God of War Ragnarök - Two Years Later

[@Trench-coat]

What did you think of God of War Ragnarök? Let me know down in the comments!

[@THAT_GAMING_GUY-2]

The story was good until the last act it felt rushed in the end

[@Trench-coat]

100% agree

[@Weekender987]

Look I’m gonna be honest, I am kind of dickrider for god of war and a huge glazer, but I do agree with your opinions but personally I was glad with the more shields and rages

[@Trench-coat]

@@Weekender987 haha fair enough! Thanks, look technically it’s not a problem and I actually would not have minded it as much had they not taken away my original shield and forced me to play with the others when I did not want too… It’s a fantastic game overall and I still highly recommend to my friends wanting to try it out for the first time! I am also a God of War fan and I really can’t wait for what is next!!

[@JosephColin209]

@@Trench-coat It should’ve been a trilogy and called gow Fimbulwinter. The third game should’ve been about Ragnarök instead of the 30 minute long cutscene with a free gameplay/qte section. They just spent like 60 hours building up a short and rushed ending

[@DudeAwesome0819]

“Careful brother! You’re covered in Bifröst!” -Mimir every two fucking seconds

[@Trench-coat]

so true lmao

[@beatmykids1064]

Yes bro 😂

[@ktrotter11]

Sounds like you should stop getting covered in bifrost every two seconds brother.....

[@tales-frontier]

You're on fire kratos, It will pass.

[@_zelatrix]

Maybe try not getting covered in Bifröst then?

[@royjones8312]

Every time I had to play as Atreus I just thanked the gods I wasn’t playing as Mary Jane.

[@Trench-coat]

LMAO

[@tonysoldan]

Atreus in Give Me God Of War: “No! I’m allergic to critical one shots!!” Loki, God of Tricks: 🙅‍♂️ Loki, God of Evasion: ✅

[@ElPutred]

Hhahaahaahaah😂😂😂😂

[@A.D.I.D.A.S-916]

Ain’t that the truth

[@PrestonTheEgg]

REAL JESUS CHIRST THOSE MISSIONS WERE SO BORING

[@night3094]

I didn’t mind Atreus sections but Ironwood is so fucking bad

[@Trench-coat]

Bruh Ironwood was tough 😂

[@martinc8965]

I hope they've learned from that, so they don't have a section like that in whatever game they're making now.

[@myherobeaste7]

Dude ironwood (I was still surprised with playing Atreus and liked his gameplay)

[@martinc8965]

@@myherobeaste7 I don't dislike the story in that part, but gameplay-wise it's very boring for me, except for certain parts.

[@jamesmason7979]

Someone said Ironwood is more bearable if skip all the cutscenes. I tried it and it's true. But it's a shame because I like the story aspect of Ironwood. I just hate how much time is dedicated to helping Angrboda run errands. It literally feels like traveling in a circle three time before you fighting Gryla.

[@brodypaselk3620]

This game has one of the best depictions of Thor I’ve ever seen. Its super accurate to the actual mythology

[@Trench-coat]

Yeah Thor was incredible!

[@affe8808]

I just want to know who blew that god damned horn back in 2018

[@IJD30]

Fr lol

[@dammyoyesanya4656]

Astrobot answers this😂

[@miltonmilky5970]

@@dammyoyesanya4656who did it then?

[@mangoisatango]

yea who did it

[@y3nomspectuals]

Simple answer , who was chasing them the whole game ?

[@greekpestnyc3145]

I agree with everything except for the shields, they gave way for more different playstyles and builds. Like…how is that a bad thing? You’re telling me being able to tank guard-breaking hits, -counter attacking, and powering up a shield strike via parries isn’t cool? Come on now bruh 😭

[@huskytzu7709]

GOW Ragnarok being released the same year as Elden Ring was just a death sentence in terms of winning GOTY awards.

[@Trench-coat]

100% Elden Ring totally deserved it!

[@Themarch001]

Elden Ring is extremely overrated, a very bland game, Ragnarok was good but also not perfect by any means. 2023 was a far better year

[@thalassaphobicseaturtle6442]

​@@Themarch001 either you never played elden ring or you played it and then died to the big golden guy at the start lol

[@Themarch001]

@@thalassaphobicseaturtle6442 Played, Finished it, bland overrated game.

[@Comicbroe405]

​@@Themarch001 Overrated? Sure. But it's anything but bland. Like i don't think you know what the word means.

[@kendrickknight23]

I think people forget God Of war Ragnarok was being developed during the biggest Pandemic in decades. They had to record almost everyone separately due to covid and people getting sick. For them to still make a great game threw the pandemic and win GOTY. I applaud them ❤🎉

[@Trench-coat]

Yeah the game is still really fantastic!

[@d3adchannel]

Who's gonna tell him chat lmao blud they def did not win game of the year...

[@kendrickknight23]

@@d3adchannel they still won many awards that night regardless lol you juss a hater 😂

[@absin8078]

@@kendrickknight23I see no hate he’s simply just correcting you. Elden ring won goty

[@kendrickknight23]

@@absin8078 GOTY really wasn't my point tho. I was simply giving them credit for making a great game during one of the worst times in history. He overlooked all that just to complain it didn't win GOTY 😂 haters vibes for sure

[@justawesome3757]

I wish they had given us long and big fight in the end instead of a long boring Atreus section of Ironwood

[@Trench-coat]

Lol yeah

[@thaimperial97]

I can definitely agree with this.😂

[@lizflessert2427]

I actually liked ironwood but yeah I agree with this, it was definitely too long.

[@ck3837]

​@@lizflessert2427its a god of war game, that ironwood section had absolutely no bussiness being in a god of war game. But thats what a sweet baby inc collab gets you.

[@michaelgr8184]

it is still essential tho. Imo it would be better if we saw all the armies together instead of just kratos fighting by himself.

[@kill3rbyysight]

the last fight was surely rushed

[@Trench-coat]

Definitely

[@johnpantag472]

Was it yes. But i have never played a game with a better conclusion. Just imagine what they would've done without covid.

[@stevenlk]

Yeah the Odin fight is pretty rushed. I wished it to feel more grand.

[@Trench-coat]

@@stevenlk totally!

[@kill3rbyysight]

@@johnpantag472 story wise it was good..

[@islandboys7578]

That ending for me felt so rushed, like that conclusion didn’t feel property built up. But one thing that I can’t stop thinking about is how Atreus saves Kratos by pushing him out the way of the blast and and Atreus somehow not hurt. Even when walking up that mountain everyone talks to him like he’s some ghost. Then after a chat with his dad, he just dips? Just like that, you just walk out, no nothing? And Kratos being a worried father the whole game is like, “sure you can dip lil bro”

[@Trench-coat]

THANK YOU! Someone else understands my gripe with this… I spoke to so many friends and I was the only one that couldn’t agree with that… it didn’t make sense!!! 🤣

[@islandboys7578]

@@Trench-coatThis is the part I hated more than anything honestly, I can forgive a lot but after my second play through I realise , Atreus was literally caught in the blast. I was looking at it for literally the second time then suddenly when we wakes up, he’s walking all slow and he’s talking to everyone like he died in the battle and sharing his last words, it felt weird and ominous like I probably missed something. Then when he’s done speaking to Kratos and just climbs that hill, im like tf? Bro you literally dipping like that, no preparations nothing, just climb the hill and you offf?? You know what would’ve been a great time for him to leave, just after Broks, funeral. That would’ve been a great time.

[@finngodness]

idk about the blast but the reason he talks to everyone is simply to check on them. or at least that's what i took it as. also one of the core themes of the game is letting your son become their own person. independance. that's what "loki" is. that's what the line "loki will go, atreus remains" means. so at the end kratos trusts atreus. He realizes he can't just push himself onto him as he has done at every other part.

[@Cosmicborne]

I agree almost pinpoint with you here, but I think the new shields was one of the best additions to the combat. Perhaps it's just my parry-focused playstyle, but the new shields added a lot more fun and variety to the combat for me and rewarded me for parrying - Although, I do think they could have just had Brok instantly fix your old shield so you weren't forced to pick an unfamiliar one. They are magic dwarves, surely they are capable of fixing the shield faster than they do currently. My biggest gripe with Ragnarok's combat is the completely unnecessary removal of the bare fists skill tree and the Spartan Rage skill tree. Just feels so weird to remove something that was fully functional from the last game, and something I used a lot. I blame the new shields for this.

[@Trench-coat]

Oh that’s a fantastic point… now I am upset for a whole different reason lol 😂 thanks for the comment!

[@ArnoldJudasRimmer..]

Even worse because it is satisfying af to beat the whole game without using a single weapon lol

[@benflowerdew3474]

I really wish the Ragnorok section was better. I thought we were going to get a Lord of the Rings style battle with all the realms attacking Asgard. That’s where I think it could have been good as a PS5 exclusive, I think they could have pulled that off on a modern system but due to PS4 limitations they decided not too

[@mrlionsfan1135]

I beat it when it came out. My first impression was that it wasn't as good as 2018. I'm glad others seem to agree. Im simple. And for me it just felt like GOWR was trying to do too much. They had a lot of great ideas and none that were fully explored. GOW2018 was an Adventure game. A game that always makes me think of my dad and our rocky relationship over the years. I do like GOWR a lot and i do play it a lot. But narratively speaking it's a clear downgrade.

[@Trench-coat]

Agreed!!

[@SilverThroned]

I thought this game was so much better

[@bensfons]

Just completed it on pc playing back-to-back after God of War 2018. One of the best gaming experiences I've ever had. Right up there with Ghost of Tsushima and Red Dead Redemption 2.

[@gondalasatvarsh5892]

Didn't see the video yet, but I wanted to say that your thumbnail is amazing! It drew me to this instantly!

[@Trench-coat]

Thank you!

[@pokityrannus5471]

I personally actually really enjoyed playing as Atreus. While the scope of his arsenal was far exceeded by Kratos and he still is definitely the better out of the two to play, I found myself really invested in the Atreus segments to see how he would further develop and where his rebellious tendencies would lead him next. The scenarios you found yourself in as him were simply ones that wouldn’t exist in Kratos’ presence. As for the gameplay, while the Bow itself wasn’t anything too special, I did enjoy getting to actually use a ranged weapon for once (before I got to the point with the Spear) and it gave his fights whole new vibe. You weren’t this absolute unit who could mow down anything you threw at him, this is some shimpy ass kid who can only use his magic arrows or briefly turn into a wolf, and you still have to deal with the same hordes of enemies as you would with Kratos (to a lesser degree ofc). His spells also spiced things up pretty well. Overall, I think I was equally invested between the two, but I understand why some may not feel the same way. I suppose I simply don’t mind the slower pace of these segments as much as others did.

[@Trench-coat]

Think you explained why you enjoyed it personally quite well! Glad you had a good time with those sections.

[@FastrThanYou77]

It's a masterpiece. The things you complain about really aren't an issue. I liked the shields. I used the one you can charge up. Pretty cool. Story was great. Never felt rushed or bloated.

[@Filipe17-17]

It wasn’t as good as 2018. The atreus really kills it for me. Ironwood and iverall was so awful.

[@Jlopezocasio]

What are you talking about with the UI? The numbers you zoom in and focus on are in both UIs. The only difference is that Ragnarok places them closer to the menu that you navigate rather than having them on the opposite side of the screen.

[@Trench-coat]

My point is that they changed things unnecessarily often making them worse than better.

[@Jlopezocasio]

@@Trench-coat But it’s not worse. The numbers were already there in the first game and now that I could realize how much my gear impacted them I ended up trying to make specific builds instead of just trying to find whatever armor the side quests referred to as stronger like the legendary dwarven armor. Also the shields are a matter of preference as my favorite was the first thin and pointy one because it did a lot of stun damage.

[@chopsuey004]

@@JlopezocasioI don’t think GoW 2018’s UI looked great, but ragnarok’s looks clumsy, and claustrophobic. 2018’s actually looks pretty clean in comparison in my opinion.

[@Jlopezocasio]

@@chopsuey004 I understand that a menu like Ragnarok’s might make some feel claustrophobic but what about it seems clumsy? That doesn’t seem like a fitting word to describe a menu. I’m also not arguing that Ragnarok’s is better just not worse especially to be referred to as a low point along with Atreus’ sections. If you have gripes about it go right ahead but make sense while doing so and don’t blow it out of proportion because Atreus’ sections suck balls and all the problems those sections have will make anything you have to say about this menu sound like nitpicking.

[@chopsuey004]

@@Jlopezocasio​​⁠I’ve never really thought about it too much till your comment. I think clumsy as in the placement of all the icons and shapes. I don’t like it. I think there’s too much on screen. I like the text size and how it was arranged in the first game. It looked a lot neater I feel. Clumsy is and claustrophobic are what best describes how I feel about the menu. I do think it can be seen as a bit nitpicky when placed next to Atreus’ sections in “The downfalls” part, but I am glad it was mentioned as I had a similar gripe with the UI. If you think ragnarok’s is better, more power to you.

[@krm5354]

The big difference between GOW 2018 and Ragnarok is the abundance of simplicity in the new game, through Mimir’s storytelling in 2018 we were always fascinated and interested about the lore of the game, one of the biggest examples is who blew the horn? 2018 had such an incredible amount of depth. Although you never see or interact with anything related to Thor and Odin, but through storytelling you always felt their presence in the first game. The feeling of them being behind the scenes always existed. For a 100gb game over 2018’s 50Gb, I expected to be lots more to explore. I expected Nidavillir to be a big player hub full of dwarves, I expected it to feel alive and thriving. But the moment you enter the city it just remains dead. I expected Muspelheim to be the realm where we would have to make an epic journey to find Surtr, and actually explore the realm like an open world similarly to Midgard but nope they recycled it. Alfheim was a disappointment, one of the biggest theories in 2018 was how we chose the wrong side after killing the dark elf, how a war would ensue in Alfheim, none of it was explored, Alfheim is literally just a sandpit with 3 ends. I expected the rest of the small realms from the first game to atleast be like Vanaheim. Asgard was slightly disappointing, Tyr’s temple by itself is a more impressive structure than anything in Asgard which is surprising because Mimir told us plenty about how Odin has a materialistic taste in interior design. I expected something grander like a palace but Asgard ended up as a Midgard village 😂 there was such attention to detail in 2018 but alot of the storylines and plots were scrapped to squeeze in everything. Here’s another question, what the fuck happened to Sleipnir? Odin’s 8 legged horse who we saw in multiple murals? I would expect the boss fight with the king of the gods Odin to be grander and more epic instead of fighting him in a fucking basement? Couldn’t they have made us fight Odin in Valhalla while he was on his horse and actually using his legendary spear Gungnir? No, instead we fought a bootleg doctor strange who felt like a secondary boss more than anything else. Thor hitting Jormungandr so hard it threw him back in time? Oh sorry we won’t expand on it even though it sounded so fucking badass in the first game, let’s just make it happen in the background. Why the hell did they decide not to allow us to use Thor’s hammer?? They said it was expected which is why they wouldn’t do it like?? OF COURSE ITS EXPECTED BECAUSE IT WOULD BE BADASS, IF GOD OF WAR RAGNAROK WAS A MOVIE THEN KRATOS HOLDING MJOLNIR IS THE MONEY SHOT BUT NOOOO they gave us a spear that I bet is the least used weapon among all players in Ragnarok. And don’t get me started on the lame ass fucking berserker boss fights my god, the valkyries were so much more intimidating and notorious than those idiots, I don’t even remember a single Berserker’s name and I still remember most of the valkyries. Ragnarok is a good game yes, but I’ve replayed 2018 5 times and I have tried to replay Ragnarok once and lost interest after the Thor fight. My expectations were actually so high for this game, after platting it I realized how disappointing it truly was for someone who was obsessed with 2018’s lore and plot. I said to myself “that’s it?”

[@mandin3100]

I share the exact thoughts brother

[@khaledhamlil984]

i was reading your comment until i clicked on `read more`

[@mandin3100]

@@khaledhamlil984 its worth hahahaha just a few true statements

[@krm5354]

@@khaledhamlil984 thanks for the information?

[@jayhoes628]

Wholeheartedly agree brother, GOWR is a good game but I absolutely resent that there’s an obvious writing shift regarding the narrative between the two. So many setups just wasted or left unanswered.

[@FastrThanYou77]

Just finished it and it's a top 5 of ALL time. Game was absolutely fantastic.

[@alekjatuszyk4976]

to be honest, I love that the pacing is all over the place, it has moments of cool and steady gameplay, and then those epic battles. I feel like I wouldn't be able to appreciate the legendary moments without those slower ones. I felt the game was dragging only a few times, and that was just before an epic battle, or an emotional moment in the game, so it kind of sets you up for a great time. And for the gameplay/graphics itself, SO COOL. I did feel a bit overwhelmed at times, as for a regular gamer, to beat the game at give me no mercy difficulty, I had to learn/unlock a few attacks/movements, which was another challenge in itself as there are so many!

[@alekjatuszyk4976]

and for atreus gameplay, I think it is a matter of preference, as I loved jumping around the battlefield and doing headshots mid jump, made me feel cool, and atreus moments don't take up so much time, so it didn't get old for me (at some time I even liked it more, Couse it was just a simple jump and shoot character, not as complex in terms of combos/weapons, so i got a little break from that) UI was a bit all over the place, and it was mixed up a bit, but you don't spent that much time in it, so I never complained that much (accept when I changed atreus shoot mode to burst, and never got to change that again, I just lost the setting which was quite unfortunate) i just chose one shield (the first one you get i think, the quick time light parry one), and stuck to it to the end of the game, and it was fun for the story, I often don't pay that much attention to it, but in this game i did, and still never truly understood it fully (i think i am at about 80% understanding), but i didn't need to, as the main thing, is getting to know the characters, and in my opinion that was done perfectly.

[@CitrusArchitect]

Very well said! I myself did like the variety that the Atreus sections provided, and the story was gripping enough that I was engaged the whole way through, but I do agree that the first game is much more concise a package and better paced, especially because it's half as long as Ragnarok. If I ever replay one, I will probably replay the first.

[@Trench-coat]

@@CitrusArchitect Thanks for the comment! Ragnarok is still a fantastic game but the first was just on another level. Thanks for watching.

[@martinc8965]

I would say that if you want to play only the story, the 2018 version is more enjoyable, but if you are a completionist who appreciates that both the main and optional content is up to what you paid for, Ragnarok, and with this I am not saying that the secondary content of the first game is bad, but I think that the improvement in the sequel in that section is outstanding, plus it has the DLC which is free.

[@Trench-coat]

@@martinc8965 Totally agree! There is way more “game” in Ragnarök! The optional content is really fantastic.

[@johnpantag472]

L opinion really. The first one is so boring. Ragnarok made so many QoL changes 2018 feels like a downgrade in almost every way

[@spade_kyng]

ARTEUS chapters gave me PTSD😢

[@Trench-coat]

Lol 🤣

[@Stephen1873]

I understand ironwood, but why would any other chapter give you ptsd? They where good

[@ThatDwag69]

​@@Stephen1873the asgard ones were indeed

[@z7chh213]

the asgard ones were the best chapters of the game why did they give you PTSD? i agree with ironwood though

[@robertlewis7197]

@@z7chh213all of atreus’s sections were terrible.

[@ksrandom4940]

It’s weird how I still see ragnorok as the superior in all aspects apart from story

[@johnpantag472]

Its not weird its the right opinion. Ragnarok has better story. 2018 felt disconected from the norse mythology. So many characters you hear about but never see. 2018s story is actually pathetic in comparison. The final act is literally about baldur having mommy issues.

[@ksrandom4940]

@@johnpantag472 I mean I wouldn’t say pathetic but I do agree how disconnected it felt from Norse mythology. I think where it shines is the development kratos and Atreus have throughout the story and you watch him learn to open up to his son and embrace him which was the main focus I enjoyed that. Ragnorok story is still great and kratos taking a back seat was intentional they want to phase him out so Atreus can be the main man of the franchise

[@Trench-coat]

It’s not a wrong opinion! It’s basically the story that’s really the only inferior thing…

[@BFG-hv2ml]

@@johnpantag472 alright, you might be right about the disconnection (it gave the game a great feel of mysticism imo tho) but the writing is ten times better in 2018. Almost every line is memorable while ragnarok feels long, and the journey feels empty and boring.

[@d0nk3y454]

@@johnpantag472 going by your logic god of war 2 + 3 is just kratos having daddy issues

[@tonson5214]

idk how you're getting so many people who disagree about the shields. Like, they nerfed the melee combat severely and straight up put most of the regular melee moves from 2018 then seperated and limited them to only certain gear. I miss dash punch cancelling for movement.

[@Trench-coat]

Everyone is welcome to their opinion, mine is just that the shield are worse haha

[@michaelsuezo]

Great video. I love how you barely spoil the story while talking about the game in detail.

[@Trench-coat]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video! I try to mark a video when I think going into spoilers is necessary. In this case I felt it was possible to talk about it and not ruin the best moments in the game. Thanks for watching!

[@99dazemusic]

My whole issue with the game boils down to 1: Atreus sections aren't the best and 2: Atreus sections are necessary. Honestly I think i would find this game to be a 10/10 in my mind if the ironwood section was reduced to about 30 mins at most, the midgard/early part of the Asgard intro mission was cut or reduced and the cool af flying sword we get wasn't relegated to being a terrible companion character but an actual fun melee/ranged hybrid proper weapon with it's own skill tree akin to the Leviathan Axe, i'm just thinking of the different ways they could have gone with it. Put the hour or so from the Ironwood section into the end of the game instead. That's really the only upgrade he needs

[@MarceloB]

Unfortunately i still haven't replayed this game solely because of the Atreus sections

[@MukulKumar-uf7dz]

Same 😂

[@Bumblitz0]

What about the dlc

[@lalhmingmawiangente4784]

Samee

[@EyeForDetail_4]

As imperfect as Ragnarök is ....i love it. Genuinely. I SOB every time Brok meets his end. And i mean EVERY time, without fail.

[@Trench-coat]

Ugh man gets me every time.

[@tristanslambert652]

Atreus sections could be remedied by making Atreus scale along with Kratos. Those sections aren't necessarily boring, but it's also because Atreus seems to fall behind in terms of strength. Based on the developers' decision to be intentional with the ironwood section. They understood it would slow down the pace.

[@FarmlandSecurityy]

Think you hit the nail directly on the head with the Atreus story issue. I only wanted to get back to Kratos every time. The emotional moments from Kratos in this game were high enough to make me forget those issues though.

[@Trench-coat]

Yeah overall the game is still really worth playing

[@tb8766]

The Atreus part I did enjoy because you need to not focus on the gameplay but rather on the story and narrative and seeing where Atreus is going to and what his mission is. When replaying it is a bit tough because you already know the story and you just need to get past the gameplay but I’d probably rather watch the Atreus moments happen instead of playing it if I’m replaying the game

[@joshbarnett3065]

I literally took a week off from work to play this game! Watching that countdown was the best thing of my life!

[@Trench-coat]

Taking work off to play a game just hits different. Last game I did that for was spiderman 2

[@orealz]

I cannot stand ironwood. It's so boring. It honestly puts me off replaying after the 3rd time

[@Trench-coat]

Yeah such a major pacing blunder and it really hurts replays.

[@tb8766]

Replaying iron wood is definitely a bit tough but I try to think of it as a quiet part of a film where you get to enjoy the story rather than focusing on gameplay

[@huskytzu7709]

One disappointment i have regarding the story in this game is that it was never high stakes. Like i get its the telling of Kratos and Atreus personal story more than an epic fantasy like how GOW 3 was for Kratos Greek saga conclusion but it always felt kind of like they just exist. Odin was cool but kinda eh yk? the norse Gods seemed much weaker that didnt help with feeling grand as well. Faye could have played a much important role in Kratos flashbacks but she was there just to edge him. I truly wish they explored more of the cycle of violence, sons killing fathers more. Atreus becoming completely brainwashed by Odin but eventually comes to his senses. Hell i wouldnt have Odin as the main villain. Have Thor go crazy in his depression and kill Odin in a rage of fit sort of mirroring Kratos relationship with his father, Zeus. There are a lot of things that could have been done better. But it was over all a very safe entry to the series.

[@Trench-coat]

It’s definitely a more toned down version of Kratos, totally agree that everyone is a little to toned down in terms of violence and grandeur.

[@martinc8965]

if it weren't for Faye Kratos he wouldn't have understood how to change his destiny, all the advice she gave him in the past was also said taking into account the future that awaited Kratos, advice that Kratos himself begins to take into account now after 3 years of his wife's death during the WHOLE game, all to change the fate that she already knew could happen to him, which was to die at the hands of Thor, Kratos himself at the beginning of the game told Mimir that it seems that Faye is trying to tell him something during her dreams, well, that something was this. in addition, the cycle of violence is still present, just as Zeus killed kratos in the past, the same case occurs here with Odin and Thor. That cycle is not only of children killing their parents, but also the other way around. And rest assured that your idea would be labeled a typical Marvel cliché or something like that with Thor at the last minute allying with us to finish off Odin or directly kill him, the cliché of the villain redeeming himself at the last moment to do something right at the end.

[@thabangsibanda3282]

You wouldn't have Odin as the main villain?, that's like having Zeus as not the main villain in god of war 3. I think you just want things to happen without understanding the prior set pieces and the ramifications behind it. You set yourself up for disappointment ngl.

[@adoniscreed4031]

You are describing a worse story to be honest. Ragnarok's focus on destiny and trust is fucking excellent, to have Atreus just being brainwashed by Odin instead of showing that Atreus can handle himself (even though he makes mistakes) is just a shittier story. Yeah it is more of a greek tragedy like the old games but thowing that there for shock value wouldnt make it better.

[@MukulKumar-uf7dz]

I agree, there were no risks taken at all. Tyr being odin? Like cmon, it was honestly just disappointing. Odin didn't even feel like a real villain. The game had no reason to go after.

[@soldierofgod7412]

Veteran GOW player here, even tho I played this on PS4, this game was so beautiful and deserved to be wayy longer. Third act felt rushed.

[@Trench-coat]

I totally agree! The storytelling and visuals were stunning, and it would have been great to explore more of that world. The pacing in the third act definitely caught me off guard.

[@bestgamerz8093]

Seriously, I hated the atreus sections so bad that I downloaded safe files from nexus mods and only played the kratos' sections.

[@Trench-coat]

lol that's actually a great idea

[@vynxibedd]

holy shit 😭🙏

[@Empathetik]

The Ironwood section was a real slog to get through.

[@iggswanna1248]

thats what she said

[@fwsancho]

Gowr vs elden ring at the game awards was iconic

[@PancakesYummyyy]

earlier this year i started to replay the game on ng+ and i was absolutely dreading the Atreus parts ESPECIALLY ironwood

[@Dad-bodgaming]

The atreaus segments are what brought the experience down for me as well. I spent the whole time wanting to get back to the combat experience of kratos rather than atreus

[@Michael-ok2ij]

Can't speak for everyone but for me if they: cut down Ironwood section by at least half, cut down on the Atreus/Freya dialogue "helping" the player every 5 seconds and made the Asgard final battle a bit grander in scope and you have imo an undoubted masterpiece for the ages

[@j.felipe1823]

Ragnarok in terms of variety of enemies it’s better and I like it .

[@Trench-coat]

@@j.felipe1823 totally

[@NamesSimba]

The two Norse games are easily some of my favorite games ever. I hope we get another entry in this series in the near future, it was like playing through two masterclass movies!

[@Trench-coat]

Hoping we get a third!

[@InsaneSalmon]

@@Trench-coatWe do have Valhalla. Which is practically a game instead of a DLC. And Valhalla made Ragnarok from a 9.5/10 to a 10.5/10.

[@beetuscool]

The enemies are all so spongy, it's like attacking and taking 1% of their health with each hit. Also they should've increased the effectiveness of spartan rage's fury, it's does way less damage. However I like how you can use valor to heal, that was a really welcome change to the game for me. I just finished the main story without doing every side quests or starting ng+. But let's see what Valhalla mode and Ng+ provides.

[@beetuscool]

Also Sif is a 10/10 baddie

[@Trench-coat]

Side content in Ragnarok is great definitely worth checking out!

[@pacadile2025]

​@@beetuscool ong

[@pn5846]

Absolutely amazing video brother❤

[@Trench-coat]

Appreciate it bro!

[@nector3942]

i believe that the different shields are a good addition because they reward certain play styles. but they should have given us the 2018 shield sooner

[@followerofgms8294]

I don’t ever wanna play as atreus again

[@Trench-coat]

lol

[@pumpkinbricks1609]

in terms of gameplay ragnarok actually felt perfect. i 100% ed the game and combat wasnt boring even once. it was perfect to every detail always giving you more and more to do in the end

[@pumpkinbricks1609]

i stand corrected. the only time i thought it was annoying was while completing the ratatasks. felt a little pointless doing thesame move 300 times for 250 xp

[@shadowzay7795]

When it came to the shield, I felt like it was less of an unnecessary change and more of an attempt at variety. I found myself using the dauntless shield (smaller one) over the original. I tested each shield out and I can say with confidence they completely shifted my play style. This became even more apparent when I entered the DLC and switched around the weapons, and equipped items for the bonuses.

[@MukulKumar-uf7dz]

I 100% agree with you. The story having no direct narrative and the pacing being all over the place ruined it for me. After so much hype and lore we got from 2018 I was expecting a masterpiece of story telling, especially from Cory. All the theories about Tyr and the giants and we literally got nothing. Except two hours in ironwood and half an hour of ragnarok. You fight Thor in front of a lodg for the final battle, like come one. PS3 GOW3 boss battles do numbers on PS5 boss battles. Even with Odin, he is the allfather but it didn't feel grand scale at all. It didn't feel god of war esc. I can't even replay this game bcus of the shit story.

[@v.k.levigne]

Right on. I wish this had been three games so much I'm still strongly considering making a channel just to address it, but you've hit most of the points that bug me personally. I honestly like the Dauntless shield, and it's nice to have options, but I basically only use the Dauntless. Maybe the different shields could have been optional shield relics? Should have gotten to use the hammer. There are nice things about the spear, but we should have gotten to use the hammer. I digress for now, great vid 🍻

[@MissionNewLegend]

Playing as Atreus was fun and refreshing considering u core fans came from the original games always playing as Kratos and added to the complexity of understanding Atreus character development thus adding to the story imo he was actually fun to play not as much as kratos but just enough to me to change the pace in a refreshing way

[@edgarvala5929]

I am actually a big fan of the shields

[@johnpantag472]

He is using the stone shield his opinion aint valid anyway.

[@Trench-coat]

lol someone is way to invested in the shield conversation...

[@jodlaa5142]

@@Trench-coat *too, also nobody is forcing you to use any of the new shields, it's just an addition for people who wanna try new playstyles, it shouldn't be a negative in any case

[@stevenlk]

I loved playing as Atreus sometimes even more than as Kratos. To me who plays FPS most of the time, bow based combat is amazing and more engaging. Plus it’s fantastic to see the warrior Atreus turns out to be after the first game 😮

[@Trench-coat]

@@stevenlk glad you enjoyed it!

[@wicusburger3352]

Dude. Great presentation. I didn't agree here & there but really enjoyed the way your presented. I am a fan. Sending love, from a fellow Saffer

[@Trench-coat]

Fellow Saffa lekker bro! Thank so much. Yeah gaming is all subjective so it’s always just my personal opinion and your opinion may differ - which makes for great discussions! Thanks for watching.

[@sumedhapande1075]

yuss dude the ateus problem was for mee too and what u said was spot on what i was thinking abt story pacing really good vid keep it up

[@themurpdog0261]

7:22 another thing about the draupnir spear, it is the ONLY weapon that has ever been make fire Kratos. Blades? Forged in Tartarus. Leviathan axe? Made for Faye. This is the first weapon truly for Kratos

[@InsaneSalmon]

Also Nemesis Whip.

[@oldman5247]

Yes and No is the only accurate answer I can give. Without going into excessive detail on why. Yes and No is the only answer I can give. Concerning whether or not the game lived up to the hype it had.

[@CheesyBlizzie]

Just bought a PS5 and this is the first game I bought and will play. I played the first God of war in 2018 I know this one will be a great experience too

[@Trench-coat]

You are in for a big treat! Congrats on the PS5 man.

[@ybarr]

I complained about the atreus parts too, i wish they forced some sort of scene where he got hit some amnesia spell but momentarily has to regain his abilities. That way you can gain a bigger arsenal early on to make his gameplay cool for the remainder of the game

[@marcroland2261]

I feel like the pacing took a huge hit due to Covid. This really should’ve been a 3 game series. Still enjoy it

[@RockManX1995]

I just got through the game's main storyline recently, and I actually loved the game for all the reasons you state and, while I know I will definitely be in the minority on this, I actually disagree with your take on how Atreus' gameplay felt. I really liked it. Ironwood was pretty unnecessarily long, but there were actually times during the campaign that I wished I could switch back to Atreus for a battle or two. His combat mechanics fit perfectly into my playstyle.

[@Trench-coat]

@@RockManX1995 That is awesome to hear! That’s what makes gaming so great. Everyone can have a different experience with a game. Thanks for sharing!

[@keenza73]

The fact you only have like 800 subs is CRIMINAL!

[@Trench-coat]

I appreciate that, thank you!

[@Nikolai-petrović]

Good vid bro, keep going

[@Trench-coat]

Appreciate it bro!

[@NyengoM]

Have to disagree as far as the shields go. I think they were one of the best additions because they add so much variety and options with your playstyles

[@randall5656]

The black Wukong game blows this game out of the water. It’s not ever close. Black wukong is literally a perfect game.

[@JustinHadlach]

God of War Ragnarök is perfect to me, it is better to me than RDR2 and i thougt no game would ever be better than it. Let me tell you my side of the Story. When GOW3 released i saw it everywhere on social media, and in Newsletters. Every Shop where you can bought Technical stuff also had the Game somewhere, so i decided to buy it for 90 € and i didn't wanted to be disapointed. I played it on my PS4 but after i met Tyr in his Prison i stopped playing and deleted it. In Summer of 2023 tho, i bought a PS 5 just for the upcoming Spiderman Game. So i thougt, why don't give GOWR a final chance. Long story short, i grinded for the Platinum. The story, the graphic, the Mindset of Kratos and the Bosses were just Chefs Kiss! I grinded the Platinum and let it rest, then again... I remembered this Year in August that i didn't bought the PS 5 Version for this Game and i put another 10 € in the Game for the PS 5 Edition, just to Platinum it all over again and Grinded the Valhalla DLC. Overall, this Game has to be perfect for me just to 100% it two times and get teary eyes in deep scenes.

[@xx-fu5ion-god-xx953]

The game is great but after playing NG+ I just wish to skip the Atreus missions cause it honestly kills the game.

[@Trench-coat]

If they added the option to skip it… my opinion on the game would drastically change haha

[@ku6665]

"All I've ever wanted to do when I was playing as Atreus was get back to play as Kratos" TRUE WORDS HAVE NEVER BEEN SPOKEN

[@Trench-coat]

lol thanks man

[@Pucciii882]

the only gripe i have with ragnorok is that the story moved pretty fast like i was expecting this to be part 1 of ragnorok and finish in the next game but it just went by and then you beat everyone and finish the story it left much to think about

[@Trench-coat]

Yeah the final part of the game moves so fast it’s crazy!

[@ArchangeVie]

The simplest way they could’ve made Atreus’s parts more fun is making him actually use the sword as a melee weapon constantly with the bow as the ranged lol I really don’t get why they didn’t do that especially as he’s basically fighting like freya who does uses swords in melee

[@_Robin2004]

Wow, i totally agree with you on every single aspect! I‘ve always wondered why all the big review channels never talked about these massive flaws of the game. Your critique is just spot on! While God of War 2018 was a clear 10/10 for me, Ragnarök was about an 8/10.

[@Trench-coat]

@@_Robin2004 Thank you much! I really appreciate that.

[@JAczyDude]

Still a great game but with flaws, sadly... I just that they learn from those mistakes

[@UnendingF]

13:34 I don’t think the Ui is terrible but definitely complicated and hard to learn took me a very long time to get used to (which low key makes it bad lol) But i liked one of the shields that charge with parrying hits

[@Trench-coat]

Not all the shields were terrible maybe I was a bit too dramatic lol

[@shoff29]

My only issues with the Atreus sections were that I wish we spent more time in Asgard, because it felt so different there. And there were characters I wanted him to spend more time with. but we only had access to like 3 rooms, and were sent away on missions. So I would've let us spend more time getting engrained in that world. The other thing, is i would have made the Ironwood sections more on rails. I don't mind the length because i LOVED all the lore we were getting and the character of Angraboda was wonderful. But i would've preferred if she controlled the animals we rode, and we could just sit back and watch during those sections. I think it would've felt smoother and faster if it was more on rails, and we took over control much less. Funnily enough, I don't know if his combat is meant to be easier, but i sure felt like i was a much better fighter while i was playing as Atreus as well. I can't put my finger on it, but i felt so much more efficient with him and took less hits. I am shocked to hear that this game was originally going to be 2 games but were combined. I was honestly very impressed with the pacing, as, when i got about 7 hours in, i was worried i was nearing the end of the game, and was delighted to find i wasn't even 1/3 of the way through. I think my biggest gripes overall.... I really love that we go with Freya to break her curse, and recover her marriage items... i found everything involving her brother to be kind of a drag... and i think it's mostly down to his character. i found him to be annoying and unlikable in this story. I like the rest of his gang, but he missed for me. I would've greatly shortened how much time we spent in his realm. i particularly hated the entire time we spent in the north section of Vanaheim. I was so tired of this realm by the end of the game, i ended up skipping quite a few side quests so i could finish the main story because it just felt like too much. Speaking of.... while i admit the side quests are FAR better in this game than in the first game... i still think there are too many. i wish they would've dropped half of them at least... keep the important character side quests, but get rid of the ones where you need to collect toy pieces, or find this treasure for the father and son... They don't have any payoff, and just make my quest journal feel bloated. Along the same lines, i felt like there was far too much loot in this game... I would've preferred a more straightforward system without so much choice. i like upgrading things, but there are so many items, i wish i didn't have to sift through. Overall, i still think it's one of my favorite games I've ever played, even though i have some gripes. I am very excited to see where it goes, and there are so many characters i want to spend more time with, both with Kratos and Atreus.

[@Trench-coat]

I totally agree with your point on spending more time on Asgard, I love the lore and wanted to know more but it felt so limited. Do you enjoy Atreus's combat enough for it to be it's own game?

[@shoff29]

@@Trench-coat his combat, yes. Especially if he got a sword or something. But as a character I don’t think I’d want him to lead a whole game the same size as this one. Maybe a shorter one. Like 10 hours. But I don’t think he has the character strength to lead a whole game like that.

[@gmodgh]

Your intro is awesome!

[@Trench-coat]

Thank you!!!

[@dannymerfeld7711]

The Atreus segments didn't bother me on the first go around, but subsequent playthroughs drag because I know the story. Except for Ironwood. Ironwood can take a long spacewalk out of a short airlock.

[@Trench-coat]

Lol 🤣

[@romanlewis2926]

vahalla makes the game one of my favourites of all time

[@Trench-coat]

@@romanlewis2926 awesome!!!

[@twistap1070]

I would of loved a miles Morales type game just in between 2018 to Ragnarok i think that even a 5 hour game wouldve done wonders for the pacing

[@rz7909]

If any of you haven’t play or finished the game yet don’t bother, this is a video for the people that finished it, there is an ungodly amount of visual spoilers plus other stuff

[@jamieduarte518]

Interesting! I thought that the new UI and the shields are great

[@PatienceMakesPerfect]

13:40 “this is not an rpg” What do you think it is then 💀 You are so right about the shield tho

[@brandonbolanos9847]

i think i’m the only one who thinks ragnarok is a lot better than 2018. my biggest gripe with 2018 was the lack of boss variety, i got so sick of fighting trolls the whole time. vanaheim by itself has more variety than almost all of 2018. i think the stories are both 10/10’s, just different in direction, but i think ragnarok’s story is the perfect conclusion to kratos and atreus’ development from 2018 and their issues with each other. however, i definitely agree about the change of pace with atreus’ missions, but apart from ironwood, they aren’t too long. i loved the parry shield bc of my playstyle so im glad they added more. you also compared 2018’s pause ui to ragnarok’s blacksmith ui, which i don’t think is very valid bc both pause uis and blacksmith uis are very similar in each game.

[@Trench-coat]

@@brandonbolanos9847 I totally agree that gameplay wise, Ragnarok is far superior! That’s the best part of gaming… having different opinions and sharing them. Thanks for sharing and watching!

[@GodKillerKRAT0S]

Playing as atreus once or twice would've been fine. But some of his missions take so long, and there's like 6 different times you have to play as him. Also RIP agile strike

[@dillonqaphsiel7977]

You are trippin about the ui

[@Trench-coat]

Lol maybe I was in a bad mood when I wrote the script 😝

[@gravedigger4583]

My favourite game. I even enjoy the Atreus sections, they're pretty chill and relaxing. I enjoyed the gameplay changes, safe from some moves (backstep attack of BoC, or Ice Rake). Overall, the hype lived up for me. 10/10 in my opinion

[@Trench-coat]

Awesome! Glad you loved it

[@adamsin9260]

Great review, agreed with most points 👍🏼

[@Trench-coat]

Thanks so much!

[@andrewebb3283]

The Atreus playthrough was brutal............ BRUTAL!

[@androidsmart6015]

It's very true, I agree with you that the experience of playing with Atreus is very bad, it makes me feel bored when he takes his turn. Regarding the user interface, it is also somewhat bad, as it takes you time to arrange your best equipment, supplies and weapons, and I do not know what is the purpose of the supplies that raise the level of strength and at the same time reduce a lot of the rest, if you calculate it accurately, the result will appear as it is or a little lower. As for the story, it was somewhat longer..

[@Trench-coat]

Thanks for watching!

[@gravedigger4583]

I wanna speak my mind a little bit more than in my previous comment. Overall, great video! Really enjoyed it; well written, good editing, great job! I do agree with how the games looks. It is beautiful. One of the few games where I actually pull up the photo mode and keep making photos, because the Draupnir flows so beautifully, the Chains on the Blades look menacing, the Leviathan even looks like raw strength... Yeah. Bonkers. I do disagree on the pacing, though I very much understand your point. For me the pacing was perfect, there were rises and falls, action mixed with character drama, and then moments of peace and gameplay... For me, the big flaw in pacing was the end battle. I wish it was longer, and grander. That's really my biggest complaint. As for Atreus sections... I don't know. I have mixed feelings. On one hand, I do see your point and kind of agree, but on the other hand, I still have fun playing as Atreus. Kratos' sections are large enough, plus you now have Valhalla, and Atreus really feels like a cool addition. I don't mind Ironwood, because it's there for story reasons, and it's there to get to know Atreus. I don't mind it. I'm not saying he's better than Kratos or that he's as good to play as his father, but he is pretty cool nontheless. I enjoyed how he interacted with the world differently than Kratos, and with that being said... I have my full trust in SMS if Atreus is to be the next star of the God of [something[. Kratos' story is concluded in the Valhalla DLC beautifully. I had tears when he realized he was "More than that.". Such a masterful way to send off his character, and to this very day when I replay these games (rather frequently), I'm in awe of this duology. As I said, it is my favourite game of all time. I feel like Kratos got a perfect ending to his character, and I wish only the best for SMS on their next God of... And if it turns out Atreus is the main character, I've no problem with that, because I trust them.

[@devilish2345]

playing as atreus was a bit less fun obviously however it's not terrible,and it makes playing as kratos far more appreciated

[@devilish2345]

it still looks phenomenal on the ps4 pro,i still just get stuck saying "this game is gorgeous" to my self often it just looks stellar and my neighbor has it on the 5 it looks amazing on the 5 of course but going back to the pro it's not like im like ahh this looks like crap now,no not in the slightest just beautiful chefs kiss 👌

[@Trench-coat]

Awesome! Glad to hear it still looks great on the PS4 pro.

[@ryana.g.p.7760]

Fantastic video. To the point with your gripes and praises, avoiding the usual bloated vacuous content of prominent video essays.

[@Trench-coat]

Thank you! When I see a 1hr and 20min video essay, I just know this person is wasting my time. Thats why I started this channel - I want video essays that gives you what you came for in 20mins or less!

[@sandorclegane3658]

I just finished it again. I forgot how long the game is. It's left me wanting more god of war. Now playing gow 3 remaster, and thinking about doing a gowr new game plus.

[@Trench-coat]

Enjoy!

[@ManlyMartian]

i definitely felt the same for Atreus. cool the first time then after i wanted to go back to Kratos

[@necrago]

I don't even know why some people bother with a "no spoilers" tag if they don't follow it, especially for a video you wouldn't look at if you did care. Edit: Also, if you play with the Stone Wall Shield, you really don't get the right to complain about shields, cause you literally chose the one for players without good reaction times, the one without the features of the classic shield, over the virtually identical Dauntless Shield. And the menus can be more tricky to navigate, but they literally are displaying the same stat types from 2018... And there are other, more grave issues with the story (at least if you cared enough about the one in 2018) than those mentioned, though it would require a more in-depth analysis.

[@Trench-coat]

I haven’t spoiled anything that hasn’t been revealed in the latest trailers.

[@necrago]

@@Trench-coat Fair enough. I haven't watched the latest trailers, since I played it when it originally came out. I guess it would be "no spoilers*", with an asterisk, then.

[@TazmanianForce]

I think the game is 10/10, enjoyed the Ironwood sections, even though they did break the pacing a bit my investment in the characters/story never faltered. What i love about the new style is the GoW games is that they know how to build up the stakes and the looming inevitable threat in the end. The whole game I kept saying to myself “BRO HOW IS THIS SH*T GOING TO END😱?!” The game has flaws but doesn’t everything? It’s definitely better than the first one which was still a 9.5/10 for me 😂.

[@patrickpeyton7433]

I felt the same way about the Atreus sections

[@zaster154]

I don’t usually comment on videos, but this one’s an exception since you’re a smaller creator, and I think feedback could be helpful. Hope you don’t take this the wrong way because I actually found the video really fun to watch and want to encourage you to keep making more content like this! That said, I have a few thoughts: First off, you talk about the game like you’re trying not to spoil it for the viewers-saying things like, “I won’t give too much away”-but the video is essentially a retrospective packed with spoilers. This makes no sense. Some of your critiques were solid, but others left me scratching my head: - UI: I didn’t like the UI either, but mainly because it feels like a design we’ve seen in tons of other games. Meanwhile, you criticize the information the UI provides, but then go on to praise the UI in GOW 2018-which delivers the exact same information? - Shields: I’m confused about your dislike for the shields in GOW:R. They add variety and improve the gameplay loop compared to the first game. Plus, you can still use the same shield mechanics from the first game if you prefer. Simply saying the shields in the first game were better doesn’t really explain your point, especially when the sequel offers more depth. I also feel like you could’ve gone deeper with your story critique. Sure, the game has pacing issues-that’s fair and widely acknowledged-but what about the actual story? Were there storybeats you didn’t like besides seperating Kratos and Atreus? What about Freya's reconsiliation with Kratos? The death of Brok and that story with Sindri? Did the story feel overly complex/bloated compared to the first game? And how about the side quests-did they feel like an improvement over GOW 2018? By the end of the video, I was left wondering about your thoughts on all these aspects. Instead you kept in line with the same tired critique of Atreus sections being long... Anyway, just some constructive feedback to think about. Looking forward to seeing more from you!

[@Trench-coat]

@@zaster154 Thanks for the feedback! I definitely appreciate it.