God of War Review (Okuu)
"The cycle ends here, we must be better than this”
God of War... This one’s a doozy, my friend — packed with some of the most blood-pumping action ol’ Kratos is known for. But now, as the saying goes, “with age comes wisdom” — and behind all that brutality lies a touch of hard-earned wisdom he’s gained over the years, a beautiful emphasis on his age and growth. If you’re new and worried whether you’ll get lost jumping into this long-running series, don’t be! Santa Monica Studio made sure this gem is an experience that both old and new fans can enjoy.
🟢 Tidbits And Takeaways
Captivating story alongside remarkable character development for both Atreus and Kratos
The breathtaking visual that further enhances the already immersive gameplay experience
A solid RPG mechanic that gives you just enough freedom to mix and match your gear and skills to cater to your preferred playstyle
Memorable boss fights! While they are not super frequent, but damn — the ones that show up hit hard and definitely leave a lasting impression
An action-packed combat that proved to be an absolute blast to play
🔴 The Not So Good Part
As great as the game is, it’s got a few bumps — early combat feels limited, enemy types get repetitive, and backtracking can drag near the end
💻 My Setup
⌛ Completion
🔗 More Reviews, More Picks
AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
32GB RAM DDR4
RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
SSD NVMe
2560x1440
Win11
Average: 33 hours
Mine: 54.5 hours
Consider following Jeev’s Selection for some other fine picks reviewed by yours truly.
Here's The Breakdown
A new journey for two began, one ridden with a past that haunts
God of War starts off on a surprisingly quiet note. No epic boss fights or gods getting tossed through buildings. Just Kratos, grieving, and chopping wood. It’s a different kind of opening, but one that immediately sets the tone for what kind of story the Santa Monica Studio is going for.
The story takes its time, but in the best way possible. You’re not just rushing to the next objective. You’re uncovering the past, learning about the world, and watching both characters slowly open up. The hack-and-slash element is still there, sure, but the focus is clearly on his role as a grieving father, trying to raise his son while wrestling with his past which he tries to bury and refuses to share with his son. And Atreus? He starts off as a curious, and slightly annoying kid who just wants to make his father proud. But as you progress into the story, you’ll get to see his moments of growth as a person, from the tantrums and doubts to the realization of who he truly is. Long story short, watching their relationship shift as the journey progresses is one of the most rewarding parts of the game.
Now, not everything lands perfectly. The final boss fight, while narratively satisfying, doesn’t quite hit the “holy crap” and mind-blowing level of hype you'd expect from a game like this. I mean it’s okay, but it could’ve been better. And once the story wraps, that’s it. No post-game plot or extra cutscenes to look forward to. You still have plenty to do, sure, but don’t expect any new twists after the credits roll.
Unveil the hidden lore scattered across the nine realms
Santa Monica studio really nailed the visual aspect of this game. This reimagined vast norse landscape is a marvelous feast for the eyes. With the addition of bifrost, you’ll be able explore some of the nine realms where each of them has its own unique identity and wonders. From the vibrant and colorful land of Alfheim to the haunting atmosphere of Helheim where the dead lingers and barr our way. And as we traverse these realms you’ll uncover tons of optional content that’s actually worth your time. Whether it’s uncovering ancient texts, diving into the backstories of the realms, or just listening to your companion tell absurd-yet-surprisingly-deep myths.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3170354100
The game world isn’t open-world in the traditional sense, but it gives you plenty of freedom to poke around — which you should. Side quests (or “favors,” as they call them) aren't your typical fetch quests. Some tie beautifully into the lore, others build out the side characters, and a few even carry emotional weight that adds depth to the main narrative. Plus, clearing them affects some scenes in subtle but satisfying ways.
Now for some of the disappointing bits. While exploring the vast and beautiful landscape of the reimagined Norse world is exhilarating and rewarding on its own, the lack of fast travel — which only becomes available very late into the journey — makes revisiting old spots a bit of a chore. Collectible hunting turns into a tedious backtracking session, and that can definitely wear you down. In addition to that, the post-game content, well... if you’re into perfecting builds and hunting rare drops, there’s plenty to grind. The catch? Most of it relies heavily on RNG — and honestly, I’m not much of a fan of that. On top of that, there’s barely any new content after the main story ends, and even New Game+ doesn’t offer much outside of tougher enemies and better loot. In other words there’s minimum replayability.
Mashing your way through simply won’t cut it
Combat starts off a little basic, but instead of the ol’ and dear partner Kratos used throughout the previous games, we begin with an axe — the Leviathan Axe. Its ice element and Mjolnir-like properties add flair to his new fighting style — and yes, you can fling and recall the bloody thing.
While it’s different from the usual weapon Kratos swings around, every hit with the axe feels heavy and damn right satisfying. Later on, you’ll unlock another weapon (you know the one) and runic skills that completely flip how combat flows. And once swapping between the tools you’ve got becomes second nature? You’re in for a treat.
As I said, combat might start off basic, but don’t be fooled — there’s depth hiding just beneath the surface, and it doesn’t take long before you’re knee-deep in systems that demand real timing, awareness, and control. Plus, Atreus isn’t just tagging along; his support attacks and abilities are surprisingly useful.
Enemy variety can feel a little dull at times — a few are just reskinned versions of earlier fights, which gets old fast. And some fights can feel spongy and down right tedious. But! The game still throws in enough mini-bosses and unique enemy types to keep things interesting. Especially the hidden ones — and honestly, I’d argue some of them are even better than the main bosses.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3459104515
Additionally, the RPG elements here are solid. You can lean into Runic for flashy special attacks or pump your Strength stat for raw, heavy-hitting chaos. Each armor set offers unique boons and sockets you can fill with gems — found through exploration or side quests — that add even more unique bonuses to mix and match to your liking. It’s not super deep like a full-blown RPG, but it’s more than enough to keep things interesting, especially on harder difficulties.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3459626322
Overall
All in all, God of War is a sequel that hits all the right notes. Satisfying, brutal combat, a deep and emotional story, and a beautiful interpretation of the ol’ Nordic landscape to explore. Sure, there are parts that could’ve been better, but those are just small bumps in an otherwise amazing experience. If you’re into story-rich games, this one’s definitely a must-try!