The year 2018 was massive for gamers, as they got to play titles likeRed Dead Redemption 2,Marvel’s Spider-Man,Dark Souls Remastered,Shadow of the Tomb Raider,and more. However, no game came close to the 2018’s Game of the Year award winner,God of War. The new reimagination of Kratos’ journey into Norse mythology had everything from a great story to timeless combat design and a lengthy campaign. Some would say it was perfect.
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That said,God of War Ragnarokis out now and is taking the world by storm. Some players praise its visuals, while others love its narrative. However, most people agree thatGod of War Ragnarokit’s a brilliant sequel to the 2018 masterpiece for different reasons. Let’s take a look.
10Multiple Shields Make Defense Interesting
Shields have been a major part of video games over the last three decades. Starting all the way from games likeThe Legend of Zeldato recent titles likeElden Ring. However, not many players have thought that shieldwould become a major part of a game like God of War, especially since the series became popular for its cinematic-style fixed-camera hack-and-slash gameplay mechanics.
When Kratos arrived in Norse mythology, Santa Monica Studio took the game in a new direction, making it a more up-close and personal experience. Hence, the shield became a central element of the combat design in the 2018 title. Fortunately, the sequelGod of War Ragnarokonly takes it to another level by introducing a variety of shield upgrades and types, further enhancing the combat.
9Boss/Enemy Variety Keeps Things Fresh
When Santa Monica Studio built the 2018 game, they ensured the combat remained interesting by creating various enemy types. These included ice-infused monsters Hel-Walkers, Revenants, rocky Ancients, floating Nightmares, Draugrs, and more. However, there was still not enough variety compared to the game’s scale, and there were too many troll fights.
Fortunately, thedevelopers have fixed all that inGod of War Ragnarok. In the sequel, players face a wide variety of enemies, each unique to their own different words. Moreover, almost all bosses are distinct, and Trolls have taken a back seat.
8Overhauled Upgrade System But Simplified U.I.
God of Warwon the Game of the Year award at The Game Awards. However, it doesn’t mean it was perfect. In fact, the 2018 game had many issues, especially relating to its user interface. The first game in the Norse saga introducedthe new weapon and armor mechanics, which was a complete overhaulto the simple orbs-based upgrade system of the classics.
Sadly, the new system was too crowded with data, making the upgrade menu confusing for players. Fortunately,God of War Ragnarokfixed that by minimizing the details on the screen, making its menu much easy to understand.
7Weapon Use Extend Beyond Attacking
When Kratos became part of Norse mythology, he ditched most of his old stuff for an axe his wife gave him. While that may sound like a downgrade, this new weapon held enough variety to keep players happy for the rest of the game. If that wasn’t enough, developers also gave players the iconic chained blades.
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God of War Ragnaroktakes everything that Kratos had in the 2018 game and amplifies its uses. Now, players can use thechained blades to swing around faster, use the axe to freeze in a combination of companion’s powers and be highly creative with the weapons.
6Overwhelming Amount Of Companions
God of War2018 is a nicely balanced game. It has just the right upgrades, a good skill tree, and a straightforward narrative. Moreover, thejourney is mostly centered around Kratos and his kid Atreus, which keeps the storyline closely knit.
God of War Ragnarokbuilds up on that and features a story where players can team up with various characters during the storyline. These include the Norse God Tyr, the Goddess Freya, Brock, Sindri, and the grown-up Atreus. Each character has their own moves, with unique abilities and use cases.
5Extended Use Of Spartan Rage
The SpartanRage was one of the most significant powers inGod of War2018, as it showcased the true power of Kratos throughout his fights with Baldur, Thor’s sons, Dragon, and more. However, it was pretty limited in terms of moves and underwhelming during regular battles.
Fortunately,God of War Ragnarokfixes that by adding a huge list of things players can do while in Spartan Rage. Now, players can use Kratos’ special ability in a passive way for healing, aggressively for attacking, and more.
4Quicker Animations Result In Faster Gameplay
There’s no denying thatGod of War2018 is a cinematic game with a good amount of slow-paced cutscenesand climbing sections. It is also a game that uses realistic animation to bring Kratos and Loki’s every move to life. Sadly, the cinematic approach slows the game down during the exploration sections, which was a tradeoff.
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Thankfully,God of War Ragnarokchanges that by carefully tweaking the old animations to be faster. Whether taking out the boat or climbing a mountain with a push of a button, most things are now fast, impacting the game’s overall speed. Moreover, the exploration is now less clunky than before.
3Better Puzzle Design
WhileGod of Warwas a brilliant game in 2018, it hada few things that left players underwhelmed. These include the tank-like controls, the lack of orbs, and the inability to revisit certain locations. However, the biggest thing that disappointed long-time fans was the lack of challenging puzzles.
Most of that is now fixed inGod of War Ragnarok. Moreover, the developers have built new mechanics for players to use, move platforms, and mix up their abilities with their companion’s powers to uncover secrets. It is safe to say that the new game definitely makes players think.
2Dual Protagonists
God of War Ragnaroklets players experience the story in the most diverse way possible. Not only does it offer a good variety of companions, but it also shakes things up by allowing gamers to play as Loki.
This time, Kratos comes with a huge skill tree and various upgrades, and so does Atreus.Moreover, the son of the Greek God of War has his ownunique special ability, which lets him turn into a wolf and eviscerate the enemies into dust.
1Additional Brutal Finishers
One ofGod of War2018’s best features was the finishing moves that made Kratos seem like an authentic badass. He could tear enemies apart, crush their heads under his feet, gut them with the blades, or simply split them into two. Still, the animations got repetitive for most players after a while, which was a problem.
God of War Ragnarokfixes that issue by expanding on enemy variety and adding way more finishers in Kratos’ arsenal. Now, he looks badass and attacks like the true monster he has become over the years.
God of War Ragnarokis available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
