My heart belongs to Nintendo, but every so often Playstation gets a game that has me looking over my shoulder like the distracted boyfriend meme. I hadn't played the previous God of Wars, and had only seen my roommate play the first boss fight against Baldur. It left quite the impression! The performances (voiced and animated) were stellar, the story, despite having only just begun, was gripping, the visuals were beautiful, the music was intense, and the pacing/directing felt of cinematic quality, despite keeping the player in control! I waited patiently and eventually it found its way to PC. At long last, I'm happy to report that these qualities persist throughout the entirety of the game. The combat is very satisfying with just enough depth and customization without becoming overwhelming. The set pieces and events are stunning and varied, even into the endgame, bringing Norse mythology to life in a way that still feels distinctly God of War. Kratos and Artemus are developed and believable, both playing into strong themes of taking responsibility for your actions in both the past and present. Really my only hangups were in regards to restrictive fast travel and tiresome backtracking for completion- though that's to be expected from most any proto-metroidvania.

It's as great as everyone says, and a surprisingly good entry point into the franchise. As Kratos always says, "BOY!"