God of War Ragnarok

[MansizeRooster]

The 

Spoiler

Nidhogg boss fight

 

Is some proper cracking stuff. Got some real old-school PS2 God of War vibes from it.

[Alan Stock]

Got to the next big area tonight and wow, it's beautiful. Definitely continuing to flex those graphical chops which were missing a bit in the beginning. Also I turned on the R3 to show critical path thing, thanks for the tip. Enemies are getting harder but my skill is improving to match. I think the combat feels better in this game than the last, and there's a bit more to it. Once you get over the complexity like Chrichstand says it is pretty damned good.

[stir fry]

Some of the side bosses in this game really are a test on how you've been paying attention to the game mechanics so far, and your ability to implement them. They aren't particularly difficult, they are very RPS focused, but a mistake on no mercy mode will leave you gasping for air. It's got a great flow, frustrating but rewarding. By the end I think I'll prefer this one's combat to 2018. One in a library really stood out (big spoilers, maybe 18-20 hours in). 

 

Spoiler

 

 

The flow of the narrative isn't quite as good for me tho. The story as it happens is good, but it feels a bit choppy. Maybe it's a rose tinted memory but I feel like the flow of narrative and its integration via world exploration and RPG-action gameplay was handled really smartly in 2018. I distinctly remember only beginning to lose interest at the hour 28 mark in Tyr's temple at the end, cause it was kinda returning to the same well at that point.

 

In any event it's not boring, and even if imo it's a weaker entry to 2018 it's still pretty high quality and very generous, with lots of new enemy types being introduced the whole time. This game's versions of the Muspelheim trials will be something

[Capwn]

33 hours in, can finally see light at the end of the tunnel (without doing hardly any side quests) The combat is pretty relentless now, after dying multiple times I’ll eventually barely make it and have to take a moment and breathe. Super satisfying (and frustrating!) at times. 

 

Something I kinda wished I understood earlier (after a friend pointed it out) are the runic attacks, you don’t get heavy ones for quite a while but you should absolutely learn how to use these. It’s the same for axe/blade;

 

hold L1 and then hit R1 for light and R2 for heavy. They are charged attacks that take around a minute or so to charge up again. What’s great is that you can switch from axe/blades and do the same whilst you wait for the other weapons to charge. It’s all in the lower left, once you see it and start consciously using these it’s a game changer.

 

sorry if it’s super obvious but yeah I was getting distracted with all the other moves and stuff.
 

 

[CrichStand]

Well I’ve only gone and ended up playing all night! 😂 Had an amazing session with it, some really fun battles. Graphics are stunning in places, especially the lighting. Music does a great job of setting the mood/atmosphere too. Very cinematic.

 

I’ve too only just started using the Runic Attacks 18hrs in. Totally forgot about them. Also not been using L1 + O which powers up certain stuff for a set period of time. Another thing to remember is to read the Bestiary as it has info on enemies weak points and strategies to take them out. There’s one particular enemy type I was fighting hand to hand but, if you headshot them by throwing the axe, it gives you an instant finisher. Doh! Have turned off auto-aim. It’s miles better without it on.
 

Also, watch out for YouTube. I took a break to have a Pizza and was watching some random YouTube Vid, when one popped up with a description spoiling the story and a Thumbnail showing you the biggest scene in the game. 

[Gambit]

Loving the combat in this. It's nice that it alerts you about attacks coming from off screen, which is the complete opposite of the frustration I found with Bayonetta 3.

[Hexx]

5 hours ago, Capwn said:

33 hours in, can finally see light at the end of the tunnel (without doing hardly any side quests) The combat is pretty relentless now, after dying multiple times I’ll eventually barely make it and have to take a moment and breathe. Super satisfying (and frustrating!) at times. 

 

Something I kinda wished I understood earlier (after a friend pointed it out) are the runic attacks, you don’t get heavy ones for quite a while but you should absolutely learn how to use these. It’s the same for axe/blade;

 

hold L2 and then hit R1 for light and R2 for heavy. They are charged attacks that take around a minute or so to charge up again. What’s great is that you can switch from axe/blades and do the same whilst you wait for the other weapons to charge. It’s all in the lower left, once you see it and start consciously using these it’s a game changer.

 

sorry if it’s super obvious but yeah I was getting distracted with all the other moves and stuff.
 

 

 

BTW since you don't mention the 

 

Spoiler

Third Weapon

 

I think you might be someway from the end!

[df0]

Finished this yesterday around midnight. Cracking game, I'll echo what has been said before by others: it's more of the same everything. Now to gather the remaining collectibles.

[Hexx]

Finished it overnight. 

I don't think the last hour or so what particularly amazing gameplay wise - the combat system is not meant for that many participants - but narratively it pretty much lands all it's punches.

 

"Watch out brother, you're covered in Bifrost" got very annoying later on

 

Oddly the game seems to be expect you to be level 6ish on Normal difficulty  - there's clearly a lot of endgame bosses/encounters given you can go up to 9 (and some of them I've stumbled across you need to be high)

 

Spoiler

I was kinda right about Tyr....didn't see the exact nature coming though.

 

[Capwn]

2 hours ago, Hexx said:

 

BTW since you don't mention the 

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Third Weapon

 

I think you might be someway from the end!

Oh I have it, just didn’t want to spoil it for others

[earlymodernsteve]

Loved the first few hours of this - had to step away whilst reviewing something else - but had to switch x and o around as could not adapt to dodging with x. Combat works so much better now. Makes more sense to me for x to be interact too. 

 

Oh, and switching on auto pick-up is a a great QoL improvement too, just wish it skipped the animation for it as well.

[Stanley]

I’m really into this now, it’s a proper adventure. It even has a 

Spoiler

Log flume! 

(Very mild location spoiler) 

[Pob]

On 12/11/2022 at 22:08, Zombait said:

I know I'm probably in the wrong here but I'm finding the game a boresome trudge, the combat isn't gelling with me this time; it feels complicated and cumbersome. Surrounds you with enemies and quick turn is L1+Dpad Down? 😄  

You can change this to down on left stick down + L3 (so kind of like a reverse sprint command). This is how I had it in GOW 2018 and it feels much more natural, though I'm not sure how much I used it.

[MansizeRooster]

Jesus Christ, I've gone this whole time gaslighting myself thinking that there must not be a quick turn, but kind of remembering it from GoW2018!

 

I've been trying to do the circle button + down, resi-style to quick turn!

[Masterbeef]

16 hours ago, CrichStand said:

There’s a fair bit of stuff in this that I find  puzzling. For example, there are so many amazing little details and fantastic touches such as Atreus’ hair blowing in the wind yet, Atreus’ running animation is laughably bad. Looks like he’s had some kind of terrible underpants malfunction. 

Been busy as fuck all weekend so, only just got chance to play. All I’ve been thinking about is getting back in and continuing the adventure. Sat with a massive coffee and a bumper bar of Old Jamaica, taking my time and savouring every last minute. This is a sign that the game’s a bit good. Last time I did this was with BOTW and maybe Returnal which speaks volumes. 
 

Absolutely loving it! I’m playing on hard and finding the combat to be brilliant. Dodging, parrying, various attacks, move sets and skills are all great and it’s action packed as all fuck. One thing I find in these kind of games, is it’s often quite easy to just end up spamming the same moves. I really like how this gives you targets for using them so that you can level them up. I’ve found that it’s led to me actually using everything at my disposal and made the combat even more fun. Still dying a fair bit on encounters now and then, which is great for me, as I get a lot of satisfaction from beating a good challenge. In fact that’s a huge part of what I’ve always loved about games. The combat never feels unfair though. I can always see how I can improve and tackle things better. This all compliments the slower pace of exploration and puzzling perfectly, which I’m also really enjoying. Particularly like bagging the Ravens.

 

I enjoyed God of War 2018. Thought it was an 8/10. Atm this is an easy 9/10 for me. It’s going to be a late one tonight! 😁

I am with you on this. I am finding this one to be slightly better than the first.

[df0]

Doing the optional mopping up after the ending, some puzzles are painfully awkward. And when I say puzzles I mean that-lever-you-used-to-progress-earlier-in-the-game-miracilously-stopped-working. Also that grappling point you see over there? Nope, not gonna work.

 

Great, so I know what to do but the game demands I do it in a different much more convoluted way.

[Thor]

And finished, absolutely fantastic game. Loved everything they did here with the Norse characters. I have minor grumbles about some of the more gamey elements, but the best thing about the game? 

Spoiler

All the wolves are the goodest of boys! 

 

edit: Prior to finishing I did to a lot of the side stuff, most in fact. Like I got all the Ravens, and the story about them is not nice:

Spoiler

The ravens are the souls of children, stolen to serve Odin.  

 

[CrichStand]

@Thor How long did it take you to finish? How far would you say I am through it........

 

Spoiler

On the dog sledge bit in the Desert area, just after the Elves Temple.

 

[Thor]

33 minutes ago, CrichStand said:

@Thor How long did it take you to finish? How far would you say I am through it........

 

  Hide contents

On the dog sledge bit in the Desert area, just after the Elves Temple.

 

43 hours to finish. You're still quite early in the game. 

[Thor]

Oh, now the 'proper' credits are rolling. 

 

Spoiler

That riddle payoff. 😭 Of course, we all knew the answer, I just never expected it to land with such impact. A great and touching scene there with, despite the bagpipes best efforts, some terrific music. 

 

[Stanley]

The character models, facial animation, motion capture etc. is just sensational, and it’s so slick how it moves between cutscenes and game play. Presentation and performance wise it’s just such a high standard, I don’t think I’ve seen better, and it helps that I really like all the characters of course. 

[CrichStand]

Yeah, I played a section last night, a lot of which was just walking through the environment. But that’s exactly what I did, just walked, didn’t run, just enjoyed the journey, whilst taking in all the detail in the environment, the mood setting music, anticipating what was coming next, almost playing the character. Felt as close to a Hollywood movie as games have come. When all the elements pull together it’s phenomenal. 

[Lying Cat]

If this game has a problem it’s that the NPCs are way, way too fuckin’ vocal. They’re shouting puzzle solutions at you while you’re still looking around the scene.

 

Giant boss with a massive health bar you’ve only put a tiny dink in? They’re already shouting at you to get on with it (with one fight feeling exceptionally egregious).

 

Just, like, calm down a bit. I don’t know whether it’s a specific design decision to hammer home that Kratos isn’t running the show, or they’re just shit-scared that if people don’t instantly solve the puzzle they put in they’ll turn it off and go get a refund - but it’s really aggravating.

[Thor]

And that's me done with the game now.

Spoiler

The only major thing left is the remaining Crucible challenges, but fuck that. 

 

There's a fair bit to see and do post credits. Fight the new Valkyrie Queen, complete Mimir's quest for vengeance (with a boss fight to rival the final Valkyrie from GoW1 in terms of sheer frustration), find the real Tyr, pay a visit to Angrboda in Jotunheim (that was nice), see Thrud take up Mjolnir. 

 

All great, but now I'm done.

 

[Capwn]

Oh, I stopped after the credits, there’s more? Thought it was just an existing side mission it was asking me to do.

 

mostly focused on main story, took me this amount of hours…

 

Spoiler

35. Listened to kinda funny podcast and they were saying 25. I must be rubbish at games

.

[Thor]

Just now, Capwn said:

Oh, I stopped after the credits, there’s more? Thought it was just an existing side mission it was asking me to do.

 

mostly focused on main story, took me this amount of hours…

 

  Hide contents

35. Listened to kinda funny podcast and they were saying 25. I must be rubbish at games

.

Spoiler

Regarding your spoiler. 25 hours? Yeah if you mainline the story only maybe.

 

As for more after the credits (the credits where you're still playing) then go and see Lunda, she'll point you where you need to go. If you've done that and seen the full credits, then go and see Ratatoskr, he'll give you seeds to unlock all the gates you haven't found, and yes there more to see and find. 

 

[Capwn]

16 minutes ago, Thor said:

  Hide contents

Regarding your spoiler. 25 hours? Yeah if you mainline the story only maybe.

 

As for more after the credits (the credits where you're still playing) then go and see Lunda, she'll point you where you need to go. If you've done that and seen the full credits, then go and see Ratatoskr, he'll give you seeds to unlock all the gates you haven't found, and yes there more to see and find. 

 

 

where is that character found?

[Thor]

10 minutes ago, Capwn said:

 

where is that character found?

Which? I mention two:

Spoiler

Lunda is the dwarf at every workshop in the game. 

 

Ratatoskr is the squirrel who can be found outside Sindri's House in the space between realms. You have to hit the wind chime with your axe. 

 

[Vemsie]

On 03/11/2022 at 13:47, df0 said:

Days Gone > Horizon 2.

 

Not for me. Much prefer Horizon's world, lore and combat. I bounced off Days Gone's characters, world and gameplay pretty quickly.

[CrichStand]

How good are the graphics and the 3d Audio on.......

 

Spoiler

Atreus’ dream section. Those paint clouds attacks that the lass uses in the bit after too. 😲 They’re just showing off now! 

Jaw hit the floor. Astonishing! 
 

Also, it’s just installed a patch. Not sure if it’s that, the area I’m in, or just a progression the game has with the graphics but, I swear the image quality looks way better now.