When starting this game, I initially thought that this game was a reimagining of the series rather than a continuation. So many elements have changed from previous God of War games, but over time it's made explicit that this is the same Kratos, which makes it even more interesting. This game presents a different Kratos, one that's grown after the events of the previous games and taken time to reflect on his actions and how he wants to preserve his legacy. Not only have the characters grown, but the series has as a whole.

The most noticeable change has been the change to a different pantheon of gods, the Norse gods. This setting fits the themes of God of War perfectly, as the gods in this universe are just as spiteful, vengeful, and bitter as the gods in the greek pantheon. This version of the Norse pantheon has a few critical differences; for instance, Loki, a normally pivotal character, is not present, at least not in the way that you would expect. Its setting is interesting, and listening to Mimir's tales about the characters and stories of the world was an excellent way to flesh out this setting. The story is excellently paced, and explores these characters and relationships in a way that adds to previous games' stories while still standing up on it's own two feet. This game examines how Kratos feels about the events of all the previous games, and how he wants his son to be better than himself, while still struggling to have the emotional maturity to keep himself from making some of the same mistakes of his own parents. Atreus' story is our proxy for new players, thrilled to learn more about this world but frustrated by his stunted relationship with his father and his struggles to improve it. He desperately wants to connect with his father and emulates his father's bad qualities but is scolded by his father for not learning the lessons Kratos is trying despite not knowing what he has done wrong. Atreus is also surrounded by other broken relationships, Brok and Sindri, Balder and Freya, and Odin and the other gods. Atreus doesn't know what a healthy relationship looks like until he learns how to truly connect with his father at the end of the game.

Combat is another drastic change, with the new Leviathan Axe feeling powerful and weighty while still remaining nimble and maneuverable. Throwing the axe never lost its charm, and the fact that even something that seems so small is polished to a mirror shine reflects how every detail in this game is so meticulously crafted. The camera can be a challenge to control at times, but I never found it unmanageable to control, and it helps that there are danger indicators. It can be frustrating to be hit by a projectile that you couldn't see and wasn't warned of, but it doesn't happen enough to bring the experience down. The moves you unlock in the skill tree are actually additive to the experience, and it helps that move new moves are contextual, which makes them easier to remember and execute when appropriate. (i.e., rather than learning new button combos, it's easier to remember that an AOE attack is tied to a dash or a button hold.) (SPOILER, skip to next paragraph) The Blades of Chaos make a triumphant return and still feel like they fit into this version of God of War. Their focus on AOE attacks gives them a distinctive feel and makes them feel useful even when, by the time you get them, your axe is fully upgraded. Unarmed combat also feels great and is still useful for stunning opponents.

This game is not without flaws. The lack of fast travel until later into the game makes backtracking mandatory in some places. The side quests are nothing to write home about either; I can't think of a single one that isn't entirely skippable without losing anything. There's a group of endgame bosses that are fun but repetitive. There are also two optional realms, Musphelheim and Niflheim, which provide endgame challenges and new gear. Musphelheim is combat challenges, like killing a certain amount of enemies in a limited amount of time. Niflheim is a dungeon that changes enemies and hazards each time, but not layout, not quite approaching a rouge-like experience. While they don't add much, I do appreciate that endgame activities are present for those who finished the game and wanted more.

The gear and skill tree system aren't great, but they are designed in such a way that they can be mostly ignored if you wish, but become a necessity on higher difficulties.

Overall, God of War (2018) is an excellently paced, great-feeling, new and refreshing experiencing, and one I look forward to recommending and replaying. There are certainly things that bog down the experience in some places, but nothing that makes this experience any less worth having. Certainly one of the best games on the PS4 and an easy recommendation for anyone.