Info about God of War Ragnarök: Official game description: Digital Deluxe Edition ====================== Digital Deluxe Edition Includes: * Full game * Darkdale Armor * Darkdale Attire (Cosmetic) * Darkdale Axe Grip * Darkdale Blades Handles * Dark Horse digital art book * Official digital soundtrack God of War 20th Anniversary =========================== About the Game ============== **THE NORSE SAGA CONTINUES** ---------------------------- From Santa Monica Studio and brought to PC in partnership with Jetpack Interactive comes God of War Ragnarök, an epic and heartfelt journey that follows Kratos and Atreus as they struggle with holding on and letting go. The sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018), God of War Ragnarök picks up with Fimbulwinter well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Odin’s forces in Asgard prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way, they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. As the threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer, Kratos and Atreus must choose between the safety of their family and the safety of the realms. **A FUTURE, UNWRITTEN** ----------------------- Atreus seeks knowledge to help him understand the prophecy of “Loki” and establish his role in Ragnarök. Kratos must decide whether he will be chained by the fear of repeating his mistakes or break free of his past to be the father Atreus needs. **FLUID, EXPRESSIVE COMBAT** ---------------------------- The Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos, and Guardian Shield return alongside a host of new abilities for both Kratos and Atreus. Kratos’ deadly Spartan skills will be tested like never before as he battles gods and monsters across Nine Realms to protect his family. **EXPLORE VAST REALMS** ----------------------- Journey through dangerous and stunning landscapes as Kratos and Atreus search for answers. **MASTER THYSELF IN GOD OF WAR RAGNARÖK: VALHALLA** --------------------------------------------------- Available right at launch with your purchase of God of War Ragnarök is access to the God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla DLC for no additional cost! Accompanied only by Mimir, Kratos embarks on a deeply personal and reflective journey that pushes him to master mind and body as he is confronted with the challenges of Valhalla in an unravelling, replayable adventure that blends the beloved combat from God of War Ragnarök with brand new elements inspired by the roguelite genre. **AN EPILOGUE TO RAGNARÖK** --------------------------- Kratos’ journey continues as he enters Valhalla, a new location in the God of War Norse saga. Faced with echoes of his past, he fights to overcome the trials within himself and walk the path laid out before him. **BELOVED COMBAT REIMAGINED** ----------------------------- The beloved combat from God of War Ragnarök with fresh and experimental twists inspired by the roguelite genre. Valhalla will push you to master different aspects of Kratos’ arsenal during each attempt as you face new combinations of enemies and some surprises along the way! **FIGHT. LEARN. GROW.** ----------------------- Death is never the end. Kratos will have access to his weapons, skills, shields and abilities, but each new attempt will reset his Stats, Runic Attacks and Perks. As Kratos progresses through each attempt, you will be presented with choices between rewards that will help you push deeper into the mysterious depths of Valhalla while building resources toward persistent upgrades. **PC FEATURES** --------------- Partnering with Jetpack Interactive once again, God of War Ragnarök on PC will harness the power of the platform to deliver an exceptional experience. **UNLOCKED FRAME RATES & HIGH-FIDELITY GRAPHICS** ------------------------------------------------- Unlocked framerates and the option of true 4K resolution expand the full potential of our cinematic no-cut camera as you travel through the stunning vistas of the Nine Realms.¹ Behold enhanced reflections, lighting, and higher fidelity shadows, as well as increased geometric detail.² **UPSCALING TECHNOLOGY** ------------------------ Full integration with NVIDIA RTX™ Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) 3.7, AMD FidelityFX™ Super Resolution (FSR) 3.1, and Intel XeSS (Xe Super Sampling) 1.2 will allow you to reach higher graphical settings and output resolutions. **NVIDIA® REFLEX SUPPORT** -------------------------- Utilize NVIDIA Reflex low latency technology allowing you to react quicker and hit harder combos with the responsive gameplay.³ **SUPER ULTRAWIDE SUPPORT** --------------------------- Enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Nine Realms in panoramic widescreen with 21:9 ultra-widescreen and 32:9 super ultra-widescreen support!¹ **CONTROLS CUSTOMIZATION** -------------------------- Play your way. With support for the DUALSHOCK®4 and DUALSENSE® wireless controllers, a wide range of other gamepads, and fully customizable bindings for mouse and keyboard, you have the power to fine-tune every action to match your playstyle. **HAPTIC FEEDBACK** ------------------- Feel your journey through the Norse realms, made possible by immersive haptic feedback and adaptive trigger functionality.³ **SPATIAL 3D AUDIO** -------------------- Take advantage of highly accurate, spatial 3D Audio; hear enemies approaching from any direction, including from above and below you.⁴ \-------- ¹ Compatible PC and display device required. ² Compatible PC and graphics card required. ³ DualSense™ controller and wired connection required to experience the full range of in-game controller features. ⁴ 3D Audio via analog/USB stereo headphones. Release date: Sep 19, 2024 Categories: Action-Adventure, Third-Person Shooter, Character Progression, Story-driven Gameplay, Exploration, Hack and Slash, Character Customization, Boss Fights - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: No data - Playtime Metrics: No data - Time-to-fun: No data - Player Archetypes: No data Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Refined and satisfying combat (weight 0.97): Combat is described as smooth, impactful, and strategic, with significant improvements over the predecessor. Players appreciate the variety in weapons, abilities, and enemy types, as well as the satisfying feedback from attacks and parries. - Epic emotional storytelling (weight 0.84): The game features a deeply engaging and emotionally rich narrative with well-developed characters, praised for its dramatic, humorous, and thought-provoking themes. Players highlight the strong character arcs, especially for Kratos and Atreus, and the game's ability to evoke a wide range of emotions. - Strong father-son relationship (weight 0.27): The dynamic between Kratos and Atreus is a central focus, with players praising the emotional depth, character growth, and humor in their interactions. The story effectively humanizes Kratos and explores themes of parenthood and trust. - Excellent music and voice acting (weight 0.24): The soundtrack is described as epic and emotionally impactful, while the voice acting—particularly for Kratos, Atreus, and Freya—is praised for its depth and ability to enhance immersion and emotional moments. - Highly praised DLC content (weight 0.22): The Valhalla DLC is widely celebrated for its roguelike mechanics, narrative depth, and replayability. Players describe it as a meaningful conclusion to Kratos' arc and a standout addition to the game. - Rewarding exploration and side quests (weight 0.19): The game offers a wealth of side content, including meaningful side quests, intricate puzzles, and hidden lore. Players appreciate the narrative depth and rewards tied to exploration and curiosity. - Rich Norse mythology integration (weight 0.11): The game expands on Norse mythology with respect and creativity, introducing new realms, gods, and threats. Players praise the epic scale and the way mythology drives the narrative and world-building. Common complaints: - Atreus gameplay segments disliked (weight 0.65): Players widely criticize sections where they control Atreus, describing them as boring, poorly designed, and disruptive to the game's pacing. Many feel these segments lack the intensity and polish of Kratos' gameplay, making them feel like filler. - Excessive cutscenes and dialogue (weight 0.4): The game is criticized for its over-reliance on unskippable cutscenes and excessive dialogue, which slows pacing and disrupts immersion. Players prefer more action-driven gameplay over narrative-heavy sequences. - Puzzles are frustrating and unclear (weight 0.35): Puzzles are criticized for being overly complex, poorly explained, or reliant on finicky mechanics. Players find them disruptive to the game's flow and often more tedious than rewarding. - Story feels generic and uninspired (weight 0.34): The narrative is described as predictable, convoluted, and aimed at a younger audience. Players feel it lacks the depth, moral complexity, and emotional weight of the 2018 game, with forced family drama and clichéd resolutions. - Frequent crashes and technical issues (weight 0.32): The game suffers from widespread instability, including frequent crashes, freezes, and startup issues, particularly on PC. These problems severely disrupt gameplay and immersion, especially during critical moments like boss fights. - Repetitive and tedious gameplay (weight 0.32): Gameplay loops, puzzles, and side quests are criticized for being repetitive and monotonous. Players note excessive backtracking, unclear mechanics, and low-reward activities that disrupt the game's rhythm. - Lack of innovation compared to predecessor (weight 0.25): Players feel the game plays it safe, offering minimal innovation in mechanics, level design, or storytelling. Many describe it as feeling like a 'part 2' rather than a bold new entry in the series. - Poor enemy and boss design (weight 0.23): Enemies and bosses are criticized for being generic, overly scripted, or unbalanced. Many bosses lack depth, while regular enemies are either too easy or frustratingly difficult due to poor AI and mechanics. - Side characters and quests unengaging (weight 0.1): Side characters are described as forgettable, annoying, or poorly developed, with side quests feeling repetitive and unexciting. Players feel forced to engage with uninteresting content that adds little to the story. - Unbalanced difficulty settings (weight 0.07): Difficulty settings are criticized for being poorly balanced, with enemies either one-shotting the player or becoming damage sponges. Higher difficulties feel unbalanced and unsatisfying. Gameplay feedback: - Tactical Combat with Depth (weight 0.5): The combat system is praised for its tactical depth, requiring quick reactions, adaptation to enemy patterns, and strategic use of combos, parrying, and weapon interactions. Players highlight the balance between difficulty and variety in weapon styles and abilities. - Exploration Across Realms (weight 0.23): The Nine Realms offer expansive, open-world exploration with side quests, collectibles, and secrets. Canoe-based traversal and optional regions enhance immersion and replayability. - Puzzle-Solving Integration (weight 0.22): Puzzles are well-integrated into gameplay, evolving with new mechanics (e.g., axe-reflecting glass, water freezing) and companion interactions. They complement exploration and combat, offering varied challenges and hints for progression. - Dual-Character Gameplay (weight 0.17): Unique sections allow players to control Atreus, featuring distinct combat styles and abilities. This dual-character dynamic adds narrative and mechanical variety, though some players note forced switching or bugs. - Weapon and Armor Customization (weight 0.17): Players can customize weapons, armor, and skills through an XP-based progression system, enabling diverse builds and playstyles. Upgrades and charms add tactical flexibility. - Adjustable Difficulty (weight 0.14): The game caters to both casual and hardcore players with scalable difficulty settings, encouraging strategic play. High-difficulty modes are likened to 'Dark Souls' in their challenge. - Story-Driven Progression (weight 0.12): The narrative is deeply intertwined with gameplay, featuring character development, mid-game difficulty ramps, and XP-based unlocks. Players appreciate the pacing and depth of the story-driven experience. - Diverse Enemy and Level Design (weight 0.11): Enemies feature unique attack patterns and gimmicks, while levels span immersive, atmospheric realms. Some criticism targets repetitive traversal or padded design in certain areas. - Valhalla Roguelike DLC (weight 0.09): The Valhalla DLC introduces roguelike mechanics with turn-based elements, adding replayability and a fresh challenge. Players highlight its integration of story and endless modes. - Responsive and Fast-Paced Gameplay (weight 0.07): Improvements over the predecessor include smoother controls, faster combat, and aggressive mechanics. Players note the game’s polish and responsiveness in both combat and exploration. - Variety in Playstyles (weight 0.06): The game supports multiple playstyles through skill trees, weapon combinations, and side content (e.g., artifact collecting, lore). This variety caters to different player preferences. Performance notes: - High PC performance requirements (weight 0.23): The game demands high-end hardware for smooth performance, particularly at higher resolutions and settings. Mid-range or older hardware may struggle with stability and frame rates. - Frequent game crashes on PC (weight 0.21): The game crashes in various scenarios, including menus, gameplay, cutscenes, and photo mode. This issue is widespread across different hardware configurations and often requires PC restarts to resolve. - Performance drops and stuttering (weight 0.18): Players report significant FPS drops, stuttering, and lag in demanding areas or after alt-tabbing. This issue is more pronounced on mid-range hardware and at higher resolutions. - Steam Deck performance issues (weight 0.17): The game exhibits optimization problems on Steam Deck, including sound issues, FPS drops, and occasional crashes, though it remains playable with some adjustments. - Large game size impacts performance (weight 0.11): The game's large file size (nearly 200 GB) contributes to lag, jerking during loading, and storage constraints, particularly on systems with limited storage capacity. - GPU driver compatibility issues (weight 0.06): Players report crashes, freezes, and errors related to GPU drivers, particularly with newer NVIDIA and AMD drivers. Downgrading drivers is a common workaround. - Shader compilation and technical issues (weight 0.06): Players encounter shader recompilation issues after GPU driver updates, as well as technical problems related to PSN/SDK compatibility and launch arguments for Linux. - Audio and controller bugs (weight 0.05): Players report audio lag, crackling, random glitches, and controller-related issues, such as vibration problems and joystick sensitivity bugs. - VRAM and memory leaks (weight 0.05): The game exhibits VRAM memory leaks, leading to performance degradation over time. This issue is particularly problematic for players with limited video memory. - DLC optimization issues (weight 0.04): The DLC content introduces additional optimization problems, including FPS drops and visibility issues during puzzles, which affect gameplay experience. - Frame generation instability (weight 0.02): Enabling frame generation features leads to crashes and visual artifacts, reducing stability and performance for players using this setting. Recommendations: - Must-play for series fans (weight 0.48): The game is overwhelmingly recommended for fans of the previous installments, with many reviewers calling it a must-play or essential purchase to conclude the saga. The emotional and narrative payoff is highlighted as a key reason for this recommendation. - Best for story-driven players (weight 0.48): The game is highly praised for its deep storytelling, cinematic experience, and emotional weight. It is recommended for players who prioritize narrative depth, character development, and well-written side quests over pure gameplay mechanics. - Play predecessor first (weight 0.42): Reviewers strongly suggest playing *God of War (2018)* before this game to fully appreciate the narrative, character arcs, and emotional impact. This is a recurring recommendation for newcomers and returning players alike. - Action-adventure masterpiece (weight 0.15): The game is celebrated as one of the best in the action-adventure genre, combining top-tier combat, Norse mythology, visuals, and gameplay. It is frequently compared favorably to other AAA titles like *Red Dead Redemption 2* and *The Witcher 3*. - Recommended for mythology fans (weight 0.11): The game is praised for its portrayal of Norse mythology and epic fights, making it a must-play for enthusiasts of mythology, lore, and world-building in gaming. - Replayability and content (weight 0.04): The game is praised for its extensive content, including side quests, collectibles, and exploration. Many reviewers highlight its high replay value, especially for players who enjoy completing all objectives or revisiting the story. - Difficulty recommendations vary (weight 0.03): Reviewers offer conflicting advice on difficulty settings. Some recommend 'Give me God of War' for a challenging experience, while others suggest avoiding it or playing on lower difficulties for a more enjoyable story-focused experience. - Cinematic experience over gameplay (weight 0.03): While the game is highly recommended for its story and visuals, some reviewers suggest it is better suited for players who prioritize cinematic experiences. A few even recommend watching someone else play if combat or gameplay mechanics are not a priority. - PS5 preferred over PC (weight 0.03): Several reviewers note that the game performs better on PlayStation 5, with fewer crashes and technical issues compared to the PC version. Buying on PlayStation is recommended to avoid frustration. - Parenting and emotional themes (weight 0.02): The game is commended for its exploration of parenting, emotional storytelling, and character relationships. These themes resonate strongly with players and add depth to the narrative experience. - Standard edition sufficient (weight 0.01): Reviewers note that the Deluxe Edition offers mostly cosmetic items, making the standard edition a better value for most players. The base game is considered complete and highly satisfying on its own. Other player notes: - Large game installation size (weight 0.02): The game occupies a significant amount of storage space, with some players noting it takes up to 15% of a 1TB hard drive. This may impact users with limited storage capacity. - High system requirements (weight 0.01): The game demands a fast PC to run smoothly, which may limit accessibility for players with lower-end hardware or older systems. - Seamless single-shot narrative (weight 0.01): The game’s unbroken single-shot storytelling is praised for its immersive and cohesive narrative structure, enhancing player engagement. - Post-credits additional ending (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the inclusion of a post-credits sequence that provides an extra narrative conclusion, adding value to the overall story experience. - New Niflheim location (weight 0.01): The addition of a new area in Niflheim, situated between the arena and ravens, is noted by players as a positive expansion of the game world. - Post-game emotional impact (weight 0.01): Some players report experiencing post-game depression, indicating the game’s strong emotional resonance and immersive storytelling. - Lack of Ukrainian localization (weight 0.01): Players express disappointment over the absence of Ukrainian language support, limiting accessibility for Ukrainian-speaking audiences. - Harassment in review comments (weight 0.01): Reviewers mention facing harassment in the comments section for leaving negative feedback, highlighting toxic behavior in the community. - Personal anecdotes in reviews (weight 0.01): Some reviews include personal stories, such as becoming a father while playing, adding a unique but non-gameplay-related perspective to feedback. Emotions: - Frustration (weight 0.23): Players frequently cite technical issues, particularly frequent crashes and poor optimization on PC, as major sources of frustration. Additionally, combat mechanics are criticized for being clunky, repetitive, or poorly balanced, with complaints about enemy behavior, camera angles, and forced gameplay segments (e.g., Atreus missions or slow-paced sections like yak riding). - Disappointment (weight 0.13): The game failed to meet expectations in several areas, including underdeveloped story arcs, rushed endings, and a perceived lack of depth in combat and character development. Players also expressed disappointment with the PC port's quality, technical regressions, and the removal of features like unarmed combat or meaningful runic abilities compared to previous titles. - Satisfaction (weight 0.12): Players praised the game for its engaging story, refined combat mechanics, and rewarding exploration. Many highlighted the emotional depth of character arcs, the quality of post-game content, and the overall polish of the experience, particularly in areas like world design and replayability. - Excitement (weight 0.1): The game's dynamic combat, cinematic boss fights, and immersive storytelling generated excitement among players. Improvements over the previous title, such as enhanced gameplay mechanics and richer lore, along with anticipation for the Valhalla DLC, contributed to this positive emotion. - Admiration (weight 0.07): Players admired the game's storytelling, character development, and artistic presentation, often calling it a masterpiece. The emotional depth of Kratos and Atreus' journey, combined with high-quality voice acting, graphics, and attention to detail in world-building, earned widespread respect. - Awe (weight 0.04): The game's visuals, sound design, and cinematic presentation left players in awe. The environments, soundtrack, and narrative scale were frequently cited as breathtaking, with many praising the technical and artistic achievements that elevated the experience. - Appreciation (weight 0.04): Players appreciated the game's nuanced character relationships, detailed environments, and the conclusion of Kratos' story arc. The focus on themes like family and growth, along with improvements in gameplay mechanics, resonated deeply with the audience. - Joy (weight 0.03): The game brought joy through its engaging story, emotional character moments, and satisfying combat. Players also expressed happiness with the game's replayability, personal connections to the franchise, and the overall fun and immersive experience. - Enjoyment (weight 0.02): Players enjoyed the game's combat, storytelling, and visuals, often highlighting the variety of gameplay elements and the quality of the overall experience. The cinematic presentation and lore-rich world contributed to a highly enjoyable playthrough. - Nostalgia (weight 0.02): The game evoked nostalgia for players who grew up with the God of War series, particularly through callbacks to earlier titles (e.g., Valhalla DLC) and the emotional journey of Kratos' character. Many reflected on personal memories tied to the franchise. - Boredom (weight 0.01): Certain sections of the game, such as the Ironwood segment or repetitive Atreus missions, were criticized for feeling slow, unengaging, or overly guided. Players also noted repetitive level design and filler content as sources of boredom. - Anger (weight 0.01): Technical issues like crashes during critical moments, perceived poor design choices (e.g., exploitable boss fights), and unresolved bugs provoked anger. Some players also expressed frustration with the game's save system and forced mechanics. - Relief (weight 0.01): Players felt relief after resolving technical issues (e.g., FPS locks fixing crashes) or completing the game, particularly due to the satisfying ending. The lack of certain requirements (e.g., PSN on PC) also provided relief. - Annoyance (weight 0.01): Minor but persistent issues, such as companions interrupting puzzles, unskippable cutscenes, or rigid mechanics, annoyed players. Some also found Kratos' perceived weakness in combat or repetitive storytelling elements frustrating. - Immersion (weight 0.01): The game's cinematic presentation, detailed world design, and strong narrative immersed players in its universe. The Nine Realms' unique environments and the emotional weight of the story enhanced this sense of immersion. - Impressed (weight 0.01): Players were impressed by the game's overall quality, including its storytelling, combat, and optimization. The depth of the world and the improvements over the previous title left a strong positive impression. - Disgust (weight 0.01): Poor camera work causing motion sickness, forced cultural themes, and the lack of developer response to widespread technical issues led to feelings of disgust among some players.}