God of War (2018) is a game that left a lasting impression on me, even years after I finished it. Santa Monica Studio truly outdid themselves with this one, delivering an experience that not only met my expectations but exceeded them in ways I didn’t think possible. For me, the storyline is the heart of any game, and God of War nails it. The narrative pulled me in from the very first scene, where Kratos is cutting down a tree, and didn’t let me go until the credits rolled. It was more than just a game—it was a journey.

The Story: Emotional Depth and Complexity

I’ve always been someone who values a strong storyline, and God of War delivered that in spades. The story was never cliché or confusing. Instead, it gave me exactly what I was looking for: complexity, depth, and a real sense of progression. Watching Kratos evolve from the rage-fueled warrior I remembered from previous games into a more reflective and responsible father was incredible. I felt like I was Kratos, carrying the weight of his past and striving to be better for Atreus. That’s not something most games can achieve.

The way this game handles storytelling reminded me of The Last of Us. Both games shine in their ability to deliver emotional narratives grounded in the relationships between characters. Where The Last of Us focuses on the bond between Joel and Ellie, God of War offers a similar dynamic with Kratos and Atreus, but with a fresh perspective. The father-son relationship felt raw, authentic, and transformative throughout the journey.

The villains were just as impressive. Baldur stood out to me not just as an opponent but as a character with depth. Every fight with him felt important—not just because of the gameplay but because of the story. In comparison, games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey often struggle to give their villains the same narrative weight. It’s one thing to face a strong enemy; it’s another to understand their motivations and feel their impact on the story.

Gameplay: Balanced and Memorable

Gameplay-wise, this game struck the perfect balance for me. The puzzles were challenging enough to make me think but not so difficult that I felt frustrated or tempted to quit. I could see the effort they put into designing these moments, and it paid off.

Combat was a highlight. The Leviathan Axe felt amazing to use—it had weight, power, and a sense of satisfaction every time I threw it. The mechanics reminded me of Dark Souls in their precision and impact, but with a more accessible learning curve. While Dark Souls can feel punishing, God of War finds a way to be engaging without feeling overwhelming, especially on normal difficulty.

That said, some parts of the combat did get repetitive. For example, the finishers for smaller enemies and trolls started to feel stale after encountering them repeatedly. Here, I think Devil May Cry 5 offers a better model by keeping its combat fresh through a wider variety of moves and enemies. While God of War excels in its boss fights, smaller encounters could have used more variety to maintain the same level of excitement.

The World: Beautiful but Restrictive

The world of God of War is breathtaking. From the World Serpent to the massive temples, every detail felt meticulously crafted. I loved the atmosphere of the game—it truly felt like stepping into another world. The visuals were stunning, and the environments were alive with detail. I could tell that everything, from the creatures to the landscapes, was created with passion and precision.

However, the semi-open-world design left me wanting more. Compared to a game like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, where the open world feels limitless and encourages endless exploration, God of War felt restrictive. While the side quests were enjoyable, they weren’t enough to fully satisfy my desire to immerse myself in this world. I wanted to spend more time exploring Midgard and beyond, but the game’s structure kept pulling me back to the main story.

Audio and Music: An Immersive Experience

The audio design in this game deserves its own applause. From Kratos’ deep, powerful voice to Atreus’ emotional tones, the voice acting brought the characters to life. Christopher Judge as Kratos was phenomenal, and Sunny Suljic captured Atreus perfectly. It’s rare for me to notice how much voice acting impacts a game, but here, it was impossible to ignore.

And then there’s the music. The soundtrack was nothing short of epic, with compositions that rival some of the best movie scores I’ve ever heard. It reminded me of the work in Red Dead Redemption 2, where the music dynamically enhances the emotions of each scene. Whether I was battling a ferocious enemy or quietly exploring a new area, the score added depth and intensity to every moment.

Technical Performance: Mostly Smooth

When I played the game, I didn’t encounter any significant bugs, which was impressive considering how complex the game is. There were minor annoyances, like the axe not always going where I wanted or the occasional parry not registering during fights. But these were small issues that didn’t really impact my overall enjoyment. For a game this ambitious, it was surprisingly polished. Compared to a launch like Cyberpunk 2077, God of War was a technical masterpiece.

Difficulty and Replayability

I played on normal difficulty, and it felt just right for me. The balance allowed me to enjoy the story without getting too frustrated, though I do think playing on a harder difficulty would have added another layer of intensity to the combat. Still, I never felt like the game was too easy—it always kept me engaged.

That said, the replayability wasn’t as strong as I would have liked. Once I finished the main story and most of the side quests, there wasn’t much to pull me back in. A more open-world design like Skyrim might have changed that, giving me more reasons to explore and return to the game even after completing the story.

Final Thoughts: A Must-Play Experience

God of War is a game that every gamer should experience at least once. Whether you’re someone who loves story-driven games like me or a fan of action-packed combat, there’s something here for everyone. It’s one of those rare games that can change the way you think about storytelling in video games.

For me, the journey was worth every second. The 30-hour adventure was filled with memorable moments, from the epic boss fights to the quiet, emotional scenes between Kratos and Atreus. The game wasn’t perfect—minor bugs, repetitive finishers, and the lack of a true open world held it back slightly—but those flaws didn’t overshadow everything it did right.

I’d rate God of War 2018 an 8.5/10. Compared to other games, it excels in its storytelling and character development but could have benefited from a more expansive world and varied combat. If you haven’t played it yet, you’re missing out on one of the best gaming experiences out there.