The Best Game of April 2018: God of War
Read the Review!
Staff Writer Jake Green: What Sony Santa Monica has managed to achieve with God of War is nothing short of astounding. The game takes the series in a bold and fresh new direction, managing to give color and emotional depth to a character who was previously, one of the most one-note in all of gaming. God of War takes cues from narrative-driven games like The Last of Us and Uncharted 4, and combines them with excellent level design and a tactile and challenging combat system. It’s the small details that really stand out, like the way Kratos and his son exchange stories while traveling, or how Nordic runes are used to hide secrets throughout the world. It’s one of the best looking games ever made too, even managing to give Horizon: Zero Dawn a run for its money.
The real star of the show though is the combat. The simple act of throwing an axe, then hitting a button to recall it remains satisfying no matter how many times you do it. There’s a deep level of customization in Kratos’ weapons and armor, allowing a variety of possible play styles to surface. It’s an ambitious level of depth for such a story-driven game, but never once feels overwhelming. Side stories are just as engrossing as the main plot-line, giving further insight and context to the world around you. Though the story can often feel huge, filled with sparring Gods and age-old prophecies, it never strays far from the core focus of a father and son, as they learn to cope without the family member they are on a journey to honor. In short, God of War might just be PS4’s best exclusive, managing to offer an emotionally-charged story, alongside moments of top-class action.
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That does it for our April 2018 Game of the Month. Congratulations to God of War! What do you think were the best games from last month? Let us know in the comments.
