• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

God of War Ragnarök G|OT|Y

15 hours in. I don’t know how I’ll play anything after this but I’m sure I’ll think it’s crap. The presentation is just another level.

It’s like how everything is so premium, expensive, detailed. Each realm looks so good. The gameplay is much better than 2018.

And the more I play the less I understand how people say this is too similar to 2018. There are parts that don’t even seem to be a part of a god of war game lol.
 
Last edited:

hinch7

Member
The dialogue in this game is bad. I suppose it's subjective but I dislike how campy and ditsy a lot of characters are in a game that's about ancient norse mythological characters.
It's easy to see it was written by a bunch of twenty somethings from California.
Kratos seems emasculated too.
Yeah I found this as well, a giant step down from the first game. Took me out of the game a few times. There are some techinical issues also and isn't quite as polished as the first.

Still loved it anyway.. Its a really great game. Definetely a must play. Still like the first better but this darn ones epic too.
The pacing isn't as good and this one I felt was way too long and drawn out. Whereas the first game was a perfect length. The antagonist/protagonists are not what I expected and the fight with Thor and Odin were fairly dissapointing. Fairly anticlimatic and not really feeling it on how they were they written and portrayed. I thought Balder's character and fight/s were a lot more intersting. Kratos also was also a bit meh in this idk.. wanted him to go all out. But we get a dull God of War, yey I guess character development :/
The fights are insane in this one though and the combat great.
 
Last edited:
The Angrboda section is downright horrendous, and totally kills the momentum of the story. The same could be said for Atreus' original visit to Freya. Just feels like filler for the sake of filler, which is a shame because the story in God of War 2018 was incredibly tight.

It's really not, that section is pretty cool with the visuals and it introduces you to more mechanics on Atreus playstyle...I absolutely loved the Giant boss battle as well

Also plays an important slower portion of the story. You need these sections to compliment the non-stop action sections it ramps up to later
 

Vroadstar

Member
Mom can I get God of War Ragnarok? NO, we have God of War at home.

tR9HOgn.png
 

Justin9mm

Member
Damn the hateful is the mines is tearing me a new one. Purple health bar but I'm not giving up yet..
I had to leave him, I thought I've become half decent with the combat and I still couldn't defeat him, I can get him down to his last health bar but I tried like 15 times and gave up. I'm wondering what is in that chest! lol
 

zkorejo

Member
8-12th hour session. Lots of story revelation and character progression. This definitely is more like Atreus' story, and I don't particularly mind it.

Just completed the elf realm story and side mission. That side mission ending was really damn cool.

I love how the storm died down after freeing the creature that was stuck.

Also, is it just me or playing as Atreus really feels good? Super smooth, fast and the bow gameplay feels so good.
 
Last edited:

Vick

Gold Member
I just had to stop playing because I wanted to, that hasn't happened to me in at least a couple of years.

Whoever came up with the whole Iron Wood section (which is more of an full lenght completely different and boring lame ass game) should be fired on the spot and never work in gaming again. This shit literally killed GoW Ragnarok for me.
Early on I thought it wasn't as bad as some said it was, but then it overstayed its welcome, and then actually went on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on until I just said enough and turned the console off in anger and disbelief.

Elden Ring must win GOTY at this point for the sake of gaming.
 
I just had to stop playing because I wanted to, that hasn't happened to me in at least a couple of years.

Whoever came up with the whole Iron Wood section (which is more of an full lenght completely different and boring lame ass game) should be fired on the spot and never work in gaming again. This shit literally killed GoW Ragnarok for me.
Early on I thought it wasn't as bad as some said it was, but then it overstayed its welcome, and then actually went on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on until I just said enough and turned the console off in anger and disbelief.

Elden Ring must win GOTY at this point for the sake of gaming.

Don’t expect much from GotY Awards. They are usually trash. Even GAF was brigaded last year by warriors pushing Halo Infinite to GotY Status (fucking lol). Probably same thing will happen this year.
 

tmlDan

Member
I just had to stop playing because I wanted to, that hasn't happened to me in at least a couple of years.

Whoever came up with the whole Iron Wood section (which is more of an full lenght completely different and boring lame ass game) should be fired on the spot and never work in gaming again. This shit literally killed GoW Ragnarok for me.
Early on I thought it wasn't as bad as some said it was, but then it overstayed its welcome, and then actually went on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on until I just said enough and turned the console off in anger and disbelief.

Elden Ring must win GOTY at this point for the sake of gaming.
For me Ragnarok is better than ER, by a mile.

So i guess we're at a stalemate kid.
 
But Halo won readers choice basically everywhere.

Not just on GAF. Definitely not a work of fanatics.

I have said it before, but GotY awards are completely meaningless and are only ever used by Warriors and children who need validation for their purchases.

The only time it should ever be brought up in conversation is to laugh at it or to talk about the game announcements made between the awards. It’s hte only reason anyone of sound mind actually watches that crap.
 

Big Baller

Al Pachinko, Konami President
I just had to stop playing because I wanted to, that hasn't happened to me in at least a couple of years.

Whoever came up with the whole Iron Wood section (which is more of an full lenght completely different and boring lame ass game) should be fired on the spot and never work in gaming again. This shit literally killed GoW Ragnarok for me.
Early on I thought it wasn't as bad as some said it was, but then it overstayed its welcome, and then actually went on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on until I just said enough and turned the console off in anger and disbelief.

Elden Ring must win GOTY at this point for the sake of gaming.

party GIF
 

Madflavor

Member
The game desperately needs a fast travel system. Some item that allows you to port to a mystic gateway no matter where you are. If you don't agree, just wait til the later part of the game when you're trying to do all the side bosses and content by revisiting areas.
 

iorek21

Member
Yeah, I think GoW 2018 is way better than this one. I’m probably halfway through the game and the pacing is just horrendous, there’s just no flow of events except for some parts spread very far apart from one another.
Nothing is concise here storywise: you need to find one thing to do one thing, then the thing goes wrong and you have to find another thing and NOTHING really advances.

Gameplay and exploration seems to be the priority here, which is a shame since 2018 felt so tight.
 

zkorejo

Member
I just had to stop playing because I wanted to, that hasn't happened to me in at least a couple of years.

Whoever came up with the whole Iron Wood section (which is more of an full lenght completely different and boring lame ass game) should be fired on the spot and never work in gaming again. This shit literally killed GoW Ragnarok for me.
Early on I thought it wasn't as bad as some said it was, but then it overstayed its welcome, and then actually went on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on until I just said enough and turned the console off in anger and disbelief.

Elden Ring must win GOTY at this point for the sake of gaming.
Yeah it really sticks out like a sore thumb. Feels like a teen highschool Netflix show in the middle of something like a LOTR. Doesn't go together and feels out of place. It's intriguing and I'm right in the middle of it so no idea how long it will be but I'm hoping I'm close to end of this segment.
 
Last edited:

Madflavor

Member
Yeah, I think GoW 2018 is way better than this one. I’m probably halfway through the game and the pacing is just horrendous, there’s just no flow of events except for some parts spread very far apart from one another.
Nothing is concise here storywise: you need to find one thing to do one thing, then the thing goes wrong and you have to find another thing and NOTHING really advances.

Gameplay and exploration seems to be the priority here, which is a shame since 2018 felt so tight.

I'm guessing I'm about 90% done with the story on my end, so I'll reserve final judgement until I beat it. As it stands, it's just not as good as 2018. That game was just tigher, better paced, and better written. Ragnarok wins out with gameplay, and I'm enjoying my time playing it. But I'm wondering how this got the same score on Metacritic as the last one. Story was this is a clear step down from it's predecessor.
 

jorgejjvr

Member
If you are using good quality headphones then no. Sounds much better with headphones on. Maybe give it a try and see? I tried headphones on and off and headphones captured so much more.
I mean tempest 3d audio is meant for headphones. I mean headphones with 3d audio on or off, some 1st party game support it well, some dont
 
Dam God of War 2018 selling very well on PC.

More than 17xxx players yesterday and again this game is on top 10 best selling game on PC due to Ragnarok hype and reviews.
 

mxbison

Member
15 hours in and I'm already sad this is gonna end.

Combat, movement, traversal feel so much better. Everyone who says this is the same as 2018 has to be trolling. And it runs so damn smooth on HFR quality mode.

Story, presentation, pacing, everything is on point, ridiculous production quality. Side content has also been great so far but hasn't opened up that much, wondering when that will be since I'm already 15 hours in.

I wasn't even that hyped since I kinda bought into the whole 1.5/dlc bullshit, but now it will probably end up being my GOTY.
 
Last edited:
Yeah level design is immaculate.

I get not liking those ND-like sequences during some main quests, but it's not like that's the game structure. They are what Ashley sequences were for RE4.


Nah.. all those comparisons with Witcher 3 side quests didn't help at all to me. These are obviously more fun to play and much better designed from a gameplay perspective, but unless huge surprises later on, that's it.

You are far from the side quest i mentioned. And i don't really care about the Witcher 3 side quest comparisons too. I think the side quest they mentioned is not what i talking about lol.
If you think side area from Alfheim is great, wait until you reach this place.
 

Cyborg

Member
I'm 17 hours in (only click if you have beaten the game)
I reached Asgard, looking for some kind of mask
and I'm mostly disappointed, till now it's definitely a much worse experience than the first one
- random enemies encounter without any clear reason,
- easy transitions from mad to ''oh I forgive you''
- (only click if you have beaten the game to be sure)
constant switching between characters is not helping the story
- variety in bosses and enemies is just bad. I do not consider a big troll to be an epic (mini)boss
- your (forced) company is not helping the story
- what is up with all the crawling through tight spaces?
 
I'm guessing I'm about 90% done with the story on my end, so I'll reserve final judgement until I beat it. As it stands, it's just not as good as 2018. That game was just tigher, better paced, and better written. Ragnarok wins out with gameplay, and I'm enjoying my time playing it. But I'm wondering how this got the same score on Metacritic as the last one. Story was this is a clear step down from it's predecessor.
Agree. Finished and 2018 is better on all aspects you said. Gameplay is good, better, but its not good enough.
 

Drizzlehell

Banned
I just had to stop playing because I wanted to, that hasn't happened to me in at least a couple of years.

Whoever came up with the whole Iron Wood section (which is more of an full lenght completely different and boring lame ass game) should be fired on the spot and never work in gaming again. This shit literally killed GoW Ragnarok for me.
Early on I thought it wasn't as bad as some said it was, but then it overstayed its welcome, and then actually went on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on until I just said enough and turned the console off in anger and disbelief.

Elden Ring must win GOTY at this point for the sake of gaming.
That was the only time when I thought to myself that they could've cut out some of the content from the campaign to improve the pacing. That felt way too much like those annoying Mary Jane sections from Spider-Man. I just couldn't wait until I got back to ripping things apart as Kratos. The extra lore and character development are all fine and dandy but that shit went on for far too long and it wasn't really as interesting as the devs probably thought it was.
 

hinch7

Member
- what is up with all the crawling through tight spaces?
Its to mask loading times. Except they make them interactive and integrated into the levels, so it doesn't feel like there are any. It didn't bother me too much though, apart from the occasional backtracking you have to do. Or going back to do side missions that were missed.

Its a similar concept as running through the rifts to each realm. Can't be avoided I guess.. the game is still designed around a 2013 console with a 5400RPM harddrive.
 
Last edited:

Drizzlehell

Banned
Its to mask loading times. Except they make them interactive and integrated into the levels, so it doesn't feel like there are any. It didn't bother me too much though, apart from the occasional backtracking you have to do. Or going back to do side missions missed.

Similar concept as running through the rifts to each realm.
Turns out that this is a myth. Someone recently posted a twitter thread where some dev explained that the tech these days is good enough that they don't need to mask load times anymore, and these moments where you're squeezing through butt cracks to a next location only serves to funnel the player towards the goal without having us wandering around like dolts.
 

GymWolf

Member
The armor that lets me stay alive at zero HP is so good. The one-two punch of dealing more dmg depending on how much rage you have and rage keeping you alive, is awesome. Reminds me of DnD Barbarians.
I just found that armour but the one with bullet time everytime you do a perfect dodge is just super useful, not sure if i ever gonna change...

It also looks pretty good with the nipples on sight, not too bulky.

Unrelated question for people who already completed the game, how much do i have left of main story?
just beated the fire elemental miniboss in the part when i'm with bird form freya trying to free her ass, am i already at 50% of campaign?
 
Last edited:

GymWolf

Member
Kicking my goddamn ass, I think these are among the hardest fights in the entire series tbh.
Don't try to roll, use the precise evade when they attack, if you roll they catch you almost for sure, put the armour with the bullet time on evade and punish her everytime she miss.

Also throw the axe when they start glowing or they are gonna explode if they touch you or if you attack her.


I think the fight is pretty manageable per se but the huge damage she does, the big health pool and the 2 trash mobs always with her are what make the fight hard.
 
Last edited:

skit_data

Member
I just realized I never came across that huge jellyfish from the trailer in the main story. It’s gonna be fun doing all the sidequests because moments like that are usually reserved for the main story but they really seem to have put a lot of effort into the side quests when big stuff like that are found in them.
 

Boneless

Member
I had to leave him, I thought I've become half decent with the combat and I still couldn't defeat him, I can get him down to his last health bar but I tried like 15 times and gave up. I'm wondering what is in that chest! lol

Having played Elden Ring, I am more accepting of dying now.
 

Valedix

Member
My dislikes with the game:

- Gameplay loop got
boring after the 3rd realm
- Followers don't shut the fuck up (not as bad as Aloy though)
- Ironwood went on for far too long, boss fight was great though
- Gram boss fight sucked ass
- Odin and Thor's end game fight was boring.
 

Kindela

Banned
I just had to stop playing because I wanted to, that hasn't happened to me in at least a couple of years.

Whoever came up with the whole Iron Wood section (which is more of an full lenght completely different and boring lame ass game) should be fired on the spot and never work in gaming again. This shit literally killed GoW Ragnarok for me.
Early on I thought it wasn't as bad as some said it was, but then it overstayed its welcome, and then actually went on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on until I just said enough and turned the console off in anger and disbelief.

Elden Ring must win GOTY at this point for the sake of gaming.
I have almost the same feelings for that part. Not sure how close to end of it I am, but had it finished an hour earlier, it would've still probably been a bit too long.
On the other hand, the first section we play as Atreus I didn't mind at all, even liked it.
 
I just had to stop playing because I wanted to, that hasn't happened to me in at least a couple of years.

Whoever came up with the whole Iron Wood section (which is more of an full lenght completely different and boring lame ass game) should be fired on the spot and never work in gaming again. This shit literally killed GoW Ragnarok for me.
Early on I thought it wasn't as bad as some said it was, but then it overstayed its welcome, and then actually went on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on until I just said enough and turned the console off in anger and disbelief.

Elden Ring must win GOTY at this point for the sake of gaming.
Yeah, this section, while beautiful, was horrible and by tiself will assure that I will never replay this game ever again.

I'm quite far in now as well and am quite baffled about the writing to be honest. How hard can it be to give the characters a clear motivation? If feels like everyone just makes shit up as they go. This is so boring. While I enjoy playing the game I just can't help but to not be motivated by the plot AT ALL.

Also, lack of epic setpieces so far is quite staggering.

I'm really not sure about what the raving reviews are about. The game has less padding and better pace than GoW 2018 but aside from that it doesn't do anything better than the first. and/or expands the gameplay in a really meaningful way. I don't like the term, but it does have a bit of a DLC vibe to it.
 

rofif

Can’t Git Gud
ok now that I am done with the game, maybe I will switch from fidelity to performance to do some remaining stuff.
Disabled HFR is locked 60 or still unlocked? Do I need to disable vrr to get locked 60?
Which performance mode is considered the best?
 

rofif

Can’t Git Gud
I just had to stop playing because I wanted to, that hasn't happened to me in at least a couple of years.

Whoever came up with the whole Iron Wood section (which is more of an full lenght completely different and boring lame ass game) should be fired on the spot and never work in gaming again. This shit literally killed GoW Ragnarok for me.
Early on I thought it wasn't as bad as some said it was, but then it overstayed its welcome, and then actually went on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on until I just said enough and turned the console off in anger and disbelief.

Elden Ring must win GOTY at this point for the sake of gaming.
Not only that but whoever came up with Angrboda character should be ashamed. The character appears out of nowhere and saves us because MUH MAGIC SOMEHOW out of nowhere.
She is young, Giants are dead for who knows How looong and she is a kid... you go to her in a dream and transport there.
She is literally a plot device out of nowhere with magic our of nowhere
 
Last edited:
it was visually stunning, so it kept me locked in enough but its pushing it

tbh all Atreus sections have been weakest part of the game for me
I get that but for me most the graphics don't matter because most of that whole section is on rails stuff. You follow extremely narrow paths most of the time there's nothing you can do in that environment to really take in how good it looks. Forget about the story and awful writing, it's all highly condensed areas of you walking in a straight line from one area to the next. There's cliffs and edges all over the place you could easily climb but you are locked in with blinders for most of it. Stuff like that kills immersion that the game is trying to show off to me.

This is a God of War game first and foremost. That whole Ironwood section is easily the worst part of any God of War game purely for it feeling like it was nothing like how a God of War game should make you feel when playing. It legit felt like Naughty Dog came in and shoved it in there. It completely kills any interest I have in replaying the game again.
 

Dibils2k

Member
I get that but for me most the graphics don't matter because most of that whole section is on rails stuff. You follow extremely narrow paths most of the time there's nothing you can do in that environment to really take in how good it looks. Forget about the story and awful writing, it's all highly condensed areas of you walking in a straight line from one area to the next. There's cliffs and edges all over the place you could easily climb but you are locked in with blinders for most of it. Stuff like that kills immersion that the game is trying to show off to me.

This is a God of War game first and foremost. That whole Ironwood section is easily the worst part of any God of War game purely for it feeling like it was nothing like how a God of War game should make you feel when playing. It legit felt like Naughty Dog came in and shoved it in there. It completely kills any interest I have in replaying the game again.
I didnt even think about replay, i replayed GoW2018 fully like 4 times, i agree i cant see myself replaying this (still not finished), way too many on rail sections
 
Top Bottom