This review contains spoilers
I liked God of War (2018) quite a bit, but I had a few problems with it that I felt kept it from reaching it's full potential. Ragnarök is that full potential realized. It is improved in quite literally every aspect. The story has more going on while also being more tightly written, the combat is fleshed out in ways that I definitely wasn't expecting, and the realms themselves are better realized than they ever were before.
I'll start with the combat as that is the thing I have the least to say about. Overall it feels very familiar to 2018, but has some fun new things going on that make it feel fresh. The axe and the blades are about the same as before, just refined. The main addition is the new weapon, the Draupnir Spear, a spear that can create infinite copies of itself. The spear is incredibly satisfying to use, its probably my favorite weapon in the game. Impaling enemies with it and leaving the copy that you can then blow up in them feels incredible. Another area 2018 was lacking in was enemy and boss variety, and this is yet another place that is much improved upon. There are many more types of normal enemies, and an even greater variety of bosses. Every few hours in the main story I was fighting a unique boss, where in 2018 there were only maybe three in the main story. I even felt compelled to complete the postgame this time and I had a hell of a time with the "super" bosses.
The story this time around was front to back an improvement. Every cutscene in this game was at the same level as the peaks of 2018 with none of the valleys. Seeing the relationship between Kratos and Atreus grow stronger even through the rough patches was incredibly heartwarming and I'm still shocked at how they managed to make Kratos into such an incredibly compelling character. Mimir basically being a second dad to Atreus was a welcome addition. Him being more compassionate and open while Kratos is still trying to be that way was a nice dynamic. The rest of the cast is no slouch either. I loved Brok and Sindri this time around and felt they were much improved from just the funny haha shopkeeps in the last game. Freya was given much more depth this time around, making her feel like a real character, unlike last time where it felt like she wasn't given enough time to be fully realized. The Aesir were incredibly well done. Getting to spend time with them and slowly realize that most of them are just more victims of Odin was such a smart decision, it was a nice way to make them feel more like real people than just one note bad guys. Odin himself was a treat. Watching him be willing to do anything and everything just for his one selfish desire that he has spent centuries trying to fulfill gave him enough depth to keep him from being too one note. He was also incredibly well acted, in fact that goes for everybody in the game. There isn't a single miss in the entire cast, everybody gives it their all, even for characters that have barely any screen time. I can't say enough good things about the story this time around.
I don't have much to say about the realms themselves, they are mostly really well designed levels that only have one real flaw and even that isn't a big deal. They aren't very fun to re-navigate during post game cleanup. That's it. I guess this is actually what I had to say the least about. Huh.
I have spent most of this year certain that Elden Ring would be my GOTY, but after this I need to take some time to think some more. I can't recommend it enough.
I'll start with the combat as that is the thing I have the least to say about. Overall it feels very familiar to 2018, but has some fun new things going on that make it feel fresh. The axe and the blades are about the same as before, just refined. The main addition is the new weapon, the Draupnir Spear, a spear that can create infinite copies of itself. The spear is incredibly satisfying to use, its probably my favorite weapon in the game. Impaling enemies with it and leaving the copy that you can then blow up in them feels incredible. Another area 2018 was lacking in was enemy and boss variety, and this is yet another place that is much improved upon. There are many more types of normal enemies, and an even greater variety of bosses. Every few hours in the main story I was fighting a unique boss, where in 2018 there were only maybe three in the main story. I even felt compelled to complete the postgame this time and I had a hell of a time with the "super" bosses.
The story this time around was front to back an improvement. Every cutscene in this game was at the same level as the peaks of 2018 with none of the valleys. Seeing the relationship between Kratos and Atreus grow stronger even through the rough patches was incredibly heartwarming and I'm still shocked at how they managed to make Kratos into such an incredibly compelling character. Mimir basically being a second dad to Atreus was a welcome addition. Him being more compassionate and open while Kratos is still trying to be that way was a nice dynamic. The rest of the cast is no slouch either. I loved Brok and Sindri this time around and felt they were much improved from just the funny haha shopkeeps in the last game. Freya was given much more depth this time around, making her feel like a real character, unlike last time where it felt like she wasn't given enough time to be fully realized. The Aesir were incredibly well done. Getting to spend time with them and slowly realize that most of them are just more victims of Odin was such a smart decision, it was a nice way to make them feel more like real people than just one note bad guys. Odin himself was a treat. Watching him be willing to do anything and everything just for his one selfish desire that he has spent centuries trying to fulfill gave him enough depth to keep him from being too one note. He was also incredibly well acted, in fact that goes for everybody in the game. There isn't a single miss in the entire cast, everybody gives it their all, even for characters that have barely any screen time. I can't say enough good things about the story this time around.
I don't have much to say about the realms themselves, they are mostly really well designed levels that only have one real flaw and even that isn't a big deal. They aren't very fun to re-navigate during post game cleanup. That's it. I guess this is actually what I had to say the least about. Huh.
I have spent most of this year certain that Elden Ring would be my GOTY, but after this I need to take some time to think some more. I can't recommend it enough.