God of War Ragnarök is one of the most anticipated games of the year. And with the reputation of its predecessor, expectations are high for this particular blockbuster.
The tale of Kratos and Atreus in 2018's God of War moved players in a way rarely seen in video games, and fans are ready to see if lightning strikes twice.
The long and short of it? It absolutely has and in the best possible way. If the PlayStation 5 needed a new system-seller, it's found it within the tale of a father and his son who learn the importance of autonomy in a world where fate seems written in stone.
'God of War Ragnarök' Review: Story
Ragnarök is coming...or not. When the game opens, Atreus and Kratos have been stranded in Midgard for three years due to Fimbulwinter and have no clue what's going on elsewhere outside of their purview. They're hoping to prevent the prophesized destruction of eight out of nine realms, but what's the best way to do that?
The end of Fimbulwinter is approaching, which means Ragnarök (if it's happening) is right around the corner. So, it's time for everyone to put their cards on the table.
Odin and Thor make the first move by approaching Kratos and Atreus with a proposition. If they agree to stay in Midgard, Asgard will leave them alone. However, Odin also reveals that Atreus has been searching for Tyr, the Norse God of War who is supposedly dead, behind Kratos's back.
Of course, Kratos declines their offer, which leads to an excellent, bombastic battle with Thor. Afterward, Atreus spills the beans about a secret prophecy he found hidden in the Jotnar Shrines scattered throughout the realms. Supposedly, it explains an alternate rendition of Ragnarök where the opposite happens instead of Asgard destroying the other eight realms. However, a prominent part of this vision is that Tyr is leading the armies of the eight realms against Odin and the Aesir.
'God of War Ragnarök' Review: Gameplay
While the scope has changed, this entry in the God of War saga will feel intimately familiar to those who enjoyed the first game. To avoid spoilers, we won't get into the weeds of what's different this time around in terms of combat. But it feels just as buttery smooth as ever, and Kratos is a joy to maneuver around the battlefield.
As you grow stronger, you can unlock additional abilities throughout the game, but that's hardly the spotlight for what Ragnarök has to offer. There's a wide expanse of additional combat concerns you can explore this time around, and let's just say you may not be expecting what's there waiting for you when you've played for a few hours.
You already know all about how vicious Kratos can be when it comes to dispatching enemies. But more interesting is the central theme of the game: exploring whether we're guided by fate or whether we're the ones that choose our own future. The giants prophesized the events of Ragnarök in detail before they disappeared, and one of their predictions was that Kratos would die if Ragnarök began. Atreus is hoping that he can somehow have his cake and eat it, too, by triggering his preferred version of the Twilight of the Gods while also preventing his father from dying.
The relationship between father and son also continues to be central to the plot. Atreus is growing up, and Kratos is having difficulty giving him the space he needs. Even though he's learned how to be compassionate and caring, Kratos has yet to learn how to trust his son.
'God of War Ragnarök' Review: Side Content
The 20-plus-hour campaign is densely packed, and you'll find yourself running across all nine realms doing this and that. If you're looking to explore, here are several open-world areas scattered throughout the nine realms. Each of them offers a tightly-packed space to explore and gives you a chance to learn more about the world.
The best part is that all the side quests are completely optional. You can run straight through the campaign and never stray a footstep off the main path. Once a side area is unlocked, it's available as long as you're not in the middle of a main quest. Otherwise, if you have access to a Mythic Doorway, you can roam the realms you have unlocked at your discretion.
The extensive amount of side content somewhat makes up for the less-than-satisfying ending, which does offer a bit of closure but feels a bit understated in the grand scheme of things – something that will make more sense upon reaching the conclusion on your own.
Part of the overarching narrative is Kratos (and pretty much everyone else) realizing that he can't just care about what happens to him and Atreus. Odin asks him an interesting question: "What do you know about being a god? Has anyone ever worshipped you?" It's a question that Kratos seems to reflect on throughout the game, and seeing him shift from regarding the nine realms as a foreign land to his home is fantastic.
While we found the ending somewhat lacking, there were plenty of other amazing stories in the game. Part of Kratos' growth in Ragnarök comes from him relating to all the little tales you pick up on as you explore the world. Where he was gruff toward pretty much everyone in the last game, he starts to open up and empathize with the unfortunates he meets up with.
However, hours of a fantastical, touching and emotional journey shouldn't be negated by a conclusion that leaves things open enough to interpretation that another entire game could certainly be warranted – and the ride on the way there was what excellent games are made of.
'God of War Ragnarök' Review: Verdict
God of War Ragnarök is an amazing game with an outstanding cast and breathtaking world design. It's also one of the most vivid and colorful games we've had the pleasure of diving into on the PlayStation 5, with realistic glitter thanks to the system's particle effects, gorgeous rainbow flames, and hues that make you feel as though you're playing through a beautiful painting instead of an action game – which do tend to lean heavily on darker, grayer or brown-tinged palettes.
It forges valiantly ahead with the story of 2018's God of War in every way, opening new paths and offering satisfying closure to others, save for some of the strange choices as it reaches its conclusion. It's great to have more of a good thing, and Ragnarök ensured we had that and more. You aren't bound by fate to play through the next stage of Kratos and Atreus's journey, but it's in your best interest to do so.
Score: 10/10
God of War Ragnarök will release on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on November 9.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Brittany Vincent is a Newsweek gaming editor based in Kentucky. Her focus is reporting on video games, the game industry, ... Read more
