This final review will be on…
The return of the legend.
Overview
This is the eighth installment, as well as chronologically, of the God of War series, and sequel to 2010’s God of War 3. This follows the protagonist Kratos, protagonist of all the previous God of War games, and his son Atreus as they travel across the nine realms as they complete Faye’s, Kratos’s second wife and Atreus’s mother, dying wish to release her ashes from the highest peak in all the realms. This is all done while Kratos tries to keep his violent past from his son, who is unaware of his and Kratos’s natures as gods, and while fighting the monsters and gods of nordic mythology.
There are quite a few differences in this game compared to the old one, such as the difference in camera shots. In the previous God of War games, it had a fixed cinematic camera, while this one has Kratos with a over-the-shoulder free camera, with the entire game being done in one shot. There’s even role-playing elements with Atreus being able to provide support in combat as well.
Story Up to God of War 4
“God of War’s Story in 7 Minutes (2018) – IGN”
There is some missed things, like how Kratos, after killing his wife, daughter, and the entire village of Athena worshippers during his service to Ares they were in, he was cursed by the local oracle so that the hot ashes of his dead wife and child would remain apart of his skin, and then he became the Ghost of Sparta.
The chains seared into the flesh of his arms were apart of 2 separate weapons called the Blades of Chaos, given to him by Ares, as they were only for someone that is a worthy servant of him.
Thanatos = Greek god of death
Kratos’s tattoo is to pay homage to his brother, Deimos, who’s birthmark looked exactly the same.
There is also God of War: Betrayal, which takes place between Ghost of Sparta and God of War 2, its just him chasing down a assassin that got him blamed for the death of Argos, as well as battling Ceryx, son of Hermes, and killing him, which Kratos actually did, and inadvertently letting the assassin escape, which further alienates the gods and leads into God of War 2.
Gameplay
Kratos
Now, Kratos plays vastly differently from previous God of War games, especially with a different starting weapon than the ones you would usually start with.
Leviathan Axe
“New LEVIATHAN AXE Combat Tutorial – God of War – Polygon”
“God of War – How to Fight Like Kratos | PS4 – PlayStation”
The Leviathan Axe is Kratos’s inheritance from his recently deceased wife, Faye, that was created by the twin dwarves Brok and Sindri.
When starting out, you get R1 and R2 for light and heavy attacks that can be chained together, and the ability to throw by holding L2 and pressing R1 or R2 for a light or heavy throw, and the ability to recall the axe at will by pressing triangle. As you play the game, you can buy upgrades, or collect runes, that can give you new attacks to use.
Blades of Chaos
“God of War PS4 – Kratos gets the Chaos Blades + Gameplay – Playtendo”
These blades were the marks of servitude to Ares that Kratos bore, the blades that were seared into the flesh of his arms, that slaughtered his first wife and daughter, and countless other innocents, gods, and other being that got in his way, mythological or otherwise. These blades, while they play similarly to how they play in the previous games, they still follow the same mechanics as the Leviathan Axe. That is all there is basically.
There is also Spartan Rage, an ability that increases power, and instead of fighting with weapons, you attack with your fists.
Atreus
Talon Bow
“God of War | Fighting with Atreus | PS4 – PlayStation Europe”
The Talon Bow was gift to Atreus from his mother, Faye. By using the square button, you can make Atreus shoot the enemies, or by holding the L2, where ever you are pointing. As you play, he can be upgraded into being able to take a larger part in combat, as well as the ability to shoot 2 different kinds of arrows, light and lightning, that can be upgraded to have different effects on the enemies.
Upgrades and Customization
As you play the game, you can upgrade your weapons to make them stronger for yourself and Atreus.
These upgrades can do plenty of things, such as increase the amount of arrows that Atreus can shoot, to simple strengthening, and even other special effects, though you need the right material and amount of hacksilver (money) to get it. As you upgrade weapons and armor, you can also get sockets for them. These sockets can have different enchantments that can make you stronger, tougher, heal you, increase defense, even give an attack. Then you have runs attacks for Kratos, which gives him new attacks that due a certain amount of normal damage, frost damage for the leviathan axe and fire for the blades of chaos, and stun damage. There can be two for each weapon, 1 light attack and 1 heavy attack.
“God of War – All Runic Attacks Showcase” – PowerPyx
Atreus on the other hand uses runic summons, summons of different animals that help him in combat or out of combat.
“God of War – All Animal Summons Showcase (Atreus Runic Summons)” – HarryNinetyFour
There is also skill trees for the leviathan axe, blades of chaos, unarmed, shield, and the talon bow that you spend experience on to improve your weapons. It helps more if you have the required stats.
