This review will have some light spoilers and a couple of big spoilers in it.
When I saw the announcement of Ragnarok, my excitement was through the roof. Not only was I getting a sequel to my favorite game of all time, but it was going to be the last entry into the Norse saga. Where I had expected a trilogy, I instead was met with one game of epic proportions. I just knew that Ragnarok was going to be insane, and that it was.
I don't know why this franchise has meant so much to me since the reboot. I never much cared for it when it was a simple, angry action game and I am not a father who personally relates to the story of Kratos and Atreus. Yet, it moves me and speaks to me, maybe it's the father in my inner soul, maybe it's the relationship I never had with mine, but I find the father-son dynamic to be very touching. In this game though, while it doesn't necessarily take a backseat and is still front and center in the story, it plays only as a part of the story rather than the crux as in GoW 2018. This game is far greater in scale than its predecessor, for better and for worse.
I'm still not sure which I prefer, and I may never, as I think I will come to think of this Norse saga as a singular tale, with each game serving as both halves. The origin story (of both Atreus and our new Kratos) and the epic climax. Where 2018 was grounded, Ragnarok soared to the skies. Where 2018 was focused, Ragnarok seemed to lack some of it at times. The games fit together as two pieces of the same whole and I can see myself replaying them both back to back anytime I do play them in the future.
With Ragnarok specifically, I do have some complaints I want to get out of the way before I gush about the things I love. Number one is how slow of a start the game has. More accurately, the first hour or two of the game starts us off at a breakneck pace as Odin and Thor come knocking on your door. Afterward, the pace dramatically slows until after the Atreus section in Jotunheim. I came into this game expecting the epic tale, and I did get that eventually, but only after the first 10 hours meandered. Part of what made it feel that way was Tyr, this figure that has been built up throughout the series, finally being rescued and being next to useless. It started to annoy me every time he would open his mouth and shut down yet another plan of Kratos and Atreus'. The Jotunheim section being so full of walk-and-talks did not help either, while I loved the story building of it, it dragged on too long and by the end of it, I was so ready to get back to playing as Kratos. Finally, the overly eager "hints" that spell out the entire puzzle were annoying but I didn't really notice them much by the end. Maybe I got good enough at the puzzles that I was figuring them out quickly enough, or maybe the game pulled it back a little. Either way.
Once the story gets going again though? It really gets going. I'd also like to shout out the game for subverting my expectations, and in a good way (looking at you, Game of Thrones). Before the game, I never anticipated many things that ended up happening and none of them felt forced. For example, working with Thor and Odin as Atreus. I did expect playable Atreus sections but what we got was beyond the scope of what I could've imagined. I love how EVERYONE tells you Odin is this awful guy but then you play through Atreus' eyes and he just seems like your kind grandfather. Of course, he's putting on an act, and deep down you know that but you can't help but like him while playing as Atreus.
The boss fights are much improved from 2018, namely in the variety department. This is the biggest form of improvement between the two games and I'm glad they nailed it so hard, as it was what felt so lacking in 2018. The gameplay as a whole just feels improved, what I already liked in 2018 has a newly added depth to it and a ton of variety, adding in a surprise 3rd weapon and juggling a variety of sidekicks to fight alongside you. It is so satisfying and visceral, I stand by my statement from my GoW 2018 review that this is just AAA gaming at its peak, in the cinematic and gameplay departments. It's absolutely gnarly.
Even after the story gets going full speed, it does not lack for touching moments. One of my favorite moments in the game that I bet is a little underrated was when Kratos asks Brok to bless his spear. It was such a nice moment between two characters who lack a lot of the tact required to make them. By the end, I almost felt like I was playing in an Avengers movie in terms of the number of characters I had by my side. Even that coward Tyr started to step up and plan a way into Asgard... wait why is Brok questioning him? HOLY SHIT. I would proudly say that I "got got" by Sony Santa Monica here. A twist I truly didn't see coming and made the early parts of the game so much better retroactively, as well as made me feel the part of the fool for feeling so off and cold towards Tyr for so long but never thinking too much of it. It was a brilliantly played reveal and one that makes perfect sense in hindsight.
God of War Ragnarok succeeds in everything it sets out to accomplish. The story is moving, yet grand. The combat is deep, yet simple. The characters that have been built up do not disappoint in the slightest and the way it handles relationships between everyone is perfect. The atmosphere from beginning to finish is impeccable, from the scenery to the sounds, as everywhere you walk you constantly hear ravens chirping, signifying you know who is watching. Only one game has ever made me cry, and it's not Ragnarok, but it came damn close on two separate occasions. The death of Brok was filled with dread and the ending was filled with deep, emotional happiness. I couldn't have asked for a better sequel.
When I saw the announcement of Ragnarok, my excitement was through the roof. Not only was I getting a sequel to my favorite game of all time, but it was going to be the last entry into the Norse saga. Where I had expected a trilogy, I instead was met with one game of epic proportions. I just knew that Ragnarok was going to be insane, and that it was.
I don't know why this franchise has meant so much to me since the reboot. I never much cared for it when it was a simple, angry action game and I am not a father who personally relates to the story of Kratos and Atreus. Yet, it moves me and speaks to me, maybe it's the father in my inner soul, maybe it's the relationship I never had with mine, but I find the father-son dynamic to be very touching. In this game though, while it doesn't necessarily take a backseat and is still front and center in the story, it plays only as a part of the story rather than the crux as in GoW 2018. This game is far greater in scale than its predecessor, for better and for worse.
I'm still not sure which I prefer, and I may never, as I think I will come to think of this Norse saga as a singular tale, with each game serving as both halves. The origin story (of both Atreus and our new Kratos) and the epic climax. Where 2018 was grounded, Ragnarok soared to the skies. Where 2018 was focused, Ragnarok seemed to lack some of it at times. The games fit together as two pieces of the same whole and I can see myself replaying them both back to back anytime I do play them in the future.
With Ragnarok specifically, I do have some complaints I want to get out of the way before I gush about the things I love. Number one is how slow of a start the game has. More accurately, the first hour or two of the game starts us off at a breakneck pace as Odin and Thor come knocking on your door. Afterward, the pace dramatically slows until after the Atreus section in Jotunheim. I came into this game expecting the epic tale, and I did get that eventually, but only after the first 10 hours meandered. Part of what made it feel that way was Tyr, this figure that has been built up throughout the series, finally being rescued and being next to useless. It started to annoy me every time he would open his mouth and shut down yet another plan of Kratos and Atreus'. The Jotunheim section being so full of walk-and-talks did not help either, while I loved the story building of it, it dragged on too long and by the end of it, I was so ready to get back to playing as Kratos. Finally, the overly eager "hints" that spell out the entire puzzle were annoying but I didn't really notice them much by the end. Maybe I got good enough at the puzzles that I was figuring them out quickly enough, or maybe the game pulled it back a little. Either way.
Once the story gets going again though? It really gets going. I'd also like to shout out the game for subverting my expectations, and in a good way (looking at you, Game of Thrones). Before the game, I never anticipated many things that ended up happening and none of them felt forced. For example, working with Thor and Odin as Atreus. I did expect playable Atreus sections but what we got was beyond the scope of what I could've imagined. I love how EVERYONE tells you Odin is this awful guy but then you play through Atreus' eyes and he just seems like your kind grandfather. Of course, he's putting on an act, and deep down you know that but you can't help but like him while playing as Atreus.
The boss fights are much improved from 2018, namely in the variety department. This is the biggest form of improvement between the two games and I'm glad they nailed it so hard, as it was what felt so lacking in 2018. The gameplay as a whole just feels improved, what I already liked in 2018 has a newly added depth to it and a ton of variety, adding in a surprise 3rd weapon and juggling a variety of sidekicks to fight alongside you. It is so satisfying and visceral, I stand by my statement from my GoW 2018 review that this is just AAA gaming at its peak, in the cinematic and gameplay departments. It's absolutely gnarly.
Even after the story gets going full speed, it does not lack for touching moments. One of my favorite moments in the game that I bet is a little underrated was when Kratos asks Brok to bless his spear. It was such a nice moment between two characters who lack a lot of the tact required to make them. By the end, I almost felt like I was playing in an Avengers movie in terms of the number of characters I had by my side. Even that coward Tyr started to step up and plan a way into Asgard... wait why is Brok questioning him? HOLY SHIT. I would proudly say that I "got got" by Sony Santa Monica here. A twist I truly didn't see coming and made the early parts of the game so much better retroactively, as well as made me feel the part of the fool for feeling so off and cold towards Tyr for so long but never thinking too much of it. It was a brilliantly played reveal and one that makes perfect sense in hindsight.
God of War Ragnarok succeeds in everything it sets out to accomplish. The story is moving, yet grand. The combat is deep, yet simple. The characters that have been built up do not disappoint in the slightest and the way it handles relationships between everyone is perfect. The atmosphere from beginning to finish is impeccable, from the scenery to the sounds, as everywhere you walk you constantly hear ravens chirping, signifying you know who is watching. Only one game has ever made me cry, and it's not Ragnarok, but it came damn close on two separate occasions. The death of Brok was filled with dread and the ending was filled with deep, emotional happiness. I couldn't have asked for a better sequel.