Summary: A cinematic drama about a father and son confronting the Scandinavian gods.
Release Years: 2018-2022
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Santa Monica Studio
Genre: third-person action games
Game Mode: Single-player
Approximate duration: 20 hours for the main plot of the first installment and 46 for the entire dilogy.
Kratos, the fearsome god of war, once ruthlessly slaughtered his enemies. But he left his bloody past behind and began a new life in the harsh lands of Scandinavia. There he met the warrior Faye and became a father.
A few years later, Fay dies, and Kratos, together with his son Atreus, sets out to fulfill her last will – to scatter her ashes on the top of the highest mountain. However, the journey is full of dangers: for some reason the Scandinavian gods consider Kratos a threat and want him dead.
In God of War: Ragnarök father and son again find themselves in the center of large-scale events. This time Thor himself and his father, Odin, the ruler of Asgard, burst into their home. The tense meeting quickly escalates into a fierce battle, and Kratos only miraculously survives.
Now the heroes must challenge Asgard itself. They intend to raise an army to stop Odin and put an end to his tyranny. But to do this, they must first find the Scandinavian god of war – Tyr.
Why it’s worth playing
The new God of War breathes life into the legendary series. Kratos still crushes his enemies with powerful blows, but now he is older and wiser. Instead of endless extermination of gods, the story focuses on the complex relationship between father and son, their attempts to understand each other.
The narrative chamberliness contrasts with the scale of the Scandinavian world. Kratos and Atreus visit the dark Helheim, the mysterious islands in the middle of the great lake and meet the World Serpent himself.
In Ragnarök, the story reaches an epic finale. In the first part, players explored six worlds, but in the sequel there are nine, including Asgard, the stronghold of Odin, Thor and their army. Atreus has grown up, became more independent and now more often fights on an equal footing with his father.
The combat system remains as powerful and dynamic, but there is more variety in Ragnarök. Kratos’ new magic spear is great for both close and long-range combat. Boss battles have also become more interesting: instead of the repetitive trolls, now the enemies are dragons, centaurs and fierce Vikings.
Both parts look amazing even on PlayStation 4, but Ragnarök unleashes its full graphical power on PlayStation 5. After completing the main story, be sure to try the free Valhalla add-on – it wraps up the Scandinavian saga beautifully and ties it back to Kratos’ Greek past.
