God of War Ragnarök Reviews
The end result is a God of War Ragnarök that stands among some of the best PlayStation games, but falls ever-so slightly short of the greatest. This is far from a disappointment. But it doesn’t quite reach the lofty heights of what came before.
There are some games that you play primarily for the story, others more for the action and sense of adventure. GoW Ragnarok is one of those rare games that does it all incredibly well, and there are perhaps no other games that can match the ways in which it effortlessly blends storytelling with gameplay mechanics. Although I wished for a more satisfying end to the story, I can’t fault the developers for their continued commitment to small details in both graphic and sound design, and there are countless aspects of the narrative which are as well-crafted and memorable as any from the previous game. The core mechanics are expanded in constructive ways, and you can do more than ever with different combat options. In short, GoW Ragnarok is a fitting sequel that is well worth your time.
I could go on and on about God of War Ragnarok, I really could. My closing thoughts continue to be about what an incredible journey this game is. It’s near flawless, in every way, and any criticisms are nit-picks, rather than genuine weak points. The Game Of The Year, right here, and to be honest, in my humble opinion, by a country mile.
God of War: Ragnarök manages to improve even more its original proposal, bringing one of the best titles in the Kratos saga.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
As for the future of the God of War franchise, I’m not sure what to expect. Ragnarok leaves a few open threads that provide opportunities for DLC expansions. Kratos found an appropriate and redeeming end that I would hate to see taken away from him to just to continue the series. I’m not confident that Atreus would be the right fit to carry the future of the franchise, at least not without a significant time jump and growth of abilities. But whether or not Santa Monica Studios buts the IP to rest or releases new games will be revealed in time.
God of War Ragnarok is the end of times, God of War Ragnarok is the best of times. You will not want to miss this final chapter.
There are many ways to leave a mark on a player, whether it is by a character that captivates you, a breathtaking world, or a story that grabs you until you know what happens at the end. God of War: Ragnarok was patient in its arrival, but delivers in all the ways I have listed, leaving an axe in the middle of the arena for those who try to challenge it.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
If Ragnarök spells the end of God of War, as both its themes and talk from Santa Monica Studio suggest, then it will serve as a fitting end for Kratos. Not just because it would make an impressive swansong for the God of War, but because that level of weariness and relief that Kratos feels from completing his lengthy endeavours is, by its end, projected onto the player, completing theirs.
God of War: Ragnarök is nothing short of a divine experience, on every level. It somehow manages to improve on everything from the phenomenal 2018 entry. The story, gameplay, environmental design, technical consistency, performances – it's all absolutely flawless. This work of art is challenging, it's impactful, it's exciting, it's touching and it's beautiful. For all that and more, this is a title that deserves to join the pantheon of one of the best works in our industry. There are no perfect games, but damn if God of War: Ragnarök isn't incredibly close to that feat.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
God of War Ragnarok ties up the story in a satisfying way, and the journey it takes you on to get there is memorable. But God of War is also a video game. It’s not a movie, and only some of its game elements hold up.
In sum, God of War Ragnarok is the perfect case of a game that’s impeccably designed in all aspects of its presentation and writing, that still fails to have the necessary focus and drive to keep me engaged. It’s unnecessarily long and drags too much to hold my attention like the original game did. And it’s a shame, because there’s surely plenty to be enjoyed all throughout it, and I’m positively ecstatic to get more of the excellent setting that started four years ago. But having to wade through so much to get to that is driving me absolutely nuts!
A continuation game that takes over to polish and improve the original and become an essential classic for any PS5 user and an inevitable excuse to acquire a PS5 when possible.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
God of War Ragnarok raises the bar for blockbuster storytelling in gaming - a reminder of what single-player games can be in today's standards.
Googling Ragnarok before “Santa Monica Studio” announced their sequel to the incredibly received God of War (2018), you’d see a flurry of Marvel references or even Wikipedia pages devoted to Norse mythologies version of the Apocolypse. Now you google Ragnarok, and most links, news, and images all refer to the incredible 2022 God of War: Ragnarok.
God of War Ragnarök improves in every way the 2018 game. Not only delves deeper in the norse mythology, but also creates some fantastic side quests as an endgame after the campaign. Without a doubt Santa Monica took an strong foundation and pushed it to the max without loosing familiarity, Ragnarök is one of the best PS exclusives for this generation.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
God of War Ragnarok makes use of cinematic techniques and skilled actors to tell its story of holding on and letting go. But it doesn't feel beholden to cinematic trappings. It's proud of its history and medium and plays sublimely as a result. With a focus on fun and flow, God of War Ragnarok's bloody and beautiful pieces fit together swimmingly.
God of War takes the essence of what it means to be mortal and packs it into this digital medium to form a bond with those who are experiencing it first-hand. I tossed myself at Ragnarök for a sense of escapism, and what I ended up receiving was a testament to life and what it means to live and be loved.
It’s hard to find much of anything to complain about when it comes to God of War Ragnarok. The complex characters and storyline provide a plethora of feelings. The developers have breathed so much depth and life into this series that previously focused on combat over narrative substance. There’s still plenty of violent combo-focused action, but the option for exploration and puzzle-solving balances out the mechanics and adds a bit of curve to the otherwise linear storyline.
Few games released in 2022, or any year for that matter, are as well designed and made as God of War Ragnarök. While it doesn’t completely move beyond its predecessor, it eventually offers enough fresh content to stand apart, and additional variety helps make it the stronger game of the two, even if it’s perhaps a bit less focused. A beautifully told story that carries the themes of the prior game while allowing Atreus to stand on his own kept my interest until the very end. If you didn’t care for 2018’s God of War, then Ragnarök won’t change your mind, but everyone else should absolutely check it out.
God of War Ragnarok doesn't reinvent the series, but it didn't need to, what we got is a masterful improvement on the previous game, with an engaging story and a more fluid combat that I wholeheartedly recommend to every fan.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review