God Of War Review | Way Too Many Games

WTMG's Jason Palazini: "After five years of development, Kratos has resurfaced in a new realm. Fans have long debated whether or not this was the right step. I'm here to tell you, they knew exactly what they were doing."

[Jinger]

8.5 seems about right for this GoW

[D3athc3ll]

No it deserves at least 9.5 if you hate the game will your whole heart!!!!

[Jinger]

Huh? If you hate the game with your whole heart it still deserves a 9.5?

[gangsta_red]

Clickbait??

It's a super solid game so far and I have little criticisms and extremely minor gripes of it but all in all a definite 8.5 - 9.

[lptmg]

I found it great. I doubt anyone has ever called it a bad game. Unless 8.5 is now the new bad, you never know in this current day and age among internet users...

[DigitalRaptor]

This mythical "honeymoon" period surrounding well received games is a funny one to hear from people.

What, in your opinion, drags this GoW down?

[Jinger]

For me?

1. Water looks like crap, especially while rowing on it
2. Lack of boss variety and there is only 1 grand scale boss which still lacks compared to Corey Balrog's GoW2
3. The camera can get very annoying when backed up against a wall.
4. Lack of weapon variety and yes I have gotten all the weapons.

Would you like my opinion on positives?

[Kribwalker]

my biggest gripe is the camera. It can be so frustrating at times. I’m enjoying the combat, I really wish HZDs combat was like this one. The melee controls are great and the combos and parrying/counters are great.

Its definitely moved up to a 9 for me right now, i’m just finishing the giants area. have been taking my time looking around and collecting what i can, almost everything maxed out so far

[gangsta_red]

*3. The camera can get very annoying when backed up against a wall.*

This is my number one real complaint of the game.

Too many times I'll back up into a wall, try and dodge an incoming enemy only to dodge into a pillar or some other obstruction that I couldn't see because the camera was pulled in too close on Kratos's back. It would have been nice to have an option to maybe pull the camera back and up a little.

Only 1 grand scale boss? I'm assuming it's the dragon. That is sort of disappointing to hear then. But I have heard the other bosses provide a huge challenge, especially the Valkeries.

[P_Bomb]

HZD isn’t a melee game any more than GOW is a bow and arrow game. That you chose to hack and slash through it, is on you. I’m sure you didn’t pick-axe your way through RotTR.

[DigitalRaptor]

@ Jinger

Fair enough, sounds like you really liked the game.

1. Water knocks it down a peg? Isn't this an IGN joke?
2. Even with a lack of boss variety compared to the other games, it's still top-tier and better than most other games in the genre.
3. I had very few (if any) camera issues. Know the environment, dodge away from incoming attacks and use the 180 degree turn.
4. Of the weapons that you do have, the combat system is extremely deep and rewarding. I'm not sure how it left wanting in that regard.

---

@ gangsta_red

Just a hint: you can press down on the DPAD to do a 180 degree whip turn and that would somewhat alleviate your problem, especially so if you pay attention to your surroundings and make use of the dodge button, and the directional indicators which gives you plenty of notice of incoming attacks. It's not like you aren't given time to work things out. https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[AspiringProGenji]

Oh God I wish both groups shut up already. It isnteslly getting sad... General consensus agrees that this game is a masterpiece (9.5/10 to 10 on average). Someone giving it a lower score that isn’t necessary more right than the consensus, and someone giving it a higher score than this isn’t more right than the lower one. It is just that, a different score.

But then I like how some people only say what they want to say on the lower score ones... anyways the consensus is there and I wish both groups stopped provoking each other when it comes to this game. It is a masterpiece, done!

[G3ng4r]

9.4/10 would be the actual consensus if metacritic is to be believed. You don't remember getting upset about that?

[AspiringProGenji]

Oh right, the game dropped a point... big deal, bur open critic says 95 still... 9.4/9.5 to 10.0 seems abor right. Mighty game regardless

[G3ng4r]

To paraphrase: I was trying to see if I could get away with the highest possible score because it fit my agenda just a tiny bit better. Oh well a bunch of fanboys like myself still gave it a 9.5 so I'm going to act like they're better at reviewing games than paid critics.

It is indeed a mighty game. That you aren't at peace with how well the game still reviewed is a disservice to it.

[AspiringProGenji]

I was talking more about individual reviews that I see popping in this site, not metacritic in particular. And who says i am not satisfied with the scores. If anything I should be considering the scores that everyone decides to shit on are still high

[Si3g]

9 should be the highest score for any game of this gen.Not even Zelda deserves more than a 9

[Legatus]

Awwww it's so sweet to see @Jinger, @gangsta_red and @Kribwalker always have something negative to say about the PS4 exclusive. I never see them three saying anything negative about SoT, on the contrary they defend it whenever they can. Hmmmmm is that because first one is a PS4 exclusive and the second one is xbox i wonder ????

[mkis007]

Just a little background...90% of reviews are above 90 metacritic score. At this point 8.5 is borderline an outlier statistically.

[Barbauer]

We've reached a point in which giving a game a very good 85% is enough to make people complain... I wish all games out there were worthy of such high score...

[gutteranthems]

Kratos save us

[AspiringProGenji]

And then there’s the other group who wants to be indifferent and say a lower score is more right than the consensus of the game because of some “honeymoon” or something l. I wish everyone shut up already. It is not like this game hasn’t got 10 these past days but somehow those articles never a got a single comment. Eveyone just jump to the lower (which are still high scores like this one) to complain

[gutteranthems]

A lot of the game was spent rowing between areas and while the water looked great from afar, it moved so unnaturally when rowing through that it was distracting. Too much time on something too sub par. In comparison to other games, looked good. In comparison to the rest of GoW, it was dreadful

Bosses need more variation. Where are the grand fights like Poseidon, Cronos, or Hades?

The game was great, and I will happily go through the end game content and buy the next game day one. But it's definitely not perfect

[MarineLineman]

Where were those grand fights in the first GoW? This is the first entry in the Norse mythology, and there’s obviously going to be sequels, so why kill all the Aesir gods in one game? Really, the original GoW trilogy didn’t hit the point you’re talking about until GoW3.

[lptmg]

Hydra...

[MarineLineman]

Ok? Hydra isn’t a god, and the dragon fight was far more epic imo.

[gangsta_red]

"Where were those grand fights in the first GoW?"

Going to have to disagree, even if this is the first in a new reboot, it doesn't mean it should be any less than the last three from the previous console.

But from what I played at the moment the bosses do feel "grand".

[Jinger]

The Hydra and Ares were great fights! The Hydra had multiple stages as it was tearing up the boat and eating your crew... fantastic fight. The Dragon was the only other fight that was even as cool as that, but all 3 waves were the same thing, but with slightly faster attack patterns.

Then Ares was awesome and also had multiple unique waves, remember when he goes into your mind and you have to save your wife and child from a never ending onslaught of yourself? It was crazy! And that was just the first damn game as a brand new IP on the PS2!

[P_Bomb]

Poseidon, Cronos, Hades came in GOW3...after FOUR previous games set the table.

This is part one of the Norse pantheon. Let it happen naturally. One of entertainment’s golden rules is ‘always leave em wanting more’.

@jinger
You haven’t fought the Valkyrie queen. I can tell by your nostalgia over Ares and claiming no other fight was epic. The queen is arguably the tightest, toughest boss in the series. Sorry you couldn’t beat the eight other Valkyries to get to her.

[MarineLineman]

Well Jinger, to each their own. For me, personally, this is the best GoW yet, after having completed every single one of them. It’s different, but it manages to maintain the classic GoW feel while still being new. Far from awful.

[Prince_TFK]

But it is the 7th entry (if you count spinoffs) in the GoW franchise, so shouldn’t it at least be better than the past games?

[InKnight7s]

How many GOWs we got to get that GOW3 bosses? I mean on this myth Kratos just started to be known as a name, actually if you played the game, BOY said the world is changing and isn't the world they once known. So the war didn't started yet. I like building stories and some sense rather than throwing bosses here and there without an affect. I mean shop brothers presented best shop atmosphere even presented in the industry

[Jinger]

"I mean shop brothers presented best shop atmosphere even presented in the industry"

The circus of values would like to have a word with you.

Also, it didn't need to blow its load with a ton of gods, but besides the dragon there wasn't even any other epic fight at all!

[AspiringProGenji]

Lol yeah. It is not like he battled poseidon or hades since the start of the seires but monsters and a deity at the end, just like this game pretty much. The bias is strong with this old gow “fans”

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

The repeating boss fights were one of low points of GoW 4 for me. Killing what was essentially the same troll over-and-over again got tedious. Also, GoW 4 is nowhere near as violent or goriy as GoW 3 & Ascension. The brutal violence of the GoW added to the series awe factor. Despite my stated negatives, I was throughly satisfied with the game after 30 hrs of playtime.

[AspiringProGenji]

NO, you spend a lot of time wandering around. if that wasn’t for you, you shouldn’t have done it. I enjoyed the exploration very much and the norse world is a good one not to explore. Exploration wasn’t dreadful and more rewarding than going in a single line and unable to come back like the other games, but in defense of the old games I can see why you would say the old approach was more engaging

I only agree on the bosses but then again, this is the first game on the norse setting, so I have to consider that before comparig it to GoW 3 like you are. you weren’t killing all deities from the start kn GoW PS2 either. It took 2 games to get there

[Jinger]

But even comparing the boss fights of the first GoW I'd still say the hydra was better than the dragon and Ares was an extremely unique fight like I mentioned in the above comment.

The only fight that had that "Wow" factor was the dragon and even then it was still a bit dissapointing of a fight.

What's even more annoying is that I know Corey knows how to do ridiculous boss fights with unique waves and transitions since he did GoW2 and it had some amazing fight. But these just were lazy.

[AspiringProGenji]

- Mody and Mani boss fight was great
- The stranger was great too. The dragons weren't too bad
- And the Valkyries were great and difficult

If anything these boss fight show the team hasn't run out of ideas for this stuff, but you can't say they are because the fights aren't like the Ares one. It is not like you have to go thought 3 stages for every boss fight to make it longer, and Ares tormenting kratos over his family made sense only for that story. Can't expect the same here

I question when people say there are too many trolls. It is not like you were fighting them every 30 minutes... Could some of them be replaced for some kind of monster? Sure, but it is not as ridiculous as some are saying.

[Jinger]

Modi and Magni was not a great fight and neither was the stranger. These are not GoW level fights. It was cool the first couple of times you punched Baldur through a tree or rock, but then by wave 2... then 3... it was just the same repetitive fight. Same thing for even the dragon. This is my point. Corey knows how to do cool bosses with unique waves that actually change at different stages... this game completely lacked that. Then the repetitive troll "bosses"... come on. They may have not been one every step, but there were more than should have been and besides the tutorial one and the one you rip the heart out of... you kill them the same way.

[AspiringProGenji]

''These are not GoW level fights'' lol Ok then... whatever you say man. It is not like there weren't lesser god fights like perseus, hercules, and so on before without ridiculous set pieces. Oh wait...

[AspiringProGenji]

Your problem is that you have been comparing this game to the old games from the start it has become silly. I am not saying you have to love the new direction, but this game doesn't have to be like them. The greek era is done, and this game has been such well received because it has started fresh in a new setting. After all GoW didn't take off until GoW 2. And despite the much stronger start of this one, who is to say we won't see similar pattern with the next game here? Ragnarok has just started, so you will see more mystical monsters, more gods being thrown at you, and probably whatever you call ''true gow fights.''

and I am not saying you are wrong with the troll fights btw.

[Germaximus]

Yeah you can definitely tell the major focus was on the story itself and I don't think anyone can complain there. The story was freakin excellent and I cannot wait for more.

But yes, would definitely love more enemy variety, boss variety, and a better flow in the combat system.

[Prince_TFK]

I do agree. I love the game so far. Good story and fun exploration. But the game is not without faults. I find the combat to be mediocre compared to the past GoW and the camera to be annoying sometimes.

[AspiringProGenji]

Funny I always heard the past GoW games gameplay was mediocre with no depth, but this one has depth and it is medicre to you? That’s strange

[txboy05]

So basically the thing that formed your opinion was water moving unnatural and time in the boat ! Man did you even play the game or just watch it being played on twitch smh. Idk why people come on here and lie so much it’s just pathetic

[michellelynn0976]

It is a good game. I give it an 8. Good game. Nothing special, but good.

[marloc_x]

*reported
; )

[Silly gameAr]

Awww, aren't you a clever one with that awesome wit and sarcasm. It's cute when there's something that people know will cause some backlash, and the trolls and finger waggers want to come out and mock people for not agreeing with a score. So what if people don't agree and are vocal about it.

When petty people act like they're above the pettiness. That's the real joke.

[Elda]

LOL! Yep they'll do it in a minute if you say something about the Switch they may think is negative.

[Germaximus]

Nothing special? LOL I don't even... it's got some issues but it is definitely special.

[michellelynn0976]

Such as?

[Legatus]

What's so special about it ? Well for me was:
- Story
-Characters
-Nordic mythology and it's lore
-Gameplay
-Graphics

A true masterpiece in my book that FULLY deserves 94 metascore.
IMO of course.

[michellelynn0976]

Story was a bit cliche. Characters are good. The lore is standard. Gameplay is good, but not anything special. Graphics are awesome.
I am glad you liked it.

[Legatus]

Yes i did like the game, so much so that for me it's one of the best game i have ever played and i'm 100% sure you would liked GoW much more and find it special if it was a Nintendo exclusive not Sony's ;)

[michellelynn0976]

No. I wouldn't. See, I have not given all Nintendo games 10s. That is a false assumption. TP an 8. Mario Wii U an n 8.5, Xenoblade Chronicles X an 8. I give games the grades I really feel they deserve. GOW is an 8. No matter the system. Horizon? A 10. BOTW, a 10, Mario Odyssey, a 10. XC2 a 10, Persona 5 a 9.5.

[Elda]

Agreed.

[SuperSonic91]

Mimir: "Look brother, all the Ninten-trolls got here before us and having a field day!"
Kratos: " Mmmmmrrrrrr!"
Atreus: " They are nothing to me! Liosta!"
Baldur: " How incredibly dissapointing! Here they are hiding behind 8.5 like cowards."

[Barbauer]

what's with people and an 8.5?

[marloc_x]

..do your pyjamas have feet on them?

[Prince_TFK]

Ninten-trolls? That’s cute. Its great that people like you have never trolled Nintendo articles.

...Oh wait.

[G3ng4r]

Lol SuperSonic91 writes cringey fan fiction too? This guy seems more like a socially awkward permavirgin every time he posts. Now waiting for him to start adding furry stuff in his work.

[SuperSonic91]

Mimir: "Ninten-trolls in full force behind you, brother!!!

[thegamefox93]

GOW imo is a solid 4.5/5. I can't quite call it a perfect game, but it is one of the top 5 ps4 games EASILY.
I Still think bloodborne and uncharted 4 are SLIGHTLY better (bloodborne+old hunters being my favorite)..

[Elda]

I'm loving the new GOW! I'm almost done with the story,saving it for last so I'm doing extra,secret & optional things & Valkyries to kill.My only gripe with the game is every boss should have been unique with long battle sequences like the first & a couple others.I don't know if that would bring the game down from a 10 to a 9.5 but it's definitely higher than a 8.5.Other than that I'm enjoying GOW immensely.

[Silly gameAr]

God of War is incredible. Ignore the trolls. No amount of trolling, hate, or pettiness is going to take anything away fro the incredible job SSM did on this game. 8.5 is a great score. Stop worrying about the crap people spew on here, and appreciate that there are still games like this being made, and it's not all hype.

[UCForce]

@Jinger 85 is a great score. But people like you said the game should deserve that score ? Really ? And you are going to say the reviewers who give the game 9,10 are all bias ? That’s sound more like objective than subjective coming from you. Sorry, but you are not helping here. Luckily, your opinion is minority here. The game have been praised by critics and consumers. It’s not overhyped. It’s just surpassed people expectations. You are also said the combat is the worst which is not and you complained about Kratos character. Have you play Ghost of Sparta to understand Kratos background ? Or you just ignore it ?