God of War: Ragnarok

First published in GRIND II, pages 62–71.

But here's the thing: the 2022 game really does feel like nothing more than a continuation of the one before it. Because although it somewhat keeps to The Last of Us Part II's recipe where narrative succession is concerned, the handful of years between their releases and the small technological advance made across those 4 years don't leave it room to set itself drastically apart from the original.

I, for one, can't judge the experience of the Santa Monica lads' last two titles separately. God of War 2018 and God of War Ragnarök, taken individually, give you hours of fun and play, just like in the good old days. Taken together, though, they hand you the chance to work through the most complete and complex gaming experience of recent times. Narrative, gameplay, graphics and game mechanics, all of it crafted so that you never feel the join between one title and the next, yet you enjoy what each of them offers in equal measure.

I'm Bogdan Menci, and from where I'm sitting this great big God of War game (made up of the last two titles) is probably the GOTC (Game of the Century).

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About the concept and some final thoughts Thank God the games industry hasn't overdone it with titles inspired by these Scandinavian folk sources, the way TV producers can no longer stop themselves churning out countless clones of the hit series Vikings. Or at least titles like Jotun, Northgard or Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice offer different experiences and different angles on the myths that underpin the plot driving their whole narrative. I haven't forgotten Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla… which, unfortunately, seen as an action game with a Nordic hero swinging an axe left, right and centre, looks like a cheap knock-off and an affront to the deities of the nine mythical realms.

God of War fully earns its title as the best game inspired by Norse mythology. Yes, I wasn't talking only about Ragnarök or only about the 2018 one; I meant both of them taken as a whole.

Of course, Ragnarök even on its own offers a more complete experience, with every dimension widened. There are more characters, more places to visit, more weapons and armour, more abilities, more polished graphics (and you only really see that on PS5), more kinds of beast to kill, more bosses and, by extension, more hours of play. And if you haven't tried the first one, you'll be just as bowled over as I was when I started the adventure in 2018.

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Graphics, sound and text. From a graphics point of view, I didn't notice any major improvements over God of War 2018.

And the first title already had visuals that amazed you and made you stop in the middle of your continuous genocide.

The big difference is that this time Fimbulwinter's gale has swept over them: a winter lasting more than three years that has bleached just about everything around them and got Kratos putting another coat on.

This time round there are a few new areas to explore, but you'll also be able to revisit some of the old realms… though not everyone will be glad of your visit, after the trouble you caused last time. I know the films taught you that elves are the good guys – but when you go back to theirs in Alfheim, sharpen that axe properly!

The sound design and the text aren't Oscar material. But they round off beautifully the whole fairytale atmosphere Mimir tries to conjure with his odysseys.

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Broadly speaking, the gameplay hasn't changed from the first game.

Depending on how much hacksilver you collect and how many

The feeling it gave me chests you open, you can put the two and is that slightly insignificant changes have been introduced, but which nonetheless add a little fluidity to getting round the routes. The new puzzles also seem slightly more intuitive than two dwarves to craft ever more awesome armour for you, add lucky stones to your weapons or upgrade the ones you already have.

Experience points you pick up the old ones. as you kill more enemies. weapons Gameplay,

On the combat side we've got new ways of cracking skulls (literally). The new shields have been given greater utility too. A pleasant surprise turns up in the chance to control Atreus, more than through a simple command on

And the side quests, on top of the lovely stories they tell, bring new opportunities for farming and collecting as a bonus. Later, with the points you've earned, you can unlock a board full of skill branches for the two lead heroes.

These RPG elements are to my liking my: not too cluttered and accessible via the square button. He's not as rich in moveschemes as his dad, but he knows a thing or two about a scrap.

through combinations you can pull off without spraining a finger.

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The relationship between Kratos and Atreus sometimes tips into melodrama, with the teenager forever testing his father's patience. Unfortunately, you sometimes get the feeling that the same row is repeating endlessly and that neither of them – Boy! You've got cheeky! Bugger your mother's Easter! – understands a thing about the other.

Friends are made to help, so their role in the narrative is to bring the tense protagonists hints and information about what the future holds for them.

And of course, this time, kid, if you don't pull something else out of the sheath, that little knife of yours won't be much help! You'll have them as combat partners too, especially in the final battle.

Don't lean too hard on the others, though – Kratos's best companion will always be the old Leviathan Axe, the hero's most powerful and most iconic weapon.

After fights and forgiveness between characters – 'Atreuuusss, come! This rusty lump has jammed in some idiot's skull again!' – more so than in the show Forgive Me, they join forces, bruise by bruise, until they manage to fulfil the prophecy that Faye, Atreus's mother, pictured in a mural. – Tyr! Myr! Fyr! I don't care what your name is, as long as you drink with me! – I'll drink, brother, seeing as you saved me from the cooler!

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Kratos, former Spartan, currently the Greek God of War, over on a working visit to the Scandinavian in-laws of his late wife; Mimir, formerly the Norse God of Knowledge, currently a Storytelling Head who can still be heard on Radio România Actualități on the bedtime-story show 'Good Night, Children!'; Freya, former Queen of the Valkyries and current Vanir goddess, sunk in a grim depression after the death of her own son; Brok and Sindri, a pair of dwarf smiths who turn out the strongest, toughest armour and weapons; Angrboda, a lass from the line of the last Giants, holed up in Jotunheim with her fantastical little pets and her grandma, who's away with the fairies; Tyr, formerly the Norse God of War, currently a detainee released on bail.

In the villains' corner we find the mightiest gods of Asgard. Boss of bosses is Odin, Father of the nine realms and also of Thor, the God of Thunder. Heimdall is another of Odin's sons and reckons he's the hardest man in the car park because he can see the future. He also serves as Asgard's protector.

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The story and the characters. The last two God of War titles are in fact the story of Atreus, who discovers his destiny by reasserting his origin as one of the ancient Giants (Loki).

His job is to play an important part in the great battle foretold by the paintings scattered all through the game.

His hot adolescent blood and his godly powers make him take decisions without consulting his father. Those actions lead him towards missions given over more to self-discovery and to growing in experience.

If everything used to revolve around Kratos's bald head, this time the lad becomes the central piece of the Norse epic. Through his actions Atreus will manage to take centre stage and even put together an A-Team-style group, alongside whom he can finish the difficult job of overrunning the lot. This young John “Hannibal” Loki RagnarokGod of has in his team of good guys:

BIGGER

BALDER

Actually, balder isn't quite the word… because, well, Kratos has grown the odd hair here and there through his beard. Buuut Atreus, sure enough, since that last meeting with him back around 2018, has had the shoots of puberty take hold in those areas that are manly now. Ohhhooo, and what manliness you'll find the lad's got!

If in his youth Kratos had rivers of blood running from the top of Mount Olympus, this time (up to a point, and in antithesis to how he carried on in the previous episode) he campaigns for world peace and all but passes the kid a Lennonesque make love not war. I understand the stance of a father who wants to show his son the right path, but even the lad gets it: you can't take on Ragnarok with flowers in your hair and grass in your beard.

Kratos is an exemplary father, forever lecturing his boy about how wrong the whole idea of picking a fight with Odin really is — and then quite unable to stop himself going along with it anyway… blast him and his bow and arrow!

Like any teenager, Atreus runs away from home to meet MILFs, to woo young chicks, and to get taken in by dodgy schemes alongside his so-called friends.

Inevitably, he ends up suffering his first disappointments on the road to maturity. A road which, unfortunately, has to run through the apocalypse of the Norse gods' scriptures – Ragnarok.

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