God of War, Sony’s premiere action-adventure title, has made its way onto PC, delivering all the over-the-top action, flowing combat, and great visuals that made the 2018 PlayStation 4 release so impressive. This entry reboots the franchise by streamlining the action and controls while introducing a fascinating Norse setting and mythos. This PC version doesn’t offer anything new compared to the console release, but it has a graphical settings suite that takes advantage of your PC’s strengths. The visual options are nice additions, but God of War suffers from inconsistent frame rates. Still, Kratos’ newest adventure is a lengthy, action-packed game that’s filled with RPG-like customization, intuitive combat, and great puzzles. Priced at $49.99, God of War is a PC game that belongs in your library.
What’s New in God of War
Do you know what’s new in God of War? The gameplay. As you might expect, the controls have been updated, with new AI and moves being implemented. The loading screens have been removed, so you can enjoy the eye candy while you wait for boss battles to start. The choice of visuals has also been updated, with lush, new visuals being implemented in the God of War engine. If you’re a longtime fansites subscriber, you might notice some visual updates, but otherwise, there’s nothing to brag about here. Your old game will run fine on a new computer; it won’t be affected by the extra work required to upgrade to a professional platform.
Solid Combat
One of the best things about the original God of War is its bold, uncompromising combat. The ancient and powerful Ares has reigned as the God of War for millennia, but he’s been driven from his seat by his son Kratos. Kratos’ new-found piety has led to a dramatic upgrade in his fighting abilities: while he was once a match for any enemy in combat, he’s now able to wage a more conventional style of combat. What’s more, Kratos’ new helmet — complete with a slingshot and other combat-gaze cosmetic items — makes him look more like a real man, rather than that misguided, immortal statue that remained his ideal representation of Ares. The controls remain the same, with a single-minded, heart-pounding rubbing Kratos running around a world of destruction.
Gorgeous Graphics
The original God of WAR was one of the more beautiful and detailed games of all time, and its visuals have remained intact thanks to the original PlayStation console. The PC release brings some nice visual updates, too, with beautiful new models, art direction, textures, and effects. The in-game settings, as you might expect, remain the same, but the overall effect is great. Your character will certainly look more like an action film than an anime, and the smooth and illustrated battle system will actually make you feel like you’re really in the middle of it all. The combat still feels great, too: the light, heavy, and projectile effects have all been updated, and the deep, 2D representation of the world is still there. The inclusion of bloom and bloom+illumination were two important updates in this game, bringing more life and color to the otherwise monochromatic visuals.
Norse Setting
Back when the original God of War was released, many complained that its setting didn’t match up to the hype. On the surface, it might seem that Norse and temple-based fantasy would be a good match, but these are two separate things, and the differences are considerable. The realm of Asgard, where the game is set, is one of the most populated fantasy lands in all of existence. The landmass of Middle Earth is a myriad of seemingly infinite lands, each with its own native wildlife, peoples, and customs. The characters of H.A.R.D.I.E.N are mainly made up of Norse deities, each with specific expertise or mission to complete. The setting also has lots of interesting historical and mythological details, such as the fact that Odin married Jotun and that the great battle of the gods was the “generative battle.”
Fun & Puzzles
One of the best things about the original God of War was its great variety of puzzles. There are many, many different types of puzzles in God of War, each with its own solution and a unique approach to solving them. There’s a lot of flexibility here, and you can always try a new approach if the solution doesn’t spark any creative thinking. There are also tons of brand-new, original puzzles to master, including a wide variety of puzzles that you can’t do anymore. It’s a good thing there aren’t many puzzles in the game, as those would be downright boring. Some of the most memorable moments in gameplay were when Kratos and Shuttles would be traveling through the cosmos, and he would point out the wonders of the universe to her, while she would observe from above. While there are tons of puzzles in this game, some will definitely stick with you longer than others.
Gameplay
One of the best things about the original God of War was its fluid combat. The ancient and powerful Ares has reigned as the God of War for millennia, but he’s been driven from his seat by his son Kratos. Kratos’ new-found piety has led to a dramatic upgrade in his combat skills: while he was once a match for any enemy in combat, he’s now able to wage a more conventional style of combat. What’s more, Kratos’ new helmet — complete with a slingshot and other combat-zazen cosmetic items — makes him look more like a real man, rather than that misguided, immortal statue that remained his ideal representation of Ares. The controls remain the same, with a single-minded, heart-pounding rubbing Kratos running around a world of destruction.
Frame Rate
One of the most important aspects of any action RPG is frame rate. It’s the number of frames per second (FPS) that determines the look and feeling of your game. For a high-quality game, you should aim for 30 frames per second. For a low-res game, you should aim for 15 or 16 frames. For all games in this series, your ideal frame rate is 30 or 36 fps. For current games that support the more advanced anti-aliasing techniques, you should aim for 40 or 50 fps. For modern games with high-res support, you should aim for 60 or 70 fps. For older games, you should aim for 40 or 50 fps.
Can Your PC Run God of War?
The original God of War didn’t come with official patch notes or a data-driven review score, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t run the game on your computer. In fact, the Microsoft Corporation software that runs the Windows 10 operating system is a great platform for players who want to run the game on their computer. It’s been updated for the most recent version of the game, adding support for DX12, High Dynamic-Vertex Color (HDR) support, and image processing. It’s also being brought up to date with the latest features and updates, so you should be able to run the game on your high-speed machine without any problems.
Final Words
If you’re looking for a challenging, action-packed game that plays like a typical RPG, then God of War is for you. The controls are easy to pick up, with the ability to slash, bash, and slash and bash again to gain combo points. The combat is fluid and rewarding, with reactive controls that make you feel like you’re doing the right thing, while the stunning visuals and storyline keep you on the edge of your seat. With so much to love about this game, you should definitely pick it up today.