God of War Reviews
Check out God of War Review Scores from trusted Critics below. With 41 reviews on CriticDB, God of War has a score of:
Republished on Wednesday 1st June 2022: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of June's PlayStation Plus lineup. The original text follows.
A triumph of brilliant design and exceptional production values that rightfully has the world fumbling for superlatives.
When the credits roll after 30 hours or so you’ll be left satisfied by God of War but also with more questions than perhaps you started out with. You’ll be eager for more. I know I certainly am. This is a new start for Kratos, and I can’t wait to see what’s next in store for him and Atreus as they deal with their Norse adversaries. The God of War series has a bright future it would seem, one that many of us didn’t expect or think was possible. And I’m extraordinarily happy about that.
The music and voicework in God of War is superb, combining the grandiose tone of Norse mythology with an intimate feeling of grief and growth. The orchestral choir pieces are incredibly powerful, and fitting of the cinematic moments they’re used in. God of War also knows when to use silence, which proves vital to the story’s more subtle and quiet moments. The voice acting is remarkable, with every character’s actor or actress fitting their roles perfectly. Atreus, Kratos, and Mimir get special shoutouts in this regard, especially for Christopher Judge’s impeccable ability to make Kratos grow softer ever so slowly.
Deep with allegory and underpinned by rich combat, God of War stands triumphant as a narrative masterwork. This is what it means for video games to grow up.
Describing each aspect of God of War would only serve to keep readers from going out and playing this game, which everyone should. Top to bottom, Sony Santa Monica has created a beautiful evolution of the series. The story is more nuanced and full of surprises, the characters have depth and their relationships grow, and the combat is more deliberate and forces the player to consider every action. Graphically, this is one of the best looking games on a console, filled with diverse and colorful environments and a sense of scope and scale that makes the world feel whole.
Despite this, Sony Santa Monica’s latest Kratos-starring installment is not a remaster, reboot, or re-imagining of the title that first introduced us to the deity-destroying antihero. 2018’s God of War is actually a sequel, picking up some years after Kratos murdered his way through Greek mythology’s “most wanted.”
Our next game needs no introduction. Feast your mortal eyes on our God of War review now! Spoiler-free, we promise!
I expected great action from God of War, and it delivers that handily. But I didn’t expect it to be a thrilling journey in which every aspect of it complements the others to form what is nothing short of a masterpiece. It’s a game in which Kratos, a previously one-note character, becomes a complex father, warrior, and monster, embattled both on the field and within his own heart about how to treat his son; one in which the world opens up and shifts, offering rewards in both gameplay and knowledge of its lore that I treasured with each accomplishment. The obvious care that went into crafting its world, characters, and gameplay delivers by far the most stirring and memorable game in the series.
Kratos has always felt like an anti-hero with only a singular desire to act out in a rage with no recourse for those around him. This much was evident in the past God of War titles that remained one of Sony’s strongest exclusive action series. Now, years have gone by since the Ghost of Sparta left the Aegean Sea behind for a reclusive life in a new land with a new family. Can the God of War find comfort in his new surroundings, or is Kratos a man out of his element?
[UPDATE] Now that the game is finally launched, I can now blabber all I want about the game, but of course with a spoiler warning. I’m still not going to reveal every inch of details of the game because I loved it too much to spoil for you guys (I’m the kind of guy). Nonetheless, we have some spoiler videos included for you if you don’t mind. But I’m going to leave this giant note right below:
God of War is a phenomenal effort by Sony Santa Monica, one that needs to be experienced by every PS4 player out there.
In gruff moments of fatherly instruction, Kratos repeats the phrase “be better” to his son, Atreus. This happens in different contexts, but the lesson remains consistent: Your decisions are not bound by precedent, and the choices of others are not examples to follow – they only set standards you can strive to exceed. In developing the latest God of War, Sony’s Santa Monica studio apparently took this message to heart. While previous games in this series established a successful formula of stylish action and epic setpieces, the team used this opportunity to be better; with surprising changes on every front, God of War forges a new identity and surpasses even its most acclaimed predecessors.
When God of War came out, it was one of the biggest releases of the year. Nearly every news outlet put it in contention for best game of 2018. It won many of these nominations, including the Game Awards title. It was a huge console-selling exclusive for the PlayStation 4, and it revitalized the franchise without losing what made it compelling.
One of the best games of recent years gets even better, courtesy of a superb port and content that has withstood the march of time with aplomb.
God of War goes all out in delivering a fantastic story, brutal combat, lovely visuals, and tons of content. This is easily a strong contender for one of the best games released this generation.
While Kratos may have aged God of War symbolizes just how different a game can be from what fans have known and still surpass all expectations.
God of War is a story about family and grief fused with all the epic brutality audiences have come to expect. It surprises the player at every turn. That in itself makes this masterpiece from Santa Monica Studio a true delight to experience. Most importantly 2018’s God of War reinvents itself in totally modern ways while reminding players that the franchise has always been on the cutting edge of what videogames can offer as a medium.
Kratos went through major changes since the last time we saw him so find out how fatherhood and the frigid Norse world suit him.
In God of War, story and gameplay unite for a gripping, memorable journey with unerring focus. Kratos’ new beginning is masterfully written, emotionally resonant, and a thrilling challenge.
The controversial change to the formula worked - the new God of War presents us with Kratos in excellent form.
It is a new beginning for Kratos. Living as a man, outside the shadow of the gods, he seeks solitude in the unfamiliar lands of Norse mythology. With new purpose and his son at his side, Kratos must fight for survival as powerful forces threaten to disrupt the new life he has created...
With a wild swing of his axe and angry grunt in his voice; Kratos begins life on the PlayStation 4 in a somewhat different fashion to past God of War games.
God Of War is a cinematic masterpiece that manages to reinvent and push an already fantastic series to new heights. Barring some pacing issues in its narrative, Sony Santa Monica have breathed new life into Kratos and the God of War series, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
God of War is a masterclass in action-adventure, respecting its legendary lineage while also forging a new path for the franchise's future.
After more than 55 hours spent playing, I’m still awed by just how great God of War is. This is the result of a clear, determined vision, its separate elements harmonizing almost perfectly to deliver an experience that understands the series’ blood-soaked origins but is also not afraid to push it into a more mature and nuanced direction.
God of War on PC does have a few strange issues, but it is the best way to play the game if your PC is powerful enough. DLSS does a great job at reducing the load, but if you want an increase in quality over the PS5 version you will need a rig capable of handling it.
Big, brash, and surprisingly poignant, God of War arrives on PC in fine shape. Don't pass up this chance to play a console classic.
God of War achieves a very impressive balance between the epic and the mundane, between the ultra violent and the domestic. It's undoubtedly the coolest and most interesting God of War to date.
Now that God of War has won Game of the Year, take a look back at our review of this PS4 masterpiece...
God of War has evolved. Now, you are ready. For what?A new beginning. Since bursting onto the scene 13 years ago, God of [...]
In recreating the God of War experience, Sony Santa Monica has taken elements from different genres, as well as the series’ cannon, to breathe new life into the series. It wears its inspirations on its sleeve but presents itself as the best God of War we’ve ever experienced. Kratos is no longer the cardboard cutout of rage we used to know. Instead, through the window of Atreus, we see a God who is also a man, a man learning what it means to be human once more.
God of War feels like a breath of fresh air, thanks to a reimagined world and some deeper customization features. But at the root of the game is the classic God of War combat, slightly less gory but only slightly less grisly. Tearing monsters apart bare-handed is just as much of a rush as it ever was. And that's good, because even if it's time to grow up, it's okay not to change too much.
God of War has seen considerable changes from previous games in the series, but they almost all feel like they were for the better.
A lot of what goes into God of War feels as though it was cherry-picked from the modern gaming zeitgeist. The semi-open world structure, loot system, and a much deeper narrative focus work well, but are all trends being pushed by most other big games. As a result, God of War can feel slightly homogenised in a way that some fans may find unappealing. Thankfully, a strong sense of setting and brutally satisfying combat help maintain that God of War identity. If it wasn’t made abundantly clear already, this is the first in what will most likely be a new trilogy for the God of War franchise, and this first instalment serves as a pretty great foundation.
Finally, God of War is a brilliant reinvention of a character who was out of place and out of time in the current generation of video games, and an evolution in the way relationships between two or more of them are depicted in such a creative environment. It’s a game you really need to look into if you love old-fashioned, wrapped up single-player experiences with a lot of content in them. It could’ve been even bigger in scope and more cohesive, but it feels already huge for a debut and a ...
The latest installment in the God of War franchise was able to combine strong elements that delivered a jam-packed experience.
Back in the summer of 2013, Santa Monica Studios Creative Director, Cory Barlog, had the insurmountable task of starting work on the latest iteration of the beloved God of War series. This was a franchise that helped define the PlayStation 2, some 15 years ago.
God of War has always been a franchise filled with over the top violence, memorable moments and big action set-pieces. The newest addition to the series on PS4 has those things, but those elements are far from the most interesting parts in the experience. Developer Sony Santa Monica took my breath away with its subtle and quiet moments as much as it shocked me with its gigantic scale boss battles and impressed me with its clever, varied combat. God of War successfully weaves together all of t...
The latest God of War on PlayStation 4 reimagines series icon Kratos in a world of Norse mythology, and it might just be the best game in the series.
Cory Barlog and his team managed to reinvent the wheel, and while they added more pieces, it rolls smoother than ever before, providing the best God of War experience of the history of the franchise.