Our return to Midgard and the rest of the nine realms is nearly here. God of War Ragnar\u00f6k launches on PS5 and PS4 on November 9, and I\u2019ve had the lucky opportunity to scout ahead and go hands on with the PS5 version of Kratos and Atreus\u2019 continuing journey.<\/p>\n
No big story spoilers lie ahead in this article \u2013 and that\u2019s just fine because there\u2019s tons to talk about in terms of pure gameplay, visuals, inventive new enemies, locations, and more. Without mentioning specific characters or moments, I will say this sequel doesn\u2019t wait long to deliver memorable, unexpected moments with a diverse cast of mythical characters.<\/p>\n
Read on to learn about God of War Ragnar\u00f6k\u2019s familiar-yet-fresh combat, deadly new enemies, exotic locales, and more.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n Winter wonder<\/strong> \u2013 The world of Midgard sparkles on PS5 thanks to crisp 4K visuals and fluid framerates (I played in Performance mode). Fimbulwinter is creeping across the lands, including Kratos and Atreus\u2019 homestead. Snow crumbles and parts as characters trudge through it, with light catching tiny ice crystals on its surface. Frozen waterfalls stand like intricate, towering art pieces. The atmosphere of this snow-covered Midgard captures the serene vibe of a winter walk in the woods perfectly.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Haptic immersion<\/strong> \u2013 Santa Monica Studio has taken full advantage of the DualSense wireless controller\u2019s haptics. One sequence involves dogsledding away from a violent avalanche. The DualSense controller\u2019s haptics thrummed in my hands, conveying both a deep rumble of rushing land and lighter clumps of snow tumbling about. In combat, the Leviathan Axe packs an extra visceral punch, and when the boomeranging weapon is recalled the haptics gradually swell until the axe lands in hand with a meaty thud The range of haptics also brings texture to subtle moments, like Kratos laying his weary body down in his cot to sleep.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Settling back in<\/strong> \u2013 I\u2019ll admit it took me until the back half of God of War (2018) until I felt proficient with the new combat mechanics. The intimate camera position, ranged and melee Leviathan Axe, and abundant combat options overwhelmed me a bit. In contrast, picking back up Kratos\u2019 axe and Blades of Chaos at the beginning of God of War Ragnar\u00f6k filled me with confidence and a lust for battle. Wielding both weapons at the outset encouraged me to make more complete use of Kratos\u2019 arsenal, and it\u2019s a blast.<\/p>\n Death From Above<\/strong> \u2013 Kratos can now take a sprinting leap off a cliff and slam into enemies below \u2013 a furious intro to any group fight that stuns enemies. The new combat option is a potent example of God of War Ragnar\u00f6k\u2019s increased focus on verticality in the environment.<\/p>\n Stay frosty<\/strong> \u2013 The triangle button, used for equipping and recalling the Leviathan Axe, can be pressed when held to apply a Frost Awaken effect to your next melee or ranged attack. Pressing R1 during Frost Awaken executes Frozen Breach \u2013 a wide swing and applies Frost to nearby enemies. Aiming while pressing R1 during Frost Awaken executes Frozen Spike \u2013 a quick throw of the Leviathan Axe that creates a Frost explosion on impact. Kratos\u2019 expanded range of elemental attacks injects refreshing new options into each encounter.<\/p>\n Flaming Blades of Chaos<\/strong> \u2013 Similar to the Leviathan Axe\u2019s Frost Awaken, you can mash the triangle button with the Blades of Chaos equipped to perform a Flame Whiplash. This charges Kratos\u2019 chained implements with fire, great for melting enemies\u2019 icy defenses. More importantly, Kratos looks undeniably cool spinning the blade\u2019s chain to stoke the flames.<\/p>\n Huldra homestead<\/strong> \u2013 Kratos and Atreus visit Brok and Sindi\u2019s shop and home to gear up. While there, I upgraded my Leviathan Axe to level 2, boosting damage significantly and unlocking a new tier of skill tree abilities. Atreus was also outfitted with new armor. My favorite detail is the inclusion of a chest containing lost loot, where the Huldra brothers store any resources that players may have accidentally left lying on the battlefield.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Customizing gear<\/strong> \u2013 Once again, you can customize your weapons and armor, including slottable gems for Kratos\u2019 Leviathan Axe. After a battle with a ferocious stalker named The Huntress, I acquired Winter\u2019s Bite, a light runic attack that forms a mass of ice around Kratos\u2019 axe for extra damage. Another applies a flaming uppercut-style attack to the Blades of Chaos. I found both moves handy as quick get-out-of-jail-free cards when surrounded by enemies. Just mind that cooldown timer.<\/p>\n Shield of choice<\/strong> \u2013 Kratos\u2019 Guardian Shield is damaged during battle, and Brok offers to craft an additional defense while he works on repairs. Players can pick from two new shields to start with: the Stone Wall Shield, specializing in soaking up attacks and striking back, and the Dauntless Shield, which is all about high-risk, high-reward parries. Eventually players can scrounge up enough resources to craft all shields.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Dauntless Shield test drive<\/strong> \u2013 I opted for the Dauntless Shield, hoping that my experience mastering narrow parry windows in action games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice may come in handy. It did! A carefully timed tap of L1 against an incoming strike parries attacks and produces a flash of light, stunning foes for a generous length of time. I found this immensely helpful for crowd management and relish the incentive to better study enemy attack patterns.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Thor throwdown<\/strong> \u2013 If you loved the bombastic Baldur encounter at the start of God of War (2018), look forward to clashing axe and hammer with Thor in a similarly spectacular battle. Thor unleashes a combo of grabs, lightning-infused Mj\u00f6lnir blasts, area-of-effect volleys, and more. The two gods grapple and fly through the air as the battle rages across multiple frozen landscapes. Thor\u2019s assault is nonstop, peppering in cutting insults against Kratos\u2019 parenting skills when he\u2019s not outright attacking. It\u2019s a memorable encounter that left me eager for a rematch against the God of Thunder.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Raider rumble<\/strong> \u2013 Hardy, violent Raiders wander the Wildwoods, attacking Kratos because they know he\u2019s responsible for bringing on fimbulwinter. These melee and ranged foes are easy fodder for sharpening your melee skills and satisfying test dummies to boot.<\/p>\n Bj\u00f6rn battle<\/strong> \u2013 A mighty bear attacks in one of the first boss battles. The burly animal begins with predictable swipes for Kratos to parry, but also introduces additional cues, like yellow circles that indicate Kratos can block but will still receive damage, and red circles indicating unblockable attacks. The bear\u2019s attack pattern is a ferocious yet forgiving onramp, hinting at tougher battles to come.<\/p>\n Dreki brawl<\/strong> \u2013 One of my favorite fights from this slice of the game pits our duo against the Dreki, a crocodile-like dragon beast. The quadrupedal creature snaps with its massive maw, swipes with its scaley tale, and dishes out electrical attacks that force players to keep moving. Using the Dauntless Shield to parry a volley of attacks while dodging zaps feels natural and satisfying \u2013 a well-tuned fight that perfectly tests players\u2019 growing skill with tough-but-fair intensity.<\/p>\n Bifr\u00f6st damage<\/strong> \u2013 Near the very end of the preview session, a new bloodthirsty enemy type emerges to protect something deep in a dwarven mine. The pale, tattooed Einherjar unleash fierce attacks that deal Bifr\u00f6st damage to Kratos \u2013 represented by a purple section of the HP bar. Bifr\u00f6st damage is harmless at first but when these foes hit a second time it detonates the affliction and slices a significant chunk off your HP. Watch your back, dodge readily, and be ready to parry to survive weaponized Bifr\u00f6st.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Realm lockdown<\/strong> \u2013 Odin has the realms cut off at the beginning of God of War Ragnar\u00f6k, so Kratos is unable to use the Bifr\u00f6st to travel. Thankfully, Brok and Sindri have reconfigured the mystic gateways as an alternate means of travel.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Wintering in Svartalfheim<\/strong> \u2013 While Fimbulwinter has enveloped Midgard in cold and snow, it\u2019s had different effects on other realms. In Svartalfheim for example, subterranean pressure has increased, pocketing the land with powerful geysers. Mimir (the wise, talking head strapped to Kratos\u2019 belt) also mentions a potent odor has spread across the land.<\/p>\n Puzzling platforming<\/strong> \u2013 Navigating the realms requires clever use of Kratos\u2019 implements. In one instance I needed to move a pillar blocking the path. This required me to first toss the Leviathan Axe to shatter a log bracing the pillar down, then brandish the Blades of Chaos to wrangle the pillar from the path. Another example involves crafty use of the Leviathan Axe\u2019s elemental properties to manipulate watery obstacles in the realm of Svartalfheim\u2026 but I\u2019ll leave that to you to discover.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Sonic arrows<\/strong> \u2013 In the dwarven town of Ni\u00f0avellir, Sindri equips Atreus\u2019 bow with a new sonic-powered string. This enhancement is attuned to blast apart objects pulsing a light blue green around the environment, like passages leading to new areas and alcoves hiding chests filled with Hacksilver. Atreus\u2019 ability to destroy this glowing material injects a deeper layer of joint environmental puzzle-solving and navigation for the pair.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Exploration and side quests<\/strong> \u2013 Fans who adore turning over every stone in the realm can rest assured that exploration is abundant and rewarded in this sequel. While venturing through a charming yet uninviting dwarven town, Kratos and Atreus cross paths with a dwarf who has history with Mimir. The dwarf mentions mining rigs that Mimir once championed have caused a mess in these lands. If players choose to pursue this Favor, they can correct Mimir\u2019s past wrongs for a reward. Later, while navigating a canoe across a vast, brilliant blue lake I spot pillars of black smoke billowing from these mines. I chose to forge ahead on the main quest path but was reassured when Atreus organically mentioned we could return to complete the Favor later.<\/p>\n Dwarven Compass<\/strong> \u2013 Sindri bestows a \u201cbeautiful gift\u201d upon Kratos \u2013 a compass that allows players to track objectives on the map, then follow a compass at the top of the screen towards their destination. Perfect for efficiently tracking objects like Favors and other side quests.<\/p>\n The opening hours of God of War Ragnar\u00f6k are jam-packed with exciting story moments and top-notch combat encounters. These are just a few moments and details from the outset that have me so excited to dive deeper into combat, explore the realms, and learn what the fates have in store for our heroes.<\/p>\n Not long to wait now \u2013 God of War Ragnar\u00f6k launches on PS5 and PS4 November 9.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" God of War Ragnar\u00f6k \u2013 Hands-on gameplay report<\/p>\n Our return to Midgard and the rest of the nine realms is nearly here. God of War Ragnar\u00f6k launches on PS5 and PS4 on November 9, and I\u2019ve had the lucky opportunity to scout ahead and go hands on with the PS5 version of Kratos and Atreus\u2019 continuing journey.<\/p>\n No big story spoilers lie ahead in this article \u2013 and that\u2019s just fine because there\u2019s tons to talk about in terms of pure gameplay, visuals, inventive new enemies, locations, and more. Without mentioning specific characters or moments, I will say this sequel doesn\u2019t wait long to deliver memorable, unexpected moments with a diverse cast of mythical characters.<\/p>\n Read on to learn about God of War Ragnar\u00f6k\u2019s familiar-yet-fresh combat, deadly new enemies, exotic locales, and more.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Winter wonder<\/strong> \u2013 The world of Midgard sparkles on PS5 thanks to crisp 4K visuals and fluid framerates (I played in Performance mode). Fimbulwinter is creeping across the lands, including Kratos and Atreus\u2019 homestead. Snow crumbles and parts as characters trudge through it, with light catching tiny ice crystals on its surface. Frozen waterfalls stand like intricate, towering art pieces. The atmosphere of this snow-covered Midgard captures the serene vibe of a winter walk in the woods perfectly.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Haptic immersion<\/strong> \u2013 Santa Monica Studio has taken full advantage of the DualSense wireless controller\u2019s haptics. One sequence involves dogsledding away from a violent avalanche. The DualSense controller\u2019s haptics thrummed in my hands, conveying both a deep rumble of rushing land and lighter clumps of snow tumbling about. In combat, the Leviathan Axe packs an extra visceral punch, and when the boomeranging weapon is recalled the haptics gradually swell until the axe lands in hand with a meaty thud The range of haptics also brings texture to subtle moments, like Kratos laying his weary body down in his cot to sleep.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Settling back in<\/strong> \u2013 I\u2019ll admit it took me until the back half of God of War (2018) until I felt proficient with the new combat mechanics. The intimate camera position, ranged and melee Leviathan Axe, and abundant combat options overwhelmed me a bit. In contrast, picking back up Kratos\u2019 axe and Blades of Chaos at the beginning of God of War Ragnar\u00f6k filled me with confidence and a lust for battle. Wielding both weapons at the outset encouraged me to make more complete use of Kratos\u2019 arsenal, and it\u2019s a blast.<\/p>\n Death From Above<\/strong> \u2013 Kratos can now take a sprinting leap off a cliff and slam into enemies below \u2013 a furious intro to any group fight that stuns enemies. The new combat option is a potent example of God of War Ragnar\u00f6k\u2019s increased focus on verticality in the environment.<\/p>\n Stay frosty<\/strong> \u2013 The triangle button, used for equipping and recalling the Leviathan Axe, can be pressed when held to apply a Frost Awaken effect to your next melee or ranged attack. Pressing R1 during Frost Awaken executes Frozen Breach \u2013 a wide swing and applies Frost to nearby enemies. Aiming while pressing R1 during Frost Awaken executes Frozen Spike \u2013 a quick throw of the Leviathan Axe that creates a Frost explosion on impact. Kratos\u2019 expanded range of elemental attacks injects refreshing new options into each encounter.<\/p>\n Flaming Blades of Chaos<\/strong> \u2013 Similar to the Leviathan Axe\u2019s Frost Awaken, you can mash the triangle button with the Blades of Chaos equipped to perform a Flame Whiplash. This charges Kratos\u2019 chained implements with fire, great for melting enemies\u2019 icy defenses. More importantly, Kratos looks undeniably cool spinning the blade\u2019s chain to stoke the flames.<\/p>\n Huldra homestead<\/strong> \u2013 Kratos and Atreus visit Brok and Sindi\u2019s shop and home to gear up. While there, I upgraded my Leviathan Axe to level 2, boosting damage significantly and unlocking a new tier of skill tree abilities. Atreus was also outfitted with new armor. My favorite detail is the inclusion of a chest containing lost loot, where the Huldra brothers store any resources that players may have accidentally left lying on the battlefield.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Customizing gear<\/strong> \u2013 Once again, you can customize your weapons and armor, including slottable gems for Kratos\u2019 Leviathan Axe. After a battle with a ferocious stalker named The Huntress, I acquired Winter\u2019s Bite, a light runic attack that forms a mass of ice around Kratos\u2019 axe for extra damage. Another applies a flaming uppercut-style attack to the Blades of Chaos. I found both moves handy as quick get-out-of-jail-free cards when surrounded by enemies. Just mind that cooldown timer.<\/p>\n Shield of choice<\/strong> \u2013 Kratos\u2019 Guardian Shield is damaged during battle, and Brok offers to craft an additional defense while he works on repairs. Players can pick from two new shields to start with: the Stone Wall Shield, specializing in soaking up attacks and striking back, and the Dauntless Shield, which is all about high-risk, high-reward parries. Eventually players can scrounge up enough resources to craft all shields.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Dauntless Shield test drive<\/strong> \u2013 I opted for the Dauntless Shield, hoping that my experience mastering narrow parry windows in action games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice may come in handy. It did! A carefully timed tap of L1 against an incoming strike parries attacks and produces a flash of light, stunning foes for a generous length of time. I found this immensely helpful for crowd management and relish the incentive to better study enemy attack patterns.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Thor throwdown<\/strong> \u2013 If you loved the bombastic Baldur encounter at the start of God of War (2018), look forward to clashing axe and hammer with Thor in a similarly spectacular battle. Thor unleashes a combo of grabs, lightning-infused Mj\u00f6lnir blasts, area-of-effect volleys, and more. The two gods grapple and fly through the air as the battle rages across multiple frozen landscapes. Thor\u2019s assault is nonstop, peppering in cutting insults against Kratos\u2019 parenting skills when he\u2019s not outright attacking. It\u2019s a memorable encounter that left me eager for a rematch against the God of Thunder.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Raider rumble<\/strong> \u2013 Hardy, violent Raiders wander the Wildwoods, attacking Kratos because they know he\u2019s responsible for bringing on fimbulwinter. These melee and ranged foes are easy fodder for sharpening your melee skills and satisfying test dummies to boot.<\/p>\n Bj\u00f6rn battle<\/strong> \u2013 A mighty bear attacks in one of the first boss battles. The burly animal begins with predictable swipes for Kratos to parry, but also introduces additional cues, like yellow circles that indicate Kratos can block but will still receive damage, and red circles indicating unblockable attacks. The bear\u2019s attack pattern is a ferocious yet forgiving onramp, hinting at tougher battles to come.<\/p>\n Dreki brawl<\/strong> \u2013 One of my favorite fights from this slice of the game pits our duo against the Dreki, a crocodile-like dragon beast. The quadrupedal creature snaps with its massive maw, swipes with its scaley tale, and dishes out electrical attacks that force players to keep moving. Using the Dauntless Shield to parry a volley of attacks while dodging zaps feels natural and satisfying \u2013 a well-tuned fight that perfectly tests players\u2019 growing skill with tough-but-fair intensity.<\/p>\n Bifr\u00f6st damage<\/strong> \u2013 Near the very end of the preview session, a new bloodthirsty enemy type emerges to protect something deep in a dwarven mine. The pale, tattooed Einherjar unleash fierce attacks that deal Bifr\u00f6st damage to Kratos \u2013 represented by a purple section of the HP bar. Bifr\u00f6st damage is harmless at first but when these foes hit a second time it detonates the affliction and slices a significant chunk off your HP. Watch your back, dodge readily, and be ready to parry to survive weaponized Bifr\u00f6st.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Realm lockdown<\/strong> \u2013 Odin has the realms cut off at the beginning of God of War Ragnar\u00f6k, so Kratos is unable to use the Bifr\u00f6st to travel. Thankfully, Brok and Sindri have reconfigured the mystic gateways as an alternate means of travel.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Wintering in Svartalfheim<\/strong> \u2013 While Fimbulwinter has enveloped Midgard in cold and snow, it\u2019s had different effects on other realms. In Svartalfheim for example, subterranean pressure has increased, pocketing the land with powerful geysers. Mimir (the wise, talking head strapped to Kratos\u2019 belt) also mentions a potent odor has spread across the land.<\/p>\n Puzzling platforming<\/strong> \u2013 Navigating the realms requires clever use of Kratos\u2019 implements. In one instance I needed to move a pillar blocking the path. This required me to first toss the Leviathan Axe to shatter a log bracing the pillar down, then brandish the Blades of Chaos to wrangle the pillar from the path. Another example involves crafty use of the Leviathan Axe\u2019s elemental properties to manipulate watery obstacles in the realm of Svartalfheim\u2026 but I\u2019ll leave that to you to discover.<\/p>\nMythical immersion on PS5<\/h2>\n
Versatile combat options<\/h2>\n
Threats of the realms<\/h2>\n
Exploring the realms<\/h2>\n
Mythical immersion on PS5<\/h2>\n
Versatile combat options<\/h2>\n
Threats of the realms<\/h2>\n
Exploring the realms<\/h2>\n