You remember the scream. That primal, lung-bursting roar Kratos used to let out while ripping the head off a Greek god? It defined a generation of gaming. But when Sony Santa Monica finally dropped God of War PlayStation 4 in 2018, the silence was what actually mattered. It was the quiet of the woods, the crunch of snow, and the heavy breathing of a man trying—and often failing—to be a father.
It was a massive risk. Honestly, rebooting a franchise that thrived on teenage angst and over-the-top gore into a somber, cinematic meditation on grief could have backfired spectacularly. Instead, Cory Barlog and his team created something that didn't just win Game of the Year; it changed how we think about "prestige" action games.
That Leviathan Axe Just Feels Different
Let’s talk about the axe. The Leviathan Axe isn't just a weapon; it’s a masterclass in haptic satisfaction. Most games treat melee combat like you're waving a pool noodle around until a health bar hits zero. Not here. When you throw that axe with the triangle button and it recalls to Kratos’ hand with a heavy thwack, it feels earned.
The physics are heavy. It's grounded.
The switch from the chaotic, wide-angle camera of the original trilogy to a tight, over-the-shoulder "single-shot" perspective was the real genius move. There are no cuts. No loading screens (disguised as they may be by crawling through cracks). This choice keeps you locked into Kratos’ headspace. You aren't just controlling a character; you’re trapped in his journey.
It’s personal.
Everything about the God of War PlayStation 4 combat system relies on positioning. You can't see behind you, which makes the threat of a Draugr flanking you feel genuinely claustrophobic. You have to listen to Atreus. You have to watch the indicators. It’s tactical in a way the old button-mashers never were.
Why the "Boy" Dynamic Actually Works
We’ve all played the "escort mission" games where the AI is a total nightmare. You know the ones. They get stuck on geometry or run directly into enemy fire. Atreus is different.
In God of War PlayStation 4, Atreus is a tool in your belt. He’s your crowd control. By the mid-game, you’re not protecting him; you’re coordinating with him to juggle enemies in the air using shock arrows. It’s a mechanical representation of their growing bond.
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Think about the writing for a second. Kratos is a man of few words, mostly because he’s terrified that if he opens his mouth, his bloody past will spill out. Atreus is the opposite—curious, naive, and desperate for a scrap of validation. This friction carries the entire 30-hour experience. It’s not just about killing trolls; it’s about a man who killed his own father trying to make sure his son doesn't grow up to do the same.
The Shift from Olympus to Midgard
Moving to Norse mythology wasn't just a change of scenery. It was a tonal pivot. While the Greek games felt like a technicolor epic, Midgard feels ancient, cold, and surprisingly empty.
But it's a "lived-in" empty.
The Lake of Nine serves as your hub, and as the water level drops, new secrets emerge. This isn't an open world in the Ubisoft sense—there aren't a thousand icons screaming for your attention. It’s a "wide-linear" design. You explore because you want to find the Valkyries, not because a checklist told you to.
- The World Serpent (Jörmungandr) is a technical marvel. The scale is genuinely dizzying.
- The Dwarven brothers, Brok and Sindri, provide the much-needed levity in an otherwise grim story.
- The stranger at the door—Baldur—is a terrifying antagonist because he can't feel anything. It's a mirror to Kratos' own emotional numbness.
Those Valkyrie Fights are No Joke
If you thought the main story was tough, the optional Valkyrie boss fights are where the game pushes back. Hard. Sigrun, the Valkyrie Queen, is widely considered one of the most difficult bosses in the entire PS4 library.
These fights require pixel-perfect timing. You can't just spam R1. You have to learn telegraphs, use your runic attacks at the exact right moment, and manage your health stones like they're gold. It’s where the combat engine really shows its depth. It’s almost "Souls-lite" in its demand for precision, yet it remains distinctly its own thing.
Technical Wizardry on the Base PS4
It is still kind of wild that God of War PlayStation 4 looks as good as it does on hardware from 2013. Sony Santa Monica used every trick in the book. The particle effects when you use a runic attack, the way Kratos' beard catches the light, the subtle animations in his face—it's top-tier.
Even on a standard PS4, the frame rate stays remarkably stable. If you’re playing on a PS4 Pro (or via backward compatibility on a PS5), the 4K checkerboard rendering makes the runes on the rocks pop with incredible detail. It’s a testament to what happens when first-party developers focus on a single piece of hardware. They aren't worrying about how it runs on a low-end PC; they are squeezing the juice out of one specific lemon.
The Misconceptions About "Dad of War"
Some old-school fans complained that the game was too slow. They missed the sex mini-games and the relentless, mindless violence.
I get it. Sorta.
But if Kratos had stayed that one-dimensional rage monster, the series would have died. People change. Characters should too. The "Dad of War" era isn't about Kratos becoming soft; it's about him becoming responsible. He’s still the most dangerous being in any realm, but now he has something to lose. That stakes-raising is what makes the final climb to the highest peak in Jötunheim feel so heavy.
What You Should Do Right Now
If you haven't touched this game in a few years, or if you somehow missed it during the initial hype, it's time to go back. It holds up perfectly. Here is how to get the most out of it today:
- Prioritize the Side Quests: In many games, side quests are filler. In God of War PlayStation 4, the favors for Brok and Sindri or the spirits around the Lake of Nine provide essential lore and some of the best gear in the game. Don't rush to the finish line.
- Master the Recall: Don't just throw the axe at enemies. Learn to throw it past them and recall it so it hits them in the back on the way back to you. This builds stagger quickly and lets you perform those brutal finishers.
- Listen to Mimir: The severed head hanging from Kratos’ belt isn't just a MacGuffin. He’s the lore delivery system. While you're rowing the boat, let him finish his stories. The world-building in those small moments is better than most fantasy novels.
- Prepare for the Valkyries: Don't even attempt the final Valkyries until you’ve upgraded your armor at Niflheim or Muspelheim. You’ll need the stat boosts.
The game is a masterpiece of pacing. From the opening fight with the Stranger to the final revelation about Atreus’ true name, it never wastes a second of your time. It’s a rare example of a "perfect" game that balances narrative, visuals, and gameplay without one overshadowing the other. Grab your controller, head to Midgard, and remember why we play these things in the first place.