God of War Review

Released in 2018 for the PlayStation 4, God of War breathes new life into this beloved PlayStation franchise that began in 2005. God of War adds emotional layers to the storytelling by taking a new angle on its protagonist. And, it revamps its gameplay mechanics to fit in with modern action-adventure design.

The story of Kratos and his son Atreus as they journey through the lands of Norse myth is unrivaled in the series in terms of character development and thematic impact. With a fantastic overhaul to combat and the inclusion of meaningful exploration, God of War is worthy of all the heavenly praise it has garnered. God of War masterfully evolves its main character and combat system to create one of the most engaging action-adventure games ever.

Story

I have always been fascinated with the story of Kratos. His rage-fueled journey of failed redemption during the previous entries in the series had me captivated and entertained. With that said, I will concede that his character arc became firmly locked in its revenge-driven state.

2018’s God of War takes a different angle on this fallen warrior by presenting Kratos as someone who has buried his past rather than someone trying to kill his way out of it. Kratos in this game stills feels like a believable continuation from the destroyer of Olympus. But, the writers cleverly show a maturing side to him, content with living a peaceful life in the Norse realm of Midgard with his new wife and son.

However, that life is fractured at the beginning of the game as Kratos and Atreus farewell the recently deceased Faye. Together, they set about completing her final wish of spreading her ashes atop the highest mountain in the land.

Now, Kratos and family haven’t always had the best history. And Atreus brings a new challenge to The Ghost of Sparta as he has to find a way to connect with his son as they both take very different approaches to mourning the loss of their wife and mother. Their relationship receives a lot of attention throughout the story. It’s genuinely moving to see the two of them work through the harsh realities of their world, and through those challenges find strength in each other to persevere.