God of War (2018)
Release details, media and our verdict on God of War (2018).
| Developers: | SIE Santa Monica Studio |
|---|---|
| Publishers: | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Platforms: | PS4 |
| Release: | |
| Genres: | Action Adventure |
Media Gallery
A warrior with an axe and a boy with a bow face figures in the fog
A bearded man in gold armor talks to a warrior and a boy
A bearded warrior sits in a boat with a boy behind him
A warrior and a boy walk across a snowy mountainside
A warrior throws an axe that leaves an icy trail in a dark interior
A warrior and a boy face a giant serpent
A horned creature attacks in a misty hall lit by blue light
A warrior and a boy cross a snowy landscape toward a tall stone structure
A woman holds the hands of a bald, bearded warrior
The armor menu showing chest armor options and character stats
A boy with a bow looks toward a bearded man in a snowy forest
Close-up of a bald, bearded warrior with a red marking in the dark
A warrior and a boy face a large troll carrying a stone pillar
What is God of War (2018)?
God of War is an action-adventure game developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It launched on PlayStation 4 on April 20, 2018, and a Windows version followed in January 2022. It is the eighth entry in the God of War series and follows on from God of War III, released in 2010.
Earlier games in the series drew on Greek mythology, but this one moves to Norse mythology and is set in ancient Scandinavia, mostly in the realm of Midgard. With his revenge on the gods of Olympus behind him, Kratos now lives among Norse gods and monsters. He sets out with his son, Atreus, to scatter the ashes of the boy’s mother from the highest peak of the nine realms, while hiding his past from Atreus, who does not know he is a demigod.
Players control Kratos from an over-the-shoulder camera, and the game plays out as one continuous shot without camera cuts or loading screens. Kratos fights mainly with the Leviathan Axe, an ice-infused weapon that can be thrown and called back to his hand, alongside a collapsible Guardian Shield and bare-handed attacks. Atreus can be directed to fire arrows and helps with combat, traversal, exploration and puzzle-solving. Role-playing elements include crafting and upgrading armor, a currency called Hacksilver, and experience points for learning new combat skills.
The game is single-player only, unlike the previous main installment, Ascension, which added multiplayer. Six of the nine realms can be explored, including Alfheim, Helheim and Jotunheim as part of the story, with Niflheim and Muspelheim available as optional areas. Players travel across water by boat, can unlock fast travel later on, and can take on side quests and optional boss battles against Valkyries.
Creative director Cory Barlog described the game as a reimagining of the franchise. Ahead of launch, a short text-based game called A Call from the Wilds was released through Facebook Messenger, and a smartphone app called Mimir’s Vision offered more information about the Norse setting. The game received acclaim for its story, world design, combat and characters, was named Game of the Year by numerous outlets, and had sold 23 million copies by November 2022. A sequel, God of War Ragnarok, was released in 2022.
Review
Read full review“Epic!”
God of War is a modern masterpiece and one of the best games to grace the Playstation 4 library. It’s a sweeping tale of loss and new beginnings and one that echoes the nature of the God of War series. With a stunning soundtrack and many gameplay systems to sink your teeth into, there’s something here for everyone and a game that will keep you engrossed for many hours.
Ben ChardBest offers compared for God of War (2018)
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|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon |
Standard Edition
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