God of War Ragnarok

Kratos and his teenage son Atreus return in God of War Ragnarok for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. This highly anticipated sequel to 2018’s God of War takes place in ancient Scandinavia and is loosely based on Norse mythology.

Let’s take a look at what Eric Williams and the team at Santa Monica Studio have in store for fans!

God of War Ragnarok Details

Platform(s): PS5 and PS4
Reviewed on: PS5
Developer(s): Santa Monica Studio
Publisher(s): Sony Interactive Entertainment
Genre: Action-adventure, hack and slash
Mode(s): Single player
ESRB Rating: M (Mature 17+)

God of War Ragnarok

An epic journey to the Nine Realms in search of answers

It’s clear that an incredible amount of work has been put into this game. And, the game’s story is so well crafted that draws you in immediately. This emotional experience is one of the top reasons that sets apart Ragnarok from other games. I don’t want to spoil the story for you, so I’ll give you an overview of what it’s about.

Ragnarok takes place three years after the events of God of War. The previous game ended with a mural that depicted Kratos’ death. However, God of War Ragnarok begins with a Fimbulwinter, a great winter that spans three summers, and is drawing to a close. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world.

Atreus seeks knowledge to help him understand the prophecy of Loki and establish his role in Ragnarok. And, Kratos who still bears the knowledge of his past mistakes, wants to spare Atreus the bloody lessons he learned from his conflict with gods. He wants to keep his son safe. Together, Kratos and Atreus have to make a choice about which path they will take. Whatever they choose will define the fate of all those living in the Nine Realms as Ragnarok approaches.

A healthy serving of visceral combat

In addition to an outstanding story, Ragnarok features well-designed and executed gameplay. A God of War game wouldn’t be a God of War game without a healthy serving of visceral combat. And, Ragnarok doesn’t disappoint. The Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos and Guardian Shield all return alongside a host of new abilities for both Kratos and Atreus.

The combat system gives you a variety of choices when it comes to combat with your enemies and bosses. It features a variety of attacks and combinations that make for an incredibly well-designed and executed combat system. Whether you want to go for the headshot or get up close and personal, there are so many options available that it never gets dull or repetitive.

Speaking of bosses, Ragnarok has numerous epic boss encounters that are challenging, yet rewarding to complete. Whether you’re facing a massive fire giant or a terrifying troll, you’ll need to make it through these encounters using all of your skills and wits. 

God of War Ragnarok takes you to the previously unreachable Vanaheim, Svartalfheim, and Asgard. As well as to new areas from locations featured in the last game The realms have grown harsher, and a whole host of new creatures from across Norse mythology will test both Kratos and Atreus’ skills.

God of War Ragnarok

Breathtaking visuals and incredibly well-designed audio

As expected, God of War Ragnarok’s visuals are truly breathtaking. Its visual quality and performance truly show the power of the PS5 and are unmatched by any other game in recent memory. Hands down, it’s the best-looking game on PS5. The various large-scale environments from the towering cliffs of Alfheim to the dark depths of Jotunheim are beautifully crafted with stunning detail. With high resolution textures, 4K visuals and ultra-realistic character animation, the team at Santa Monica Studio has done a phenomenal job.

Additionally, Ragnarok’s audio is incredibly well-designed. It allows for a unique experience, which gives you freedom to approach encounters with enemies in a variety of different ways. From the thunderous booms of Kratos unleashing his full arsenal to the subtle sounds of nature it truly is a treat for your ears.

Moreover, the game’s voice acting is some of the best I’ve ever heard in a video game. Christopher Judge and Sunny Suljic voice Kratos and Atreus and truly elevate the characters to new levels with their performances. There isn’t a weak voice performance from the long list of characters you interact with throughout your adventures.

God of War Ragnarok is one of this year’s best games and a serious contender for game of the year

God of War Ragnarok, is an absolute masterpiece that is one of this year’s best games and a serious contender for game of the year. It has an engaging storyline, superb graphics, and astounding sound design that will keep you engaged for hours. If you’re a fan of action-packed games with deep character development, then there is no doubt in my mind, God of War Ragnarok is for you.

+ Pulse-pounding action that is fun to play
+ Jaw-dropping visuals and audio design
+ Epic story that dives deeper into Norse mythology
+ Lots of engaging side content

– Occasional difficulty spikes that can become frustrating

OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF GOD OF WAR RAGNAROK

Gameplay: 4/5
Graphics: 5/5
Sound: 5/5
Lasting Appeal/Replayability: 4.5/5

Overall Rating 4.6/5 (92%)

Purchase God of War Ragnarok Launch Edition for PS4
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Jon Scarr
Jon Scarr
Jon is the Gaming Editor and is based in Toronto. He is a proud Canadian who has a serious passion for gaming. He is a veteran of the video game and tech industry with over 20 years experience. You can often find Jon streaming the latest games on his YouTube channel. Jon loves to talk about gaming and tech, come say hi and join the conversation with Jon on Threads @4ScarrsGaming and @4Scarrsgaming on Instagram.
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690 COMMENTS

  5. Excited for more father/son themes and if this game can possibly live up to the first one! Nobody makes better AAA story driven games than Playstation Studios

  11. I want to see how they re-use the world they built in God of War (2018). The Yakuza series does a great job of building upon previous games to make the world feel more alive, so I want to see how God of War Ragnarok approaches this.

  15. Love the entire God of War series, looking forward to more and all of what the new PS5 offers, graphics look amazing.

  26. I’m most excited about playing the game with my son. In terms of the game I can’t wait to see the graphics on our new TV.

  28. After the highly acclaimed God of War (2018) it’s hard not to be excited for the follow up and continuing the journey 4 years later. Seeing what Kratos and Atreus have in store for them next is very exciting, and what will happen with Freya!

  34. When I was a teenager, my father introduced me to the original release of this game. The overall premise of the story in GOW Ragnarok brings me back to my own childhood, with me and my father (a sometimes difficult guy to get along with), being able to connect over the original GOW game. Excited to potentially be able to rekindle some of those memories, years later, with the release of this game.

  35. I’m most looking forward to a host of new creatures from across Norse mythology will test both Kratos and Atreus’ skills.

  42. I’m so much looking forward to the continuation of the story. The 2018 game is still to this day the best story I’ve ever played so I cannot wait for the next.

  43. Every single part of the package. The stunning graphics, the superb combat, the emotional storytelling, the fantastic acting. Beyond hyped to play it.

  44. Most exciting to me will finally be a God of War game on a PS5, graphics worthy of the game and battling in a highly detailed Norse world. I’ve waited long for Godlike graphics!

  46. Looking forward to the Story Continuation. Enjoyed the development of the Son-Father relationship.

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