and those are things that become a driving force between him and Atreus throughout the game. Atreus on the other hand is deeply curious about the world and about who he is, seeking the truth no matter what the consequences might be and rushing hastily into situations instead of using his judgement like his father has taught him. Both are flawed characters, and this estranged relationship, despite being in the face of the end of all things no less, feels like the real conflict of the game that must be solved. Of course there are other characters that enhance the game as well, Freya’s search for revenge and meaning after Baldur’s death in the first game is interesting, Brok and Sindri’s drama with each other and their clashing lifestyles is really good and has some surprisingly heartfelt and dramatic moments to it, Thor as a character is a really interesting parallel to Kratos and the drama within his family is deep, and Odin’s endless quest for knowledge and the things he has done and will do the obtain it makes him a really intriguing character and villain.

Despite the deeply interesting plot and characters though, I think where God of War Ragnarök really hits home is in its themes. Although it’s been years since her death, we’re shown that Kratos still mourns Faye and with his own death prophesied about and presumably on the horizon he has dreams of her seemingly becoming for him to join her. This portrayal of grief that is seen throughout the game, specifically in moments of great indecision for Kratos’ character is incredibly realistic and well realized. There’s also overlapping themes of revenge, regret, and the idea of being better. Several characters throughout the story have reasons to seek revenge on other characters, whether its scene in Freya and Thor’s anger towards Kratos at the beginning of the story, or virtually everyone’s lust for revenge on Odin throughout the story, everyone in this game has been wronged and seek to deal with it in the worst way possible. When given the chance at revenge each in their respective ways however, the message then becomes one of how past mistakes do not define a person, how forgiveness can open far more doors than petty revenge can, and how striving to be better than the one who hurt you is one of the hardest but most satisfying things you can do, and the moments where certain characters realize this are some of the most powerful I’ve seen in all of gaming.

Having finally played both of the modern God of War games like I planned to years ago when I expanded my interests I can say without a doubt that they have two of the most powerful narratives and satisfying combat in any game I’ve played. Though there are just a few slight gameplay flaws that hold Ragnarök back from perfection it was still an unforgettable experience from start to finish and one I’m glad I took the $300 plunge on those few years ago. I’m uncertain where this series will go next but I will be there on day one to continue the adventures of Kratos and Boy when it arrives.

We all wear masks... metaphorically speaking, Mr. Kratos.

Don't know why I got it in my head that God of War (2018) was the first in a trilogy. Everything's a trilogy nowadays, and every Sony first party title is a narrative action game. I know everyone is sick of it, the people crave Ape Escape, I crave Ape Escape, but having now finished the God of War Duology, I really wouldn't mind another one of these.

I won't dive in too deep on the story, but Ragnarok provides satisfying payoff to basically every plot hook introduced in the previous game and brings everyone's character arcs full circle for a conclusion that feels very earned. I think. Look, I was screwed up on medication and wracked by insomnia before a invasive medical procedure when I played most of God of War, I don't remember much of it. Baldur was there, Mimir's head was smacking off the side of Kratos' ass, Freya was real mad about her failson trying to kill her... I got the broad strokes!

Thor and Odin (played by Richard Schiff, who is mashing every scene between his molars) are perfect contrasts to Kratos and Atreus, both in terms of personal growth and their station in the story. Atreus wants to learn more about himself and the giants but seeks to defy their prophecy to protect the ones he loves, whereas Odin is consumed by a self-centered desire for knowledge and has blinded himself to the cost. Kratos realizes he's been running from who he was, but confronts his past and grows, while Thor feels powerless in the face of his own nature and habitually succumbs to his own anger and self-loathing. The rest of the supporting cast is given plenty of reason to kick old man Odin's door down and beat his ass, too.

Surt's also here, he's gonna cast Agidyne or some shit.

Combat picks up more quickly than the last game, you don't have to wait until halfway through to get the Blades of Chaos, and you eventually get a new weapon that makes use of the draupnir ring in some creative ways. Gameplay is divided between Kratos and Atreus, and I tend to worry anytime one of these games puts me in control of a side character that their gameplay just won't feel as good. Initially, Atreus is tedium manifest, but he really grew on me, and by the end of the game I think I actually prefer his combat over Kratos'.

New weapons and abilities are metered out in a way that keeps the game feeling fresh, but chapters struggle a bit more with pacing and often overstay their welcome. Every chapter has at least one room too many of a particular gimmick, puzzle, or combat encounter, resulting in about 20-30 minutes of your playtime feeling padded out. This is more a problem in the first half of the game, but even some late game chapters still drag on a bit. There are also a lot of side missions, and I eventually had to accept that I wasn't going to do everything, because then I'd only tire of Ragnarok and end up liking it less. I wouldn't even say this is a quantity over quality issue as all of it is still good, there's also just too much of it, and some of your time across Ragnarok's realms could've been better divided.

I wonder if we'll ever get to see Atreus at that age where he's stealing beer out of the garage refrigerator and taking the Blades of Chaos behind Kratos' back and accidentally causing an obscene amount of property damage. Even if we don't, I'm fairly confident in saying Ragnarok is the best game in the series. I've never played any of the other games besides the 2018 one but like, c'mon. It's got Surt!

Addendum: I almost gave this a 4/5 because of its pacing issues, but then started thinking about how Heimdall is basically just Weyoun from Deep Space 9 and that's deserving of a half star at the very least. Now if you'll excuse me, Mimir and I are gonna head to the holosuite in Svartalfheim and pretend to be old WWII British fighter pilots.

"To grieve deeply is to have loved fully."


I loved God of War (2018), and I grieve now for Ragnarök - I'm feeling dramatic today. Put simply: the whole is not greater than the sum of its parts. In fact, it's lesser.
Don't get me wrong. There are a number of moments in this that are some of the best I've experienced in all my time with video games. On top of that, the combat remains excellent - though it is both better and worse. The same goes for the side content and exploration. I enjoyed all of my 38 hours, thoroughly.

And so I hate that I feel a nagging disappointment that tells me how messy and unfocused Ragnarök is. To me, it does not feel anywhere near as special as its prequel.
This story just did not come together as cleanly as the last one did; it drags yet rushes and does not earn all of its great moments with enough build-up. Wanting to tell a grand story is not the issue: it's losing focus while doing so.

It Is The Nature Of A Thing That Matters, Not Its Form.

Death Can Have Me When It Earns Me.

Open Your Heart To Their Suffering.

This Is Your Choice Son, I Trust You

existe certa resistência ao conceito de equilíbrio e harmonia quando se fala de gênero, seja por opressão sistemática ou reparação histórica, mas a ideia de "jogo é pra menino" atrapalhou muito a criação de coisas que exploram a masculinidade de forma profunda - nós somos enganados quando achamos que só porque algo é violento ou sexualmente intenso de maneiras específicas esse algo está falando sobre ser homem, e por parecer que está, ninguém vê necessidade de tentar detalhar um pouco mais.

não é a guerra ou a paternidade que faz obras que tratam de tais temas (e temos muitas, god of war ragnarok incluso nesta lista) falarem sobre masculinidade, mas sim o brio de seguir ordens de lapidação do mundo e a preocupação de que esse mundo é o que vai abarcar aqueles e aquelas que amamos. a coragem de falar sobre sentimentos de forma que converse com sua própria natureza e não tentando emular a feminilidade nisso. ela nos complementa, ensina, e aprendemos por observar, não por copiar, assim como elas também podem fazer conosco através de comunicação e arte.

existem poucas coisas que são experiências compartilhadas por todos os gêneros e sexualidades, mas pra mim a mais importante delas é o luto. a morte é o que faz a gente se juntar, se separar, lutar, amar, reproduzir, se divertir, se entristecer, enlouquecer, e é através dela que precisamos aprender a entender todas as lutas que jamais tivemos porque nossa alma calhou de estar mais pra lá ou mais pra cá no espectro.

não é o fim do mundo, a morte de deuses, as nove dimensões diferentes que exploramos, a descoberta de pontos obscurecidos da história ou o feedback tátil de quando puxamos nosso machado de volta atingindo três inimigos diferentes que fez com que meu cérebro sentisse alívio e paz por ser como é desde que nasci. o que causou essa paz foi ver um dos personagens mais violentos da cultura pop dos últimos 20 anos pedindo desculpas, admitindo um erro e não deixando isso atrapalhar sua coragem e ímpeto nem por um segundo.

Inicialmente, apenas gostei do jogo, esperava mais batalhas épicas, um Ragnarök mais destrutivo e intenso e me decepcionei.

Quanto mais o tempo passou, mais gostei de Ragnarök.

É vísivel aqui um arco extremamente focado na redenção de Kratos como um Deus da Guerra mas sim um Deus da Esperança. Ele e Atreus como a única forma de parar o Ragnarök e salvar o mundo Nórdico.

A relação pai e filho se intensifica e temos ainda mais conexões emocionais com os personagens. Um jogo intimista a cima de tudo, com um pano de fundo de batalhas épicas e porradaria com deuses. God of War pode ter atingido ser ápice na sangrenta saga de Zeus com GOW 3, mas aqui temos uma finalização grandiosa em outros planos que antigos saudosistas jamais entenderão.

A direção nova veio para ficar e espero que a franquia continue crescendo e amadurecendo junto com seus fãs.

God of War Ragnarok is essentially an improvement on the 2018 game in every single conceivable way, and yet in hindsight it just strengthens the original. The absolute patience and genius storytelling at play is just mind-blowing and Ragnarok takes everything 2018 was building towards and delivers in spades. Everything here is top notch. Beyond the portrayals of characters like Thor and Odin, this really delves deep into Kratos' psyche and his relationship with Atreus which I found really good. Characters such as Brok and Sindri which seem auxiliary in the first game are promoted to actually impactful characters with arcs. And Freya is just a huge step up here. Love the additional weapon added. The world just feels better to explore with interesting puzzles too. It all leads to one of the best final stretches of any game I've played. Thematic masterpiece of a duology. I'll definitely play whatever the next God of War is.

“Loki precisa ir, mas Atreus ficará”

Que narrativa magnífica, que jeito incrível de se encerrar uma jornada de anos! God of War: Ragnarok beira a perfeição em quase todos os aspectos, desde sua história inspiradora até o seu combate versátil e divertido.

Me identifiquei em cada parte da jornada entre Atreus e Kratos, uma grande representação do lado mais belo de um humano, ou até mesmo de um deus, a culminação do crescimento de um grande personagem.

Sem dúvidas, um dos melhores jogos que já joguei em minha vida!

This is a very difficult game for me to rate or even render any kind of final judgment on because I find the tension between its ambitions and the realities of its production in today's gaming landscape hard to reconcile. At its best, it fully transcends the limitations and deficiencies of video game storytelling and is very well-written, well-acted, and at times quite powerful. But it is also a game that is - for lack of a better term - 'triple-A'ed' within an inch of its life, and the experience is deeply and unavoidably compromised as a result.

For starters, it is officially a member of the UNCHARTED 4 Club for games that could and should be literally half as long as they are. Thirty hours for main story only on an action game is absolutely unthinkable. There is nothing that it accomplishes in that amount of time that it could not comfortably do in fifteen. Every mission is at least a third too long. There are whole SECTIONS of the game and GROUPS of characters that could just be hacked off (probably starting with Atreus' narrative-momentum-annihilating adventures with his little FORSPOKEN-ass neurodivergent girlfriend) and do nothing but improve the experience as a result of it. And it's not just the story length - every aspect of the game - areas, sidequests, systems, loot, menus, DIALOGUE - all bloated beyond belief for seemingly no other reason than that the publisher probably mandated what their HowLongToBeat times had to read as.

And this is again where it's hard to come down on one side or the other with the game. Because all the bloat, all the unnecessary collectibles and constant character patter and whatever else are still quite well done, and with the same care and skill as the meat of the game. They did their best! It shows in every corner, truly! But in the end so much of it feels unnecessary.

Less easy to stomach is the very modern feeling you get from minute one of playing - that this is a game that is TERRIFIED of people losing interest in it. The handholding, the tooltips, the pointless loot every X amount of steps (some in the absolute silliest of places, plotwise), the companion characters reminding you verbally of status effects EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU CONTRACT ONE - possibly more severe than any other game I've played. There are times when my little guys were giving me puzzle hints before I even knew there was a puzzle, ffs. And that specifically is something that is measurably worse here than even GOW '18, where it was already a minor irritant. Were the devs promised additional days of vacation based on playerbase trophy unlock percentages or something?

So yeah, in short, it's really held back by being a major Sony game made in the 2020s, and it frustrates me. So goddamn Game Awards-core. But you look at so much of it, you look at the masterful final run where it all comes together, and then the ending (which, let me just say, as the recent father of a son ....... it hits! It hits.) and it's tough for me to believe that these truly talented people with real storytelling (and game design! the combat is still great) chops wouldn't want to make a tighter experience that actually respected its audience's intelligence as players, just a smidge.

I really hope this particular industry wave breaks and rolls back at some point. It's gotta, right?

A worthy final for the norse saga.

This game serves as a perfect final for the norse sage and pretty much for the franchise in general. I don't need Kratos to slay the gods of egypt but it still would be a welcomed thing.

The graphics and gameplay don't really differ from its predecessor. Some little things have been improved like an additional weapon for example. If you liked the combat in GOW4 you will like it here aswell. This game also seems to improve on the exploration side on the game. Some of the side quests even got their own boss fight with a little history though I am not really familiar with those of this game or GOW4.

The story more or less is as good as in GOW4 or even slightly better on its own right. Kratos gets a lot of character development in this game. He pretty much goes thru some of the best developments for any fictional character I have ever seen. Atreus also gets some character development. One of his gameplay segments though, despite the good storytelling, just dragged way to long. The 2nd one to be more precise.

This game also has a better variety of boss fight compared to GOW4 aswell. Not so many trolls around in this game. The before mentioned combat for my personal taste could offer some... well Hack n Slash action. It's kinda annoying that enemies stun you more often than you stun them. Also they sometimes just attack you to much in a row. Miss to evade one attack and a few others will follow afterwards. That can become some huge pain in the ass.

I also would have prefered it if the story would be concluded after the main credits. After the end of the game their is still some story after it, which I would have prefered to be simply part of the games main event.

The final is epic ass fuck and also shows some emotional side of the game along with the previously mentioned development of Kratos as a characters. It was beautiful.

9/10 giant wolves.

God Of War Ragnarok was by far my most anticipated game from last year. Having finally played it I'm happy to say that it fully delivered in pretty much every regard. This game is tremendous. I absolutely loved God Of War 2018 and this game further builds upon its remarkable strengths while simultaneously fixing some of its notable weaknesses. It isn’t a drastic shift in the gameplay formula but it does manage to adequately tweak/refine the general mechanics of 2018’s game, trimming the fat so to speak, and making the moment to moment gameplay experience even more smooth and fun than it already was. The boss fights are a vast improvement over the predecessor and they are very enjoyable to play through, the combat is a pitch perfect mix of visceral challenge and grueling intensity, and the exploration remains just as rewarding and satisfying as the prior game, with just the right balance of puzzles, enemy counters, collectibles, and basic platforming to keep you engaged. Ragnarok is by all means bigger and bolder than 2018’s game (both narratively and thematically) but with that also comes problems. The story feels very disjointed at points which manifests itself into some noticeably inconsistent pacing throughout this already unwieldily structured campaign. There are also some drawn out gameplay segments where so little happens in the way of plot progression, boss fights, set pieces, or character development that this game did test my patience on occasion. It's certainly clear that this game was intended to be a second installment in a trilogy as the story (especially towards the end) does feel somewhat padded. Certain character motivations also come off as contrived and certain plot developments are either seemingly rushed over or not properly fleshed out. In spite of all these flaws though? I would still feel comfortable declaring that i loved this game and that it’s the best game i’ve played all year. God Of War Ragnarok may not be perfect (no game truly is) but I can’t deny how strongly it affected me as someone who has loved this franchise since its inception. It’s an incredibly ambitious and immensely emotional experience, with top notch production values and gorgeously stunning visuals, polished gameplay, a beautifully told and utterly gripping story, anchored by a rich and spectacularly developed cast of both main characters and supporting characters. I haven’t even mentioned the incredibly moving score by Bear McCreary that adds so much emotional resonance to the proceedings of the game. I seriously doubt this game is going to have the same indelible impact that God Of War 2018 had (and it certainly isn’t as narratively singular of an experience) but as a game on its own it is every bit as stirring, meaningful, powerful, and compelling. I ultimately walked away from this game feeling incredibly satisfied and completely enthralled by what I was experiencing even through its rare missteps. I truly can’t wait to see what santa monica have in store for this franchise next.