4.5/5 ★ – DaysposableHero's review of God of War.

The new generation of God of War is both a sequel and a reboot. As a sequel, it has a responsibility to meet the expectations of the series' fans, giving us the familiar feeling of playing as Kratos to which we've grown accustomed over the years. As a reboot, it has an opportunity to break new ground with the gameplay and the character, modernizing and updating to bring the series to a new generation of console and player. Sony Santa Monica has produced a stellar product which excels in satisfying both objectives. Present are all the hallmarks we expect from God of War: the flow and combos of combat, the cinematic brutality of the executions, and a narrative pitting Kratos against a pantheon of powerful gods who's interests don't include the best for humanity. But this newest installment also makes some major changes and adjustments which bring the series into the modern console era. Instead of a fixed camera and a tiny Kratos, the gameplay moves in, and we, the player, are brought directly into the action, observing from just over Kratos' right shoulder, a perspective popular with modern third-person action games. We are also introduced to a new Kratos, a more subdued and thoughtful Ghost of Sparta. He as left the chaos and destruction of his rampage through the Greek pantheon behind him, settling in the Nordic realm of Midgard and trying once again to lead a quiet family life. Fortunately for us, and unfortunately for Kratos, this newfound peace is shortlived. The death of his wife sends Kratos and his young son Atreus on a journey to fulfill her final wish, a journey that inevitably brings them to the attention of the Aesir gods, the dominant clan of Norse mythology. The game's narrative focus on Kratos' relationship with his son, and his driving desire to prevent Atreus from following in the footsteps of his father is fascinating. Up to now, Kratos was a fairly one-note character. Angry and vengeful, on a mission of destruction. This new Kratos is still as brutal in combat as ever, but Atreus gives him pause, makes him think about the kind of example he wants to set, and about the kind of man he will teach his son to be. The evolution of their relationship, while compressed to play out over the length of a standard video game, feels legitimate. Both Kratos and Atreus finish the game in a different emotional place than they begin, and their relationship has likewise evolved. Much like Kratos and Atreus, years and experience have informed the gameplay of God of War. The reboot introduces a gear score to the series. Instead of the traditional leveling via experience points, Kratos' level and stats are dictated by the quality of the gear he wears, and the potency of his weapon enhancements. Experience points are a currency used to purchase and upgrade abilities, while resources must be found in the world to purchase and upgrade Kratos' armor. This was the one area where I think the game could make improvement. Which resources were used to upgrade which armor, and where those resources could be found seemed very arbitrary. Where can I get high quality Svartalfheim steel? Who knows? I just have to keep opening chests throughout the world until I find some. Also, why do some Valkyrie armor upgrades require Asgardian steel dropped by valkyries (which makes sense), while others require me to grind out flame crests from the mountains of Muspelheim? Is there any way to tell whether a particular Realm Tear will produce regular Dust of the Realms or Pristine Dust of the Realms? Not that I can determine. It all seems a bit more obtuse than I would have liked. There is a shop where you can, ostensibly, purchase resources. But the only resources seemingly available there are the ones found most commonly in the environment. Not terribly helpful. But these minor issues with the upgrade system are just that: minor. This is an excellent game, and a great example of how to refresh and update a beloved franchise, while also staying true to the series' roots.