Being able to pull off the perfect sequel is a difficult feat. Some people were skeptical before God of War (2018)'s sequel released, but most always had faith. Santa Monica Studio was able to somehow make a game better than their first one.
Winter is coming
Earlier in this semester, I discussed the 2018 God of War game in an atomic essay. That entry in the series blew me away on its own, with its amazing graphics and captivating story.
As soon as Ragnarök was announced, I knew that Santa Monica Studio was going to up the ante. The studio has proved time and time again that they know how to craft a story and how to create spectacle.
Since the trailer released in 2021, I was more excited for Ragnarök than I have been for a game in years. Come release day, I did not find myself disappointed.
Raising the stakes
The concept of Ragnarök is one from Norse mythology. It is said to be the cause of the destruction of all nine realms. In this game, it is up to Kratos and his son, Atreus, to defeat Odin and put a stop to Ragnarök.
Time is running out in God of War Ragnarök, which makes for a thrilling experience.
This game takes everything from its predecessor and improves upon it. One great example of that is the performances. Christopher Judge and Sunny Suljic further prove their talent with the performances that they gave for Ragnarök.
These actors, in addition to the stunningly realistic graphics, make the emotional moments feel powerful.
Best of both worlds
Video game critics can be hard to please. So many factors go into making a competent game: writing, story, gameplay, graphics, accessibility, and more. If you want to create a game that will be positively received, you must make sure that at least four of those factors have been refined.
Santa Monica Studio refined the God of War series over the course of seventeen years. With the latest entry in the series, they discovered the perfect formula.
With its endlessly fun gameplay and an impactful story, God of War Ragnarök has been praised by critics and players alike. Ragnarök won five Game Awards, more than any other game from 2022.
My final verdict
It is only about once a year that a video game truly wows me and leaves me with goosebumps when the credits roll. In 2022, not only was Elden Ring able to achieve such an effect, but God of War Ragnarök did as well.
If you play this game, you will be sent on an adventure with Kratos and Atreus across all nine realms, battling gods and monsters. Stories do not get more exciting than Ragnarök's.
I would recommend God of War Ragnarök to anyone who enjoys video games with perfect gameplay and perfect writing. Be ready for cutscenes though, there are a lot of cutscenes.