While most people would say the top games of 2022 were Elden Ring or Call Of Duty; Modern Warfare II, it can definitely be agreed that God Of War: Ragnarok is the top game of the year. After having eight games made in the series, and the first game being made in 2005, this game has had many moments of fame. With the reboots and new graphics, God Of War has become one the biggest and best game series out there.
The main thing to be said about God Of War: Ragnarok is how good the graphics and design are. The way the game is filmed is in a one-take camera shot. There are no black loading screens for cutscenes or new areas. Right at the beginning of the game, it jumps right into a chase scene, where Freya is hunting Kratos down after he killed her son. The graphics in this moment are amazing. Kratos fights off Freya while riding down a snowy mountain on a dogsled, the wolves kicking up snow as they run, and Freya transforming in between human and falcon. Other moments are when Mimir calls out to Jörmungandr, the giant world serpent, and he lifts up from out of the water. The look of the water rushing away and the rumble makes this scene feel like a real movie. While fighting graphics are excellent, the landscape graphics help bring together a sense of peace within the game and makes the land memorable.
The characters in this game obviously carry the whole series. Seeing how Kratos changed from being full of rage and anger literally all the time in the first few games, to him slowly changing into more of a father for Atreus. He still keeps his stern face, bulky muscles, and strict personality, but he tries to understand his son and be there for him when he needs to. Atreus also changes a lot from running away from home and figuring out his true identity as Loki, and soon becomes the key to starting and ending Ragnarok. Freya’s change from a vengeful, rage-filled goddess towards Kratos to teaming up with him to fight Odin is a great show of her power and how powerful she can be when she directs her rage toward the right thing. All these characters who don’t seem to work together at first but then start working together towards one goal, killing Odin, is almost relieving to see because of the amount of power the player is able to build up.
There are so many other great things about God Of War: Ragnarok besides just the look and style of the game. The whole story is pretty easy to follow along and interesting to see played out. I love the changes in characters and how they deal with problems, as well as the heavy fighting when gods are ripping other gods up. God Of War has definitely earned its name as the top gaming experience of 2023.