God of War is a game about reflecting. Not only on yourself, your past or your future; what might be more important is the way your actions reflect on those around you. In discussing this theme, the game tells a wonderful story of parentage, shame and the meaning of godhood.
Throughout God of War's runtime, the game is constantly in dialogue with itself. This discussion is even personified in the game's main characters: Kratos, God of War, has run from his vengeant past and sought refuge in exile in the lands of Midgard. His son, Atreus, is a wide-eyed youngster full of wonder and compassion for everything that happens around him. Kratos, fearful of the effect his past might have on his son, hides himself from Atreus. Meanwhile, Atreus wants to understand what his place in the world is. The tension that emerges is the same tension the games industry as a whole has gone through, exemplified by this series' previous installments.
Kratos is not a good man. Or at least, he seems to believe so. The previous God of War games, while perhaps being good games, were not good examples of storytelling that brought out the best in people. It was vile, vengeant and crude. The story of this game is about redemption as much as it is about fatherhood. Through teaching Atreus to be better, Kratos learns that there is a glimmer of hope within himself that he can foster. Through Kratos' journey, I am convinced that the games' creators show their own journeys as creatives in the videogame industry. They have done wrong, they recognize it, but now they are determined to create games that want us to be better.
Boy have they succeeded in the storytelling department. The gameplay, while incredibly fun, does not reach the same transformative heights. Instead, the game serves you fun, pacy combat gauntlets with interesting exploration puzzles that allow for the building of the games' world and Kratos and Atreus' relationship. I wish more was done with the games' formula, but given the ambition of this game it is understandable. I had tons of fun regardless.
I recommend everyone to play this game, or at least watch a playthrough of it. It is as if the games of the Mountain Dew era spoke to themselves with the lessons they have learned with time. Let's hope the industry keeps learning, and keeps becoming a space in which everyone can experience incredible stories.
Throughout God of War's runtime, the game is constantly in dialogue with itself. This discussion is even personified in the game's main characters: Kratos, God of War, has run from his vengeant past and sought refuge in exile in the lands of Midgard. His son, Atreus, is a wide-eyed youngster full of wonder and compassion for everything that happens around him. Kratos, fearful of the effect his past might have on his son, hides himself from Atreus. Meanwhile, Atreus wants to understand what his place in the world is. The tension that emerges is the same tension the games industry as a whole has gone through, exemplified by this series' previous installments.
Kratos is not a good man. Or at least, he seems to believe so. The previous God of War games, while perhaps being good games, were not good examples of storytelling that brought out the best in people. It was vile, vengeant and crude. The story of this game is about redemption as much as it is about fatherhood. Through teaching Atreus to be better, Kratos learns that there is a glimmer of hope within himself that he can foster. Through Kratos' journey, I am convinced that the games' creators show their own journeys as creatives in the videogame industry. They have done wrong, they recognize it, but now they are determined to create games that want us to be better.
Boy have they succeeded in the storytelling department. The gameplay, while incredibly fun, does not reach the same transformative heights. Instead, the game serves you fun, pacy combat gauntlets with interesting exploration puzzles that allow for the building of the games' world and Kratos and Atreus' relationship. I wish more was done with the games' formula, but given the ambition of this game it is understandable. I had tons of fun regardless.
I recommend everyone to play this game, or at least watch a playthrough of it. It is as if the games of the Mountain Dew era spoke to themselves with the lessons they have learned with time. Let's hope the industry keeps learning, and keeps becoming a space in which everyone can experience incredible stories.