2018 was a monumental year for gaming. Insomniac Games cemented that it was still one of the most versatile devs working with Marvel's Spider-Man, Rockstar proved it still had what it takes to produce one of the most technically impressive games of all time with Red Dead Redemption 2, and Monster Hunter World finally managed to make one of Capcom's biggest franchises accessible to newcomers. But above it all sat God of War, much of the industry's 2018 game of the year, and still a beloved title five years later.
Released on April 20, 2018, for PlayStation 4, God of War marked a triumphant return for the Ghost of Sparta and for Santa Monica Studios. After a near-decade-long hiatus, God of War 2018 finally gave the franchise the comeback it deserved, and in taking some big risks, Santa Monica managed to immediately cement God of War and Kratos as one of PlayStation's most iconic mascots once again, this time as part of its new age of first-party exclusives. And now, five years later, God of War 2018 seems somehow even more impressive than it was back then, laying the groundwork for a Norse saga that's widely considered to be one of the best narrative arcs in all of gaming.
The State of God of War Before 2018
God of War debuted in 2005 with a PS2 hack-and-slash classic that took players to ancient Greece, and let them loose on the Greek pantheon. The first God of War became an immediate, extreme success, earning universal critical acclaim and selling very well across the globe. Santa Monica was quick to the punch, delivering a sequel just two years later with God of War 2, a game that received just as much acclaim as the first title. The first two God of War games are still widely considered to be some of the greatest PS2 games ever made, and some of the best titles the hack-and-slash genre has to offer.
God of War 3 took a bit longer in development due to the new PS3 hardware, but it released in 2010, again to universal acclaim from all corners of the world. With three beloved mainline titles now under its belt, it seemed as though the God of War franchise could do no wrong, but then came 2013's God of War: Ascension. By all accounts, God of War: Ascension is a good game, but it lacked the same compelling nature as its predecessors and the hack-and-slash gameplay that ran through the series being largely unchanged was starting to feel a little too same-y for most audiences. It was clear that the God of War franchise needed a refresh, and Santa Monica would spend the next five years trying to do just that.
God of War 2018 Laid the Foundations Needed for the Norse Saga to Flourish
In the lead-up to release, it was clear that God of War 2018 wasn't going to be just another hack-and-slash set in Greece, where Kratos is simply portrayed as an unstoppable force of rage. God of War 2018 swaps out its Greek setting for a Norse one, and swaps out its two-dimensional Kratos for a fully-realized, realistic portrayal of grief, fear, vulnerability, and strength. And in terms of gameplay, God of War 2018 is a big departure from the series' roots, opting to go for a more Dark Souls-inspired, methodical combat system that rewards careful parries and smart thinking.
When God of War released on April 20, 2018, it was met with universal acclaim, to such a high degree that even the first three games in the series didn't achieve. God of War 2018 got just about everything right, with satisfying gameplay, a compelling core relationship, intriguing side characters, and a deceptively simple story that only gets more complex and interesting if fans want to dive in further. But looking back five years later, God of War 2018's best achievement is not only that it revived the God of War franchise, but that it laid the groundwork for the other half of the Norse saga story.
With God of War Ragnarok now out, God of War 2018 somehow holds up even better than it did. Going back to God of War 2018 after playing Ragnarok doesn't feel jarring, but rewarding, with so many plot beats and character arcs being set up in the first game and neatly tied up in the second. As a collective unit, the God of War Norse saga is one of the best narratives in all of gaming, and it's truly impressive that Santa Monica was able to pull it all off in the end.
God of War is available on PlayStation 4.
