God of War: Ragnarok: PS5 Review

Developed by Santa Monica Studios
Published by Sony Interactive
Platform: PS5

God of War Ragnarok does much of what it says on the tin.

Reteaming Kratos and Atreus while expanding their world immensely, the story throws you back into the Nine Realms as it threatens the oncoming devastation of Ragnarok, which was teased at the end of the 2018 reboot of the action-adventure series featuring the Spartan.

As Fimbulwinter blankets all the realms in its icy grip, Kratos is also having to deal with a frost on the personal front - a vengeful Freya still seeking resolution to Kratos' murder of her son and Atreus, who's determined to find out more about his destiny and his journey as Loki.

To say more of God of War: Ragnarok's story is to cheat players out of the developments and the deepening of the Norse mythology that Santa Monica Studios have sought to create.

That's not to diminish any of the work, merely to say the larger themes of the story are better experienced than explained. Loosely, unavoidable fate and the perils of parenting teens would fit most of Santa Monica Studios' Game.

Graphically, God of War: Ragnarok soars, with vistas appearing stunning from within the PS5 mechanics and the designers putting much into the proceedings. But conversely, the inability to visit the world's parts the story doesn't want you to head along is both frustrating and disappointing.

There's also a feeling that portions of the story feel like they're padded. Early playthrough of Ragnarok repeats a lot of the formula of 2018's God of War and teeters dangerously close to making players throw down Kratos' Leviathan axe in nothing short of frustration. The game does take its time to reveal more and that's an undeniable thrill when it happens, but its route there is certainly circuitous and almost fatal in parts.

A sidestory involving Atreus leads to a terrible section that feels cut adrift from the tautness of the rest of the game, thrown aside in a desperate attempt to add bloat to a game that really doesn't need it. In amongst repetitive puzzles and characters' desires to simply tell you solutions to puzzles the moment you come across them, there are a few flaws from God of War: Ragnarok that in all honesty you'd not be expecting.

Thankfully the flaws just about are levelled off by the gameplay.

Combat is both chunky and enthralling, requiring a level of skill and commitment that pays off with rewards at the end of major battles. Checkpoints midway through boss battles would appear to be a "soft touch" toward gaming, but even on the lighter settings, they are welcome given how much tougher the end level fights are.

All in all, God of War: Ragnarok is a worthy title to Kratos' tale. It deepens the Norse law and creates a story that's as based on human concerns as it is in the fantasy world - though one can't help but shake the feeling that a bit more trimming of some of the gaming fat could have rendered this a superlative title, rather than just one that is spectacular and engaging.

A pre-release code for God of War: Ragnarok was provided by Sony PlayStation NZ for the purpose of this PS5 Review.