An Unexpected and Triumphant Return
- Vanessa Hart
- Jul 14, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 18, 2023
My experience with the God of War reboot.

Before reading this review, it should be noted that this game is rated M for mature. Although video games can often be enjoyed by younger players, this particular title contains certain elements that are not appropriate for children. I will try and keep this review as clean and family friendly as possible, since I want content on this blog to be enjoyed by everyone. Always check a game's rating before allowing children to play.
The original God of War series started back in 2005 on the PlayStation 2. It followed Kratos, a Spartan warrior who seeks to destroy the Greek gods after losing his family. It quickly became known for its mythological setting and violent gameplay. The series had three mainline entries on PS2, along with two entries on PSP and a smaller prequel game released on PS3. There was also a God of War collection released for PS3. It quickly became one of PlayStation's flagship series and the series seemed to come to a natural conclusion by the end of God of War III.
So, you can imagine the shock and surprise that occurred when PlayStation announced a God of War reboot at E3 in 2016. Despite sharing the same title,this game was not considered a remake of the first game but rather a continuation of the series in a different mythological setting, this time Norse mythology. It was released two years later and received critical and commercial acclaim. A sequel, God of War: Ragnarök, was released in 2022.
I had heard of God of War when I started playing games, but never had the opportunity to give them a try since I didn't own a PlayStation console. Not to mention I was still too young to be playing M rated titles. Since I had never gotten to play the original trilogy, I wasn't sure if I would be able to enjoy and be impacted by this game as much as lifelong fans. So, I let it pass me by, partially because I wasn’t ready to try out a new major series (but mostly because a full-priced game rarely fit into my budget).
About a year and a half later, I saw the game sitting on a clearance shelf. Since I had heard nothing but positive things about the title, I decided to finally pick it up. I played it for about a week and got maybe a quarter of the way through before it ended up going back on the shelf. I don't remember why I didn't finish it at the time. Maybe I felt overwhelmed by a game with such large scope. Maybe a newer release had come out that had taken my attention. Whatever the case may be, the game went back into my collection and sat there. A month ago, I was trying to figure out what to play one evening and figured I would give God of War another shot.
This game serves as a continuation to the original series. Many years after tearing apart the Greek pantheon with his bare hands, Kratos has left his homeland and settled down in the realm of Midgard with a new wife and child. When his wife passes away, she requests that her ashes be spread in a specific location. Kratos and his son Atreus set off on the journey together. Along the way, Atreus learns how to be a warrior while Kratos learns how to be a better father and they both grow together in their shared grief. They also face off against numerous monsters and deities from Norse mythology as Kratos learns that you can't always leave your past behind.

After a couple of gaming sessions, it became very clear to me that the storytelling team had really put their best foot forward. The writers took common themes such as loss, family, and coming of age, and shaped them in a way that fit the specific characters. While this game serves as an extension of the original trilogy, it has also matured into a more sophisticated title. The first three games were all about violence and vengeance. Although the aggressive tendencies have not left Kratos, he takes every moment that he can to emphasize that anger and revenge should not be a guiding force in someone's life. He is no longer fighting for himself; he is fighting to protect his son.
The gameplay mechanics are wildly different from the original series. It is no longer a simple hack and slash on waves of enemies, but rather acts more as an action-adventure title. You still encounter a large number of enemies but also have more time to strategize rather than just hitting the attack button. Kratos’ main weapon is the Leviathan Axe, an axe which has the power to freeze items around him as well as be recalled to his hand at a moment’s notice, similar to Thor’s hammer Mjolnir. Think of it as a really violent boomerang. It's a very simple mechanic but somehow quite satisfying. The axe’s ice powers can also be used to help solve puzzles , allowing this game to have some variety in its game play.
The clip below is a snippet of some basic gameplay and enemies.
Initially, I was very unsure about the inclusion of Atreus. When it comes to video games, a child character can often be a hindrance to the player as you usually have to protect them and focus on their actions rather than the main objective. I'm happy to report that is not the case here. Atreus can hold his own and is even called upon by Kratos to aid in combat in certain situations with his bow and arrows.
Although I do regret not playing this game sooner, I had a particular reason for being so hesitant. Years prior, God of War III had been remastered and re-released on PlayStation 4. I picked up a copy from my local GameStop one day, excited to finally give the series a try. I have had an interest in world mythology for several years, and particularly enjoy Greek and Roman stories so that was another big draw for me.
However, I ran into an unfortunate snag. I have a disability that can sometimes affect my fine motor skills. Although I can play most titles just fine, it does help for me to have the option to change certain controls or specific settings in order to make the game easier to play and more accessible to me. Despite being released in 2015, the remaster had no accessibility features that would help me. As such, I ended up being stuck in the game’s tutorial and despite my best efforts was unable to proceed. I knew if I wasn't able to get past the tutorial, the actual game would be even harder and most likely impossible.
Disheartened, I ended up returning the game a week later. Thankfully, the gaming industry has come a long way in making games accessible, and the reboot does have some accessibility features. I do hope that Sony will consider re-releasing the original trilogy with features that will allow anyone to play.

I absolutely love this game and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to give the series a try. Although you will probably enjoy it more if you have played the older titles, it's not required as the game gives you enough explanation to understand particular moments. It's a must play for anyone who enjoys story driven action games. However, I will admit that this game might be too much for some, as the game can be particularly violent at certain points.
Overall, I will say this reboot proves that an old dog can learn new tricks- especially if those new tricks involve a magical axe.
This post was written by Vanessa Hart, creator of Deep Dive Gaming
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