Developer: Santa Monica Studio
Publisher: PlayStation PC LLC
Steam Deck Compatibility?: Verified
Rrp: £39.99 (Gog.com, Humble, Steam and Epic)
Released: 14th January 2022
Available on: Gog.com, Humble, Steam and Epic
Played Using: An Xbox One Control Pad and a Steam Deck
Approximate game length: 40 hours +
I’m just going to say this now, until this one I’ve never played any of the God of War games. From what I’m given to understand this game is different from its predecessors in a number of ways, not least of which being the setting. For starters, Kratos (one of two main characters) is older than in the previous games, though it’s never specified how much older, another difference is the inclusion of his son Atreus (the second of the two main characters).
God of War originally released in 2018 on the Playstation 4 but has thankfully joined the slowly growing number of games that Playstation are allowing onto the PC (albeit five years later).
The game is what I would call semi open world, where you can’t go just anywhere but the space in which you do have to play is quite extensive and densely packed.
Graphically this game is absolutely gorgeous and runs smoothly (even on my rig that’s starting to show its age). On the Steam Deck it generally runs wonderfully though it does drain the battery incredibly quickly while not docked. I did have one instance of the game crashing while docked though it seems to have been a one off as I’ve not been able to replicate it.
As I mentioned this game is a densely packed semi open world so there is plenty to do. What I find quite impressive is that as you play through the game Kratos tries to use the various side missions as a way to teach Atreus lessons. I think that’s a very smart way to show how Kratos has grown as a character from the previous games (from what I can tell) without making it explicit.
The combat is engaging and fast paced with multiple opponents trying to attack you at the same time forcing you to dodge and parry blows from different directions. If you do successfully parry an attack you’re rewarded with a brief window of time where the combat slows and you can take your opportunity to strike.
Unlike many other games that saddle you with an NPC Atreus is actually useful, especially in combat, as he will attack enemies of his own accord or by your command. He even will sometimes restrain enemies allowing you to get free hits in or a moment’s respite.
As you fight you’ll build up ‘Spartan Rage’ (as depicted in a metre below your health bar). This metre increases from both dealing and taking damage. Once you activate this ‘Rage Mode’ you cause much more damage and are totally immune to all damage for the short time it lasts.
Defeated enemies sometimes drop healthstones that restore a portion of your health, resources for upgrading your equipment or hacksilver that can be used in stores. These can also be found within breakable pottery that’s scattered around the world (except the resources, those are typically found in chests). Defeating enemies also grants experience (XP) but only once you’ve completed a combat encounter.
Experience (or XP) is spent on upgrading your skills, however you can also use it to upgrade the various runes you will find in the world that can be applied to your weapons and armour. In Atreus’s case not only can it be spent on making him a much more efficient fighter but also allow him some magical affinity.
Your ‘Goals’ (read objective) screen is separated into five parts; Journey, favours, labours, treasure maps and artefacts. Journey is the main storyline, favours are side quests, labour’s are optional tasks such as ‘kill X creatures’, treasure maps I feel are self explanatory and artefacts are items found in the world.
All of the goals and codex screens are written by Atreus which I think is a clever idea as Kratos doesn’t seem to be the type to write things down. A great example of this is when you defeat an enemy type a few times more information in the form of hints will appear in that enemies bestiary entry.
If I had to level one complaint against this game it would be that it’s slightly guilty of over using and recycling enemy types. A great example of this are the trolls, through this game you’ll face a number of trolls (about six if memory serves) however they all have the same move set, and look the same apart from maybe being bigger or a different colour.
I did wonder if this game deserved all the hype it was given back when it first released and now having played it I get it. It’s a lot of fun with an interesting plot and charming characters.
If you’ve not played this game don’t worry about not having played the previous titles, it really does stand up on its own so I heartily recommend it.
