Finally got around to playing this Norse mythology God of War. Last time I played a God of War game was Ghost of Sparta on PSP years ago. Never had a PS2 or PS3 so I missed all the mainline games in between. Jumping from PSP Kratos to this was wild.
The Leviathan Axe is so satisfying to use. Throwing it and calling it back with that metallic thunk never gets old. The DualSense makes you feel every impact. Such a different feel from the chaotic blade swinging I remember from the PSP game.
Combat feels heavy but in a good way. You’re managing spacing and stun meters while directing Atreus’s arrows. Everything flows together once you get the rhythm down. Random encounters can escalate into these intense battles out of nowhere. The exploration surprised me with how much there is to find. Puzzles everywhere and secrets hidden all over. When you get new abilities and can finally open those locked areas you passed earlier it feels great. Muspelheim and Niflheim are these optional challenge realms that give you something different to do without dragging on forever.
Atreus isn’t just following you around either. You actually need him in fights. Calling out targets for him to shoot while you’re swinging the axe creates this natural flow between them.
The relationship between Kratos and Atreus carries the whole thing. It starts off so awkward and tense. Kratos can barely talk to his son. Watching them slowly figure each other out and grow into an actual team was something I didn’t expect from a God of War game. Those quiet moments on the boat with Mimir telling stories while father and son just exist together hit different.
The supporting characters are all great. Brok and Sindri bickering about their smithing techniques. Freya helping but clearly having her own stuff going on. Mimir’s head hanging from your belt commenting on everything. They make the world feel lived in.
This version of Kratos dealing with being a father while carrying all that Greek mythology baggage works so well. You can tell he’s trying to be better but doesn’t know how. The story earned every emotional beat instead of just telling you to care.
The game looks incredible even playing it years after release. These Norse realms feel massive but also personal somehow. That one-shot camera that never cuts away keeps you locked in the whole time. The music knows exactly when to kick in during emotional moments.
Going from Ghost of Sparta on a tiny PSP screen to this was a huge jump. Still holds up perfectly. Looking forward to Ragnarök.