The conclusion of the Norse Saga is in a league of its own
The epic journey of Kratos, God of War, and his son, Atreus, did not come to an end four years ago when Santa Monica Studio released the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). The sequel to the multi-awarded game picks up soon after Kratos and Atreus learn that the Giants have been wiped out by Odin, an Asgardian god with a mysterious agenda.
With Fimbulwinter well underway across the Nine Realms, the two protagonists must find a way to stop Ragnarok from ending the world, while searching for answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesized battle that will bring ruin to all inhabited realms.
As the threat of Ragnarok grows ever closer, Kratos is torn between trying to prevent the cataclysmic event and actively protecting his son from the Aesir gods. God of War Ragnarok takes players through all the Nine Realms in search for clues that might shed light on what might have caused Fimbulwinter to start, the harsh winter that precedes the end of the world.
This is a much bigger and arguably better game than its predecessor in many aspects. One important gameplay feature that isn’t available in God of War (2018) is the ability to play with Atreus. While Kratos is accompanied by various iconic characters throughout his journey across the Nine Realms, there are many segments of the game where players take control of Atreus.
Unlike the previous game, God of War Ragnarok has two big protagonists, which adds another layer of complexity not just to the combat system, but also to the story. Experiencing the game through the eyes of two different characters, each with their own ambitions, strengths and flaws, breaks the traditional God of War formula.
It’s a refreshing take that I absolutely loved (I even ended up liking Atreus’ combat style more than Kratos’), one that proves that you can come up with new things even in a sequel to a big franchise like God of War.
