It’s fair to say that God of War’s PS4 debut was something of a rampant success. Almost universally beloved and only staunchly hated by those who refused to be turned by change, it brought the franchise into a new era with aplomb. The year is still young, but it’s hard not to imagine it not topping many “best” lists when 2018 is over.
We are also big fans of it here at Cultured Vultures, going on to give it a rare 10/10 in our review. It could have been very easy for Corey Barlog and company to mess it up, but God of War’s blend of new ideas along with its thawed heart meant that it was always going to be a winner.
With that in mind, here are some of our favourite things about the new God of War. We had to try and limit ourselves to just five or we would probably be here all day.
1. It’s a screenshot factory
I currently have a folder on my PS4 that has over 5GB of photos and videos from God of War. Even on a base PS4, it’s impossible to deny the beauty of the game — there were more than a few “wow” moments. The way in which it frames most of its scenes is nothing short of cinematic and its small details are so pronounced and noticeably polished that it’s like watching a moving painting at times.
Perhaps that’s a tad hyperbolic, but God of War shows just what can be accomplished when you have a dev team that know how to squeeze every ounce of power out of what is by now some rather aged hardware. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am going to go and stroke my screen.
2. One-shot wonder
The only break from the action God of War is supposed to give you is when you die. There are no cuts in the narrative: it’s just one-shot from beginning to end. Not only is this a great way of keeping the narrative lean and focused, but it’s also nothing short of a technical marvel.
One-shot movies, such as Victoria and Birdman, are nothing new, but applying the same fundamentals to a video game? I have no idea how Santa Monica pulled it off. Some of the loading screens are masked behind elevators and “quiet” sequences, but apart from that, it’s just a crazy achievement that makes my student film seem somehow even worse than it already is.
3. The axe
Some people seem to think that the inclusion of a throwable axe in God of War means that it is now a shooter. That’s, quite frankly, bollocks. It actually means that God of War is a game that rewards and encourages different playstyles, one of which includes the ability to channel your inner Thor.
When Kratos is souped up with all possible combos, using the axe makes you feel like the god that he is. Hell, I’m going to say it: I even prefer using it to the second weapon you get later on. There’s just something immensely satisfying about chucking the axe at a Draugr before leaping into the air, recalling the axe, and then smashing it down for a devastating finish.
4. Side content isn’t just filler
A lot of big games have a swathe of side missions that don’t really do much to enhance the experience, instead just acting as temporary and shallow distractions. Not the case with God of War. While it doesn’t have as much to do when compared to something like a Ubisoft game, almost all of the side missions are meaningful and enrich what is already a pretty rich experience.
Whether it’s developing the game’s deep lore or putting a microscope on the relationship between Kratos and Atreus, God of War’s side missions are entirely worthwhile. My busy schedule rarely means that I get to continue playing a game past the end credits, but I’ve been picking up God of War a week later and have one eye on its difficult but doable Platinum trophy.
5. Old man Kratos
There was only so far you could take the original Kratos and not only because his mission was complete. A constantly angry and somewhat morally questionable character isn’t someone that has much room for character development, which is why an older, mellower Kratos worked so well for his PS4 debut.
He’s less quick to anger and shows bursts of humanity throughout your playtime, but make no mistake: the old Kratos is still lurking deep within. His patience with Atreus and the eventual strong bond the both share might not be quite as captivating or as deep as the one shared by Joel and Ellie, but it shows that making a once lovably reprehensible character into one that is just lovable pays off.
Have you played God of War yet? Here’s an excerpt from our review:
“While the changes brought around for God of War may rankle some, it feels like the natural evolution for a series that you wouldn’t believe is now seven games deep, judging by just how re-energised it feels in its latest incarnation. Kratos is back, and so too is one of PlayStation’s least heroic heroes with great aplomb.”
Enjoyed this? You’ll be pleased to know that God of War pops up in our lists for the best games of 2018, the PS4’s best exclusives, as well the essential PlayStation 4 games.
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