Ragnarok essentially combines the best of both GoW 2018 and the older God of War games into one massive yet tightly packaged game. The journey that this game will take you can feel as grandiose as the God of Wars of old, and yet it retains the emotional resonance that GoW 2018 brings. Every couple hours or so, the game introduces new things, whether it be a important story moment, or new gameplay ideas, that result in a snowball-esque progression. The game just keeps getting bigger and better, surprising you at every turn. This, combined with the game's immaculate sense of pace, results in an experience that manages to stay fresh and exciting the whole way through, even as the story meanders in the first half, in which our main characters are just as confused as to how to progress as we are. It successfully wrangles so many story arcs and tangles, presenting it as a cohesive whole without overwhelming you. I don't want to spoil it at all, it is an amazing rollercoaster ride that everyone should see for themselves.
Ragnarok also successfully fleshes out the combat system from GoW 2018, with massively increased enemy variety, a larger move set from the get go, and various optional equipments that encourages a wide variety of play styles. It truly feels like everyone will find something that will fit their sensibilities here, and the game is made even more fun because of it. Backed up by a well paced progression system, incredibly satisfying animations and impactful effects, the beat-em-up combat is a joy to play and a sight to behold.
While the old cast of characters are as great as ever, the new people you'll meet are just as interesting. Thor is a deadly force to be reckoned with, and yet his painful ignorance of the truth leads into a lot of drama with his family that fists can't fully solve. Odin's out-of-left-field portrayal steals the show everytime he's on screen, as his unassuming appearance and witty dialogue breaks the expectations of what somebody who's called the All-Father would be.
It would be negligent if I don't talk about the boss fights in a GoW game: they are real good. They're not the most difficult fights, but the spectacle on display are very impressive, and the variety of mechanics being tested makes it very engaging. I have to say some of my favorite ones are the big wolf boss, and the last two bosses.
It's not to say that I don't have some complaints. I'm a bit sad that the game still very much feels like a PS4 title, especially with the way the levels are designed making it feel a bit too corridor-like most of the time. The soundtrack also didn't leave too much of a mark on me for the most part, as it chooses to fulfill its duty as the emotional catalyst of the moments on screen, and not much else.
At the end, Ragnarok stands tall as one of the finest example of a "bigger and better" sequel. It might not be the most groundbreaking or innovative, but is that always the right thing to aim for? Let's fully realize our ideas before moving on into something else.
Ragnarok also successfully fleshes out the combat system from GoW 2018, with massively increased enemy variety, a larger move set from the get go, and various optional equipments that encourages a wide variety of play styles. It truly feels like everyone will find something that will fit their sensibilities here, and the game is made even more fun because of it. Backed up by a well paced progression system, incredibly satisfying animations and impactful effects, the beat-em-up combat is a joy to play and a sight to behold.
While the old cast of characters are as great as ever, the new people you'll meet are just as interesting. Thor is a deadly force to be reckoned with, and yet his painful ignorance of the truth leads into a lot of drama with his family that fists can't fully solve. Odin's out-of-left-field portrayal steals the show everytime he's on screen, as his unassuming appearance and witty dialogue breaks the expectations of what somebody who's called the All-Father would be.
It would be negligent if I don't talk about the boss fights in a GoW game: they are real good. They're not the most difficult fights, but the spectacle on display are very impressive, and the variety of mechanics being tested makes it very engaging. I have to say some of my favorite ones are the big wolf boss, and the last two bosses.
It's not to say that I don't have some complaints. I'm a bit sad that the game still very much feels like a PS4 title, especially with the way the levels are designed making it feel a bit too corridor-like most of the time. The soundtrack also didn't leave too much of a mark on me for the most part, as it chooses to fulfill its duty as the emotional catalyst of the moments on screen, and not much else.
At the end, Ragnarok stands tall as one of the finest example of a "bigger and better" sequel. It might not be the most groundbreaking or innovative, but is that always the right thing to aim for? Let's fully realize our ideas before moving on into something else.