God of War Ragnarok: A Disaster Disguised as a Masterpiece - Critique & Analysis
LazerzZ・2 minutes read
The creator discusses the flaws in "God of War Ragnarok," criticizing its rushed development, disjointed storytelling, and lack of narrative coherence. Despite some praised elements like visuals and soundtrack, the game's writing, character development, and exploration fall short compared to its predecessor, lacking depth and purpose.
Insights
- The game "God of War Ragnarok" is criticized for its disjointed and lackluster experience due to poor integration of well-polished elements.
- The pacing of the story in God of War Ragnarok is highlighted as a major issue, with the game feeling like two games combined into one due to its rushed development.
- The decision to merge two games' worth of content into one game leads to a disjointed narrative structure and a struggle to maintain focus and depth in storytelling.
- The exploration in Ragnarok feels disconnected and empty, leading to a sense of simply checking off tasks rather than exploring for the sake of discovery.
- The combat in Ragnarok gradually improves as the game progresses, with more brutal finisher moves and varied boss fights making Kratos feel more lethal than in 2018.
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Recent questions
What are the main criticisms of God of War Ragnarok?
The main criticisms of God of War Ragnarok revolve around its rushed storytelling, disjointed narrative structure, lack of focus and depth in storytelling, and the struggle to explore numerous plot points and character arcs effectively due to trying to fit too much content into one game. The game is also criticized for its lack of narrative cohesion, rushed pacing, sacrifices in nuanced dialogue, and a focus on grand designs over a tight narrative, affecting its overall quality.
How does the game portray the Norse pantheon?
God of War Ragnarok portrays the Norse pantheon in a modern, humorous approach, deviating from traditional expectations. Odin is depicted as the evil corporate head, Sif as the mother holding the family together, Thor as the dad in a midlife crisis, and Heimdall as the big bully character. However, characters like Boulder, Magni, and Modi do not fit into this narrative as they were conceived in a different creative plan for the gods in the game. The game trades serious themes like child abuse for a lighthearted approach, avoiding depth in character development and rushing through character arcs with unnatural dialogue.
What are the criticisms regarding the exploration in Ragnarok?
The exploration in God of War Ragnarok is criticized for lacking depth, purpose, and believability compared to the previous installment. The world design lacks clear contextualization and movement through the space, making it less engaging and immersive. The open world feels disconnected and empty, leading to a sense of simply checking off tasks rather than exploring for the sake of discovery. The exploration lacks structured and well-designed puzzle areas that made the previous game engaging and rewarding, focusing on bigger spaces but failing to understand why the previous game's exploration was successful.
How does the combat system in Ragnarok compare to its predecessor?
The combat system in God of War Ragnarok mirrors that of its predecessor, maintaining a similar combat style for Kratos. The game gradually improves combat as it progresses, with more brutal finisher moves and varied boss fights making Kratos feel more lethal than in the previous installment. However, the acquisition of gear and items feels forced and unnatural, lacking organic integration into the gameplay. The combat system lacks innovation, retreading the same path as the previous version with minor changes that don't significantly impact the gameplay experience.
What are the main themes and criticisms of the game's storytelling?
The main themes and criticisms of God of War Ragnarok's storytelling revolve around fate, prophecy, rushed pacing, sacrifices in nuanced dialogue, and a focus on grand designs over a tight narrative. The game's storytelling leaves interpretations open, leading to varied opinions on its themes, with a muddled central theme of fate and a lack of clear explanation. The writing focuses more on humor and quips than character depth, deviating from previous depictions of characters like Atreus and Freya. The game's rushed pacing and sacrifices in nuanced dialogue affect its overall quality, with a lack of coherence and depth in storytelling.