God of War Ragnarok

[sir podger]

Finally (more down to child care than  game difficutly - rarely getting the time to come back) I got her.

 

Definitely had to fight my own fight, watching YouTube videos of people who nail these characters in 10 seconds doesn't offer any help, they are precise with button presses down to the millisecond and those videos are the result of weeks of non-stop effort.

 

 

[glb]

I’m 11 or so hours in and, despite a bit of padding, enjoying how beefy this is. Doesn’t feel like a huge leap from the previous game but as more of the same it’s entertaining.

 

Started on normal but quickly dropped down to Give Me Grace as I’m terrible at boss battles and any kind of combat that requires finesse. Still some meaty battles even on this setting.

 

Spoiler

The Atreus bits have dragged but not as much as I initially thought they would. I quite like the switch to ranged combat when using him, and turning into a wolf is rad.

[JoeK]

I’ve still yet to finish the original, but due to cdkeys having the thing for £30-odd (us download), I decided to bite.

 

God, the imagery is so fucking good on these games. Sure, they may well be technically PS4 games , but it shows how levels of graphical improvements are slowing down somewhat. Or, alternatively just how good basic artwork can elevate whatever tech limits are put upon devs.

 

 

[Djx]

https://blog.playstation.com/2023/04/05/god-of-war-ragnarok-new-game-plus-is-available-now/

Quote

New equipment, an increased level cap, new Enchantments – all this and more is introduced with God of War Ragnarök’s NG+ mode. As soon as you’ve beaten the game, you’ll be able to dive right into a NG+ save to experience the story again with many more gameplay options available from the start.

[glb]

Damn, even on Give Me Grace this packs a punch. Never feels unfair though, just really, really solid. And satisfying.

 

Find some sessions I’m much more in the zone than others. When the flow clicks and you land attacks in chains the game feels so good.

[Sumire]

I have just started playing this properly now since I completed Resident Evil 4 remake. Wow, I cannot believe how great it looks and sounds. I have had my RTX 3080 since launch and played many games with it. Regardless of all the enthesis on native res, raytracing, framerate pc talk, this looks better than pretty much everything I have played on PC. I think it maybe just the environments, but damn it is a looker.

[glb]

13 hours ago, Sumire said:

I have just started playing this properly now since I completed Resident Evil 4 remake. Wow, I cannot believe how great it looks and sounds. I have had my RTX 3080 since launch and played many games with it. Regardless of all the enthesis on native res, raytracing, framerate pc talk, this looks better than pretty much everything I have played on PC. I think it maybe just the environments, but damn it is a looker.

It’s a beautiful game on PS5. I enjoyed the different terrains in Horizon Forbidden West but the variety of vistas in this are far more appealing. Certain parts are genuinely jaw-dropping.

[glb]

The more of these Berserkers I encounter the less I care for them.

 

Even on Give Me Grace they’re completely might do for my skill level. Guess I’ll have to level up, YouTube a ‘best armour build’ and grind away at them like I did the Valkyries.

 

Overall loving the game. In awe of anyone that can get through these on harder difficulty levels. Even if I was half my age I don’t think I’d have ever had the reaction speed or finesse to get near doing so.

[Thor]

I had to drop the difficultly for the final Berserker. Hats off to anyone doing those on the harder difficulties, but for me ... Fuck. That.

[JoeK]

Well, it's been a very long time since I played a game and wanted to instantly replay it - such was the effect GoW has just had on me. I'm now torn - I purposely left almost all of the side quests out of this first run-through, but I have Ragnorok looking at me enticingly. 

 

What a first world problem to have.

[Pob]

17 hours ago, Thor said:

I had to drop the difficultly for the final Berserker. Hats off to anyonw doing those on the harder difficulties, but for me ... Fuck. That.

 

I beat King Hrolf on Give Me God of War! Gna, though - forget it. Just no fun at all.

[glb]

I got a berserker down to ⅓ of their health. On story. Felt so alive! And then I died.

 

It’s fascinating to me how good people are at these types of games. Is it timing? Learning patterns? Supreme patience? I just go into a panic and flail around like an idiot.

The berserker I ruffled the feathers of had an attack that felt like it was impossible to evade: they jumped, then smashed into the ground creating a green circle of damage that I couldn’t get the timing on at all. Still only level 4 so hoping I can brute force some of them post-game. Did manage the Valkyries (on Story!) so can muster some skill. Just not much. For very long.

 

Also, Ormstunga is a bellend.

[glb]

Got better armour now (Steinbjorn), so not getting mullered as much. Kind of moot as I’ve dropped to Story; enjoy the world and atmosphere immensely but not really arsed about ‘gitting gud’.

 

I probably do need to look at my amulet set-up and get a more defensive / evasive build for the Berserkers though. Completed a few trials too. Even on easy mode ‘Flawless’ is great fun. Was spamming evade and the mid-game weapon you acquire.

 

Really good game so far, even if I’m mostly not very good at it, mostly.

[glb]

Finally took out a Berserker Haklangr The Bearded can get tae fuck.

 

Do love the game for at least making the player feel empowered, even on the easier settings. Levelled up a fair bit now now and got a defence build going thanks to a couple of YouTube vids. Know there’s a grind to come, but as with beating the first Valkyrie, once one falls, there’s at least hope.

 

Not rushing the story either. Spent a good 5-6 hours pootling around Vanaheim completing some favours. It’s a beautifully realised world.

[glb]

Six Berserkers done now. This defensive / health build has got me feeling cocky. However, I remember this happening after finally beating Sigrún in the previous game: moved up a level, tried again and she obliterated me.

 

Still, I’m rubbish at games with boss fights, and generally don’t have the patience for boss fights, so appreciate this for at least letting me participate, because the rest of the combat is great fun and the world is so damn fun to be in.

[glb]

On 10/04/2023 at 17:24, Thor said:

I had to drop the difficultly for the final Berserker. Hats off to anyone doing those on the harder difficulties, but for me ... Fuck. That.

Beat him at the second time of asking on story mode last night and even then it was touch and go. Used a resurrection stone with him at about 1/3 of his health bar. Final flurry came with both of us having a slither of health left, pretty much next hit wins. Fortunately he threw up a yellow attack, and I was able to hit a panicked block then get the last few spear jabs in to trigger the R3 prompt. Think I pressed R3 about 6 times in a second.

 

Will go for the platinum now but not looking forward to the fight with a certain enemy of Freya…

[glb]

Spoiler

Gna? Nah mate, she’s done.

 

Tough boss, even on story but found her much quicker to get through than Sigrun, who remains such a brutal, brilliant encounter. Don’t think I’ve enjoyed beating a boss more than her and it’s good to see her back in Ragnarok.

Two more collectible trophies to get for the plat. Think this is my favourite PS first party game since Spider-Man, been a joy from pretty much start to finish.

[sir podger]

7 hours ago, glb said:

Beat him at the second time of asking on story mode last night and even then it was touch and go. Used a resurrection stone with him at about 1/3 of his health bar. Final flurry came with both of us having a slither of health left, pretty much next hit wins. Fortunately he threw up a yellow attack, and I was able to hit a panicked block then get the last few spear jabs in to trigger the R3 prompt. Think I pressed R3 about 6 times in a second.

 

Will go for the platinum now but not looking forward to the fight with a certain enemy of Freya…

 

You will hate it, then it will consume you, then when it's over you will miss it.

 

I had one night when getting her down to 20% health seemed to be my limit, then in one fight I got her down to fuck all health, a slither of a bar left when everything seemed to be going right, fingers were shaking, and she still turned it around and got me. It took another few nights before eventually I produced the best fight of my life and killed her with my health at 3/4.

[FiveFootNinja]

Bagged the platinum trophy for this last week to follow up the one from the previous game.  I really enjoyed it!

 

I'd been avoiding this thread as I knew I was a little late to the party, and the bits I had briefly browsed were giving me some biases before I'd even started it so I kept away. Overall though it felt like a very worthy sequel. It didn't go very far from the GOW beaten track, but in many ways I liked that, it was a proper continuation of the original reboot.

 

I know some people have criticised its bloat, but I have to say I never really felt it. By nature I'm an explorer in games, and I enjoyed looking around the various stunning zones and nothing ever felt like true busy work. I really liked the story and characters again (much like the first) but for me the gameplay offered something I was exactly looking for... basically Elden Ring lite.

 

I'd been banging my head against Elden Ring prior to starting this and - despite being in awe of it - never really clicking with it given my snatched 20-30 minute gaming sessions I generally get nowadays. Whereas Elden Ring will happily slap you in the face for that sort of effort and send you packing back to a Site of Grace, I felt this game always let me progress a bit further, find a new thing, do a new mission, in chunks that suited my available playing time. The combat is also something you have to get good at and focus on, but much much less brutal than ER.

 

I ended up putting 51 hours into it to close it off (inc the two big bosses which are definitely a ramp up difficulty wise!) and felt like I'd just about had my fill when I was done. Very pleased.

 

For those battling with the end-/post-game fights and wanting some input...

Spoiler

I did lower the difficulty a notch for both Hrolf and Gna as I was getting battered to the point of knowing I was going to start getting frustrated. Kudos to those battling through on the higher levels, they are not easy fights.

 

My final build I landed on was Steinbjorn chest, with Berserker arms and waist, Onslaught shield and my fastest cooldown runic attacks focused on damage. My technique was:

 

• Go in, blitz all three weapon runic attacks
• Pop a realm shift from my artefact and then go heavy on the spear attacks
• While awaiting recharges I did a whole lot of dodge roll/parries followed up by 2/3 hit combos (don't get greedy)
• Add the occasional spear throw/detonate or arrow to interrupt floating attacks
• Hit that double L1 for the shield charge as soon as you see the blue rings
• I also originally was using my rage for healing, but after a few attempts I moved onto using it mainly for purging bifrost with a quick blip in and out of it

Hope it helps. Good luck!

 

[glb]

This was the build I used for the post-game bosses. Changed the relic. Very much a regenerating health build but lacks a punch in terms of strength. Saw a couple of other builds that melted enemies but required a bit more skill than my flailing.

 

Spoiler

Beat Hrolf in a couple of goes and Gna on the fourth attempt on easy with it. But only barely. Feel Sigrun was still the hardest of the lot though. She was brutal, fair but brutal. Was such a rush finally getting the best of her.

 

Gna is a beast, but found her attacks had more openings. Obviously imagine she is a nightmare on higher difficulties but if you can play at those levels I guess it’s relative.

 

[jonamok]

Just started this last night. That first QTE sequence (oh dear) with the two giant sled dogs our Sheltie went ballistic, stood in front of the TV on his back legs barking the house down. Of course they keep running away from him, so he thinks he’s seeing them off and keeps going. Funny as it was I had to stop it before the end.
 

So, how long does that sequence last for, and are the barking sled dogs a feature for much of the game?

[glb]

15 minutes ago, jonamok said:

Just started this last night. That first QTE sequence (oh dear) with the two giant sled dogs our Sheltie went ballistic, stood in front of the TV on his back legs barking the house down. Of course they keep running away from him, so he thinks he’s seeing them off and keeps going. Funny as it was I had to stop it before the end.
 

So, how long does that sequence last for, and are the barking sled dogs a feature for much of the game?

 

Spoiler

There are a couple of realms where you use the sled to get around. Some dog action, include a bit related to a trophy/achievement.

 

There is also a boss battle that involves a hound. A sequence that’s hugely enjoyable, and a cool part of the story. But might set off any curious pooches who are with you while you’re playing.

 

[BubbleFish]

I bounced off this on release. Not sure why; all I can recall was an annoyance at the constant “let me squeeze through here while the level loads”

 

Just finished the main story last night after 38 hours of play. Absolutely loved it! Great finale which hopefully gives options for at least another two games that I can see.

 

Of particular note was the musical score by Bear McCreary. Fantastic, epic and dramatic where it was needed. Can’t remember the last time I listened to a games OST but this stands on its own legs. The fact the closing track, Blood on Snow, gave me a lump in my throat and is sung by Hozier of all people speaks for Bears talent!