God of War (2018) is what happens when you take a rage machine known for yelling and murdering gods, slap a beard on him, give him a kid, and tell him to feel things.

We play as Kratos, now retired from Greek god-slaying and working through his issues via light axe therapy. He returns from the world's longest milk run to find his wife dead and his son bitter (in some Moments). What follows is a journey of grief, emotional repression, and questionable parenting decisions. Also, lots of murder.

Here’s what God of War does well and why it stands out.

• 🟢 Immersive open world with realistic environments and interconnected locations.
  
• 🟢 Combat feels like being a god. Blocking? Dodging? Optional.
  
• 🟢 Solid linear experience with modest backtracking — never feels like a chore.
  
• 🟢 Excellent soundtrack and sound design

Despite its strengths, God of War isn’t without its flaws.

• 🔴 Tight FOV reduces situational awareness
  
• 🔴 Repetitive boss fights, Some Bosses are very repeative, different colored trolls, Stone Monster and Valkyries
  
• 🔴 Too much collecting. Nilfheim and Muspelheim are just fillers.
  
• 🔴 Baldur’s death felt forced and ironic in the worst way

Despite the complete lack of truly memorable boss battles, I still found the combat and overall gameplay to be genuinely enjoyable. I didn’t need massive set-piece fights to have fun—smacking around waves of skeletons, elves, and whatever else came my way was satisfying enough on its own. The story resonated with me more than I expected, even hitting hard enough at one point that I had to pause the game because I started to cry.

It’s an easy recommendation from me, especially for those who appreciate a good narrative and solid combat. Just one word of advice—if you’re a new parent, maybe don’t take any fatherhood tips from Kratos.