![\"\"](\"https:\/\/regame.lookmetrix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/god_of_war_tatzelwurm_1920-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>Finding the right combination of slicing, throwing, assistance from Atreus, and parrying with Kratos\u2019 retractable shield turns each battle into a bloody ballet of timing \u2013 and that\u2019s before you begin unlocking special attacks, like a beam of ice shooting out from the axe or a Patronus-esque wolf Atreus can summon for battle. <\/p>
Though I quickly found my favorites, certain scenarios required me to vary up my abilities by mixing in enemies with immunities and weaknesses<\/p><\/blockquote>
I skipped out on some options in the early game, because options are limited by what you can afford to unlock with XP, but by the latter half I had more than enough to unlock pretty much everything I wanted in time for the most brutal battles. I felt encouraged to experiment.<\/p>
A big variable in combat is Kratos and Atreus\u2019 armor. Chest, wrist, and waist pieces, as well as some tweaks to the axe, can alter a number of Kratos\u2019 stats, from strength and defense to runic magic and attack cooldown rates, and those can have a significant effect on the way you fight. I stayed with my tried-and-true animal hide chest guards rather than full breastplates, sacrificing defense over strength, but would take on new equipment \u2013 or outfit them with my amassed slottable runes \u2013 to imbue my gear with defenses against certain enemies or to accentuate abilities like my axe\u2019s frost power. I also may have made a few clothing choices based on look because, even though Kratos is no fashion icon, with such intricate character detail I wanted him to stay true to my vision of this embattled man. (And, largely, my Kratos would never wear bulky chest plates.)<\/p>
A Whole New World<\/h2>
God of War\u2019s initially linear world opens up a bit after the first few hours, and it encourages exploration through its many rewards and collectibles for completing optional puzzles and fights. But you can occasionally stumble into the path of a much more difficult opponent, clearly denoted by the purple color of their health bar, and they can often take you down in one or two hits. Running into these situations occasionally felt like intruding on someone or something else\u2019s territory, and I needed to be prepared. If I felt hungry for a challenge, God of War never let me down.<\/p>
There\u2019s plenty of freedom, although the map never becomes truly \u201copen world\u201d in the way that games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Horizon Zero Dawn are; instead, it\u2019s an interconnected series of diverse locations, many of which are gated behind certain story moments and collectible milestones until the very end. God of War\u2019s contained nature shepherds you through certain locations with its quest chain, which occasionally leans on the cliche of a solution Kratos thought would work turning out to be missing one key component you then need to then go scour the land for. <\/p>
<\/i>\n\t\t\tBut its world unfolds through smart integration with that story in a manner that occasionally transformed me into a cliche, too. I expected Kratos\u2019 journey to be relatively straightforward and somewhat contained to the area I was initially presented. But then you might stumble on a collectible that extends Kratos\u2019 journey far beyond expectations. Those moments \u2013 where I\u2019d find myself traveling further than I set out to and in a surprisingly expansive world, no less \u2013 had me literally leaping out of my chair.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>The Beauty\u2019s in the Details<\/h2>
I have audibly said \u201cwow\u201d and sighed at the beauty of God of War. The texture of grassy hills in the distance feel real, light dances dazzlingly off of shinier surfaces, and every gnarled monster I have fought conveys such a sense of decay as to instill terror in me. Even the sky looks nearly photo-realistic. And while the beautiful landscapes captivated me, the small details on Kratos and Atreus stunned me. The fur and leather of their outfits move so naturally, and are so finely detailed that they look nearly genuine. I would find myself trying on new pieces of armor just to admire how Kratos\u2019 outfits behaved.<\/p>