God of War 4 review
Does Sony’s exclusive really deserve all the plaudits it’s been receiving? We take a deeper look...
God of War 4 rebuilt the series and took it in a vastly different direction. It still includes the puzzles and combat you’d expect, but mixes it with a different camera perspective, a new compelling story, and deeper character progression: all adding to the connection between Kratos, and his son, Atreus. It creates a deeply entwined father-son dynamic that pushes it past the typical ‘great’ game.
The story begins in a simple manner, but quickly turns into an epic tale. Kratos’ wife passed away before the game begins, and it was her dying wish to have her ashes scattered upon the highest point in the land. At first this seems a simple task, but Kratos soon discovered that the highest point his wife was referring to is far away, and will take a much longer adventure to find. Throughout this journey the two encounter some interesting characters, with Freya being one of the highlights. She’s known as the Witch of the Woods, and is a powerful sorcerous.
The combat, though simple, is hugely engaging. It conveys the strength of Kratos, and also works well with the dodge, block, counter and strike mechanic. Of course this becomes less easy to do with some of the bosses in the game, and they come in all shapes and (massive) sizes. Of course, Atreus is there to help, and he is talented with a bow. But his sickness means he is not fully up to the task all the time, which disappoints Kratos. Atreus’ weakness also adds a level of vulnerability to Kratos, something that really adds a lot to his character and creates some very emotional moments.
God of War 4 is a brilliant game. Probably the game of the year. But does it deserve the extraordinary high praise it’s been receiving? Is it a 10/10 or 100% game? We’re not too sure about that…Those scores put it on a pedestal with Breath of the Wild and The Witcher 3. It’s just not quite at that level. Nevertheless, it’s a brilliant game, and one which you really have to play at least once.