Okay so this is gonna be controversial but I really don't like this game too much. It's decent but I honestly believe it's not necessary to experience this. Its status as a "modern masterpiece" is crazy to me. The story is as basic as it gets and really only succeeds at points few and far between. Trying to implement very barebones rpg mechanics was more annoying than anything else and it felt forced to a point where I disliked it quite a lot. The characters are decent if not a bit too cliché for their own good. I really can't get behind the hype for Kratos and his supposed "character development". The combat is pretty neat however it also feels a bit clunky at times and just like the rpg elements the lack of variety annoyed me a lot. I did quite enjoy the spectacle and the cutscenes and I love the presentation of this game. Generally a good play even if forgettable and sometimes annoying

I do not understand the hype surrounding this game at all, it's not a bad game by any means but man the story is average af, the gameplay is pretty bland until you're getting the spartan blades in a very late section of the game and unlike the axe they're actually fun to use
the difficulty scaling in this game is horrible, I hate games that think that making each enemy bullet spongy is a good decision for increased difficulty
also I HATE when games guide you from start to finish, it feels sometimes like the game was meant to be played by actual toddlers
now for my biggest problem I had with GOW 2018, my god the cutscenes in this game are EVERYWHERE and most of the time they just break immersion and interrupt big moments like boss fights for example
there are just so many points that shouldn't have any of them to begin with I do not understand the appeal of games that have so many cutscenes in combat sections,it's simply irritating
after dissing the game for a bit it's time for the good things about it, the world of this game is freaking phenomenal and beautiful, the world building is also really great and character interactions are on point for most part
I liked the cast of characters this game offered, they're not amazing or anything but I'd be lying if I told you that I didn't enjoyed the it throughout the whole journey
lastly the last conclusion, it was super satisfying and the final boss was pretty great too unlike the other bosses and unlike these bosses they actually done a great mix of boss phases and cutscenes, it was a great finisher before heading to the mountain

In conclusion getting impressed by GOW 2018 is like getting impressed by Kim Kardashian's ass, sure it has a great shape and mass but man that shit's just plastic

it's not GOTY material at all but it sure is a good game, 6-6.5/10

Narrative: 4
Gameplay: 3.5
Graphics: 5
X-Factor: 4
Overall: 4

Game that gets more and more enjoyable as you go. Beautifully made, solid story, and a ton of exploring/bonus content to take on beyond the main story late in the game including some challenging boss fights!

What holds this back from being a 5 is the early part of the game. The first ~6 hours is a slog and feels like a tunnel sim without a ton of variety and the story hook isnt really in you yet.

The game absolutely does get better and better as it opens up and you get some weapon/playstyle variety.