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Platform: Sony Playstation 4

Region: PAL

Developer(s): Sony Santa Monica Studio

Publishers(s): Sony Computer Entertainment

ReleaseDate: 2022-11-09

Players: 1

Co-op: No

God of War Ragnarök is an action-adventure game developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was released worldwide on November 9, 2022, for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, marking the first cross-gen release in the God of War series. It is the ninth installment in the series, the ninth chronologically, and the sequel to 2018's God of War. Loosely based on Norse mythology, the game is set in ancient Scandinavia and features series protagonist, Kratos, and his teenage son, Atreus. Concluding the Norse era of the series, the game covers Ragnarök, the eschatological event which is central to Norse mythology and was foretold to happen in the previous game after Kratos killed the Aesir god Baldur. The gameplay is similar to the previous 2018 installment. It features combo-based combat, as well as puzzle and role-playing elements. The gameplay has been revamped from the previous game: in addition to Kratos' main weapons, a magical battle axe and his double-chained blades, he also acquires a magical spear and his shield has become more versatile, with different types of shields that have differing offensive and defensive abilities. His son Atreus, as well as some other characters, provide assistance in combat and can be passively controlled. Additionally, and for the first time in the series, there are some story missions where the player takes full control of Atreus; his gameplay is similar to Kratos, but he uses his magical bow as his weapon. There are also more enemy types and mini-bosses than in the previous game. Originally slated for a 2021 release, the game was delayed in part due to Kratos actor Christopher Judge's health problems in August 2019, and later, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on development. Ragnarök garnered universal acclaim from critics and was praised for its storytelling, characters, visuals, level design, music, and overall improvements to the gameplay over its predecessor. It won Game of the Year at the Titanium Awards and was a nominee for the same award at The Game Awards 2022, where it won Best Narrative, Best Action/Adventure, and Innovation in Accessibility, among other awards and nominations. It also won Adventure Game of the Year at the 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. It received a leading fourteen nominations at the 19th British Academy Games Awards, the most nominations for any game in the history of the BAFTA awards. The game was a commercial success, selling 5.1 million units in its first week, becoming the fastest-selling first-party game in PlayStation history. By early February 2023, 11 million copies of the game had been sold. Plot Near the end of Fimbulwinter, Kratos and Atreus return home—fending off an ambush from a vengeful Freya—to find their wolf Fenrir in his final moments. Atreus's grief transforms him into a bear through his still-uncontrolled Giant and godly magic, briefly battling Kratos before returning to his senses. Thor arrives with Odin, who proposes leaving them alone if Atreus abandons his secret search for Týr. Kratos refuses and duels Thor to a stalemate, but Odin tells Atreus he will leave Kratos alone if the former comes to Asgard. Kratos, Atreus, and Mímir take refuge in Sindri's home Yggdrasil, in the realm between realms. Atreus admits he and Sindri have been searching for clues about Týr's whereabouts. Kratos reluctantly agrees to help Atreus; they travel to Svartalfheim and rescue a pacifistic Týr. The group head to Gróa's shrine in Alfheim to understand the prophecy concerning Ragnarök, and learn Gróa lied: only Asgard is fated to being destroyed but all other realms survive under a new champion, implied to be Atreus using the name Loki. Kratos and Atreus argue over the latter's supposed destiny. That night, Atreus is magically transported to Jötunheim where he meets the Giantess Angrboda, who shows him a mural foretelling Kratos's death in Ragnarök and Atreus serving Odin. Atreus learns the Giants transferred their souls into spiritual stones; he is entrusted with them and puts a Giant's soul into a snake's body. Atreus returns to Midgard, where he and Kratos are attacked by Freya. She agrees to spare Kratos if he helps her break the curse binding her to Midgard—she circumvents it by taking form as a falcon. In Vanaheim, where Freya's estranged brother Freyr leads a resistance against Odin, Kratos opens up to Freya about his first family's deaths in Greece and the emptiness of revenge. After breaking the curse, Freya and Kratos make amends. Kratos and Atreus argue regarding the latter's deceitful behavior; Atreus flees to Asgard to find a way to prevent Kratos's death. Odin requests his help in preventing Ragnarök by reassembling an ancient mask that can supposedly grant infinite knowledge. Meanwhile, Kratos, Freya, and Mímir visit the Norns, who say Heimdall is destined to kill Atreus. Kratos and Brok forge the Draupnir ring into a powerful spear, capable of harming Heimdall. In Helheim, Atreus releases the soulless giant wolf Garm, who begins tearing holes in the realms. After reuniting with Kratos, Atreus, realizing Fenrir's soul was bound to his knife when he died, resurrects Fenrir by transferring his soul into Garm. Kratos and Atreus then reconcile. With Mímir and Freya, they return to Vanaheim to rescue Freyr from the Aesir. Kratos is forced to kill Heimdall and claims Gjallarhorn, setting Ragnarök in motion. Atreus infiltrates Asgard and steals the mask. At the refuge, Týr agrees to fight; suspicious of Týr's change of heart, Brok realizes he is calling Atreus "Loki", like Asgardians. Týr fatally stabs Brok, revealing he had been Odin in disguise. The group drives him away but a grief-stricken Sindri blames Atreus for Brok's death and abandons the group. Atreus and Kratos commit to Ragnarök, entering Muspelheim to help Surtr achieve a destined primordial form that will destroy Asgard. The united forces of the realms gather under Kratos's leadership; he sounds Gjallarhorn to begin the siege of Asgard. The battle begins poorly; the Elves and Vanir struggle with Asgard's defenses, Sindri comes alone to avoid more dwarven deaths, and the army is forced to rescue innocent Midgardian refugees. However, the tide turns when Angrboda arrives with Fenrir and the snake Atreus saved, now fully grown into Jörmungandr, who distracts Thor while Sindri destroys Asgard's protective wall. Thrúd and Sif defect after discovering Odin used refugees as shields. Thor knocks Jörmungandr back in time and engages Kratos in battle, but is convinced to stand down to help his family, only to be killed by Odin for disobeying. Kratos, Atreus, Freya, and Mímir overpower and defeat Odin; Atreus shatters the mask and traps Odin's soul in a spiritual stone, which a vengeful Sindri smashes. Freyr sacrifices himself so everyone can flee as Surtr destroys Asgard. In Midgard, Atreus reunites with Angrboda, who shows him and Kratos a mural Faye had destroyed so they could determine their own fate. Atreus resolves to find surviving Giants in other lands, and bids a heartfelt farewell to Kratos. Kratos discovers a mural depicting him as a revered, peaceful god. He recruits Freya and Mímir to rebuild and restore peace. Asgard's Einherjar are cleared out, Freya kills the vengeful Valkyrie Queen Gná and reclaims her mantle, the Aesir relocate to Vanaheim and achieve peace with the Vanir, Thrúd wields Mjölnir to honor Thor, and the real Týr is freed in Niflheim. In the secret ending, Kratos, Freya, Mímir, and an unforgiving Sindri attend a funeral for Brok in Svartalfheim.

Trailer: YouTube

ESRB Rating: Not Rated

Genre(s): Action | Adventure

UID(s): CUSA-34388