God of War: Ragnarok is (almost) upon us. With the sequel to the highly-acclaimed and commercially successful 2018 game all set to release on November 9, reviews have started to flood in and by the looks of it…it’s another 10/10 for Santa Monica Studios.
There were some initial doubts about the sequel with Cory Barlog sitting out on the project and handing the reigns to Eric Williams instead. However, the bet seems to have paid off. Ragnarok has been receiving a near-perfect score for gaming publications, with some even calling it better than its predecessor.
While combat and story footage of the title has been out for a while, reviews suggest that Kratos and Atreus’ new adventure kick the action ante up a notch, with players getting to travel to all nine realms and facing a highly expanded roster of enemies. Some reports also suggest that the sequel is even more emotional and heartfelt than the 2018 game, which in itself is a huge achievement.
The story picks up three years after the event of the last game, with Kartos and a much-older Atreus trying to stop Ragnarok, the end of the world in Norse mythology. On their journey to do so, the father and son duo travel to many different locations and fight foes like Thor, Freya, and even Odin. The combat system, which was praised the last time around has also been improved upon with the addition of new abilities.
Although, some criticism has been pointed out aimed at the game’s RPG progression system, an unfocused plot, and the lack of true-new-gen performance. Remember, Ragnarok is still compatible with the PS4. That said, let’s dive head-first into the initial reviews.
Screen Rant (4.5/5) – “Apart from reinventing a highly complex saga, God of War: Ragnarök manages to reinvent itself with many highly needed improvements. These refinements eventually stack up to deliver a complete experience that makes its predecessor look archaic. With all its splendor and minor shortcomings considered, God of War: Ragnarök manages to set a new standard, striking the right balance between profound storytelling and invigorating gameplay.”
IGN (10/10) – “An enthralling spectacle to behold and an even more exciting one to take the reins of, God of War Ragnarok melds action and adventure together to create a new, unforgettable Norse saga. Impeccable writing, pitch-perfect performances, knockout action – it’s a complete work of art from top to bottom. Reflecting its core themes, it’s everything a sequel should be: respectful of its legendary lineage, but not afraid to take it to exciting new places. God of War Ragnarok is an almighty achievement and creates a new high that makes many of its peers look positively mortal by comparison.”
GameSpot (9/10) – “Despite being a story about warring gods and the end of the world, the soul of the game is something far more sentimental. You may have noticed that I’ve avoided mentioning the names of characters or describing plot beats, and that was intentional. To talk more about anything or anyone would be to rob you of some of the most unexpected things that God of War Ragnarok achieves with its narrative and the themes they explore. The last game’s thoughtful approach to exploring fatherhood was unexpected, Ragnarok somehow manages to feel like an even more personal tale about the complicated nature of families and the people that make them up. For every moment of brutality, there is one genuine and relatable emotion. How they land will vary from person to person, but there were multiple that left me with tears welling up. If nothing else, God of War Ragnarok further cements Sony Santa Monica’s narrative team as one of the best in the business.”
Image credits: Sony
