#god of war 2022 gameplay

[reviewvines]

War

[tailschannel]

Starting now, fans will have an opportunity to award Sonic Frontiers an accolade from The Game Awards

Sonic Frontiers and four other games are one step closer to win The Game Awards' popular vote category. With the third and final round open for voting, Frontiers' destiny is rested entirely on the hands of the fans.

How did we get here?

The open zone game qualified as the most voted title in the second round, which consisted of ten candidates. With ~17% of the vote, it fought for the first position against the popular "Genshin Impact" for several hours, before Sonic fans provided an extra last-minute push to put Frontiers on top.

As one of the initial 30 nominees, Frontiers comfortably qualified out of the first round with ~9% of the vote, besting titles like the highly anticipated "Pokémon Scarlet and Violet", and provided competition against two acclaimed contenders like "Elden Ring" and "God of War: Ragnarök" - both of which qualified to the third round.

What are the stakes?

Many passionate fans perceived that the "Players' Voice" category could be the one and only chance to directly award Sonic Frontiers, with a common perception that the game has been "snubbed" out of nominations that highlighted excellence in gameplay, story, or soundtrack.

Now, fans hold a unique opportunity to potentially award the Sonic the Hedgehog game series its first ever accolade from The Game Awards, following up on Sonic Mania's previous attempt in 2017.

Time to vote!

To refresh, Sonic Frontiers will be facing against the following titles in the final round. Unlike the previous sets, fans can only vote for one title.

Elden Ring (From Software, Bandi Namco)

Genshin Impact (Hoyoverse)

God of War: Ragnarök (Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Stray (Bluetwelve, Annapurna)

Voting for the final round begun Monday 5 December and will wrap up before the ceremony kick-off on Thursday 8 December 2022.

Vote on the official website here.

[gallopinggallifreyans]

Okay for the ask game, i’d lobe to hear an opinion on assassin’s creed and also an opinion on TLT

Where do I even START

Assassin’s Creed has, no joke, changed my life. I used to be a polisci/international relations major and HATED IT so bad. Picked up the asscreed Ezio trilogy in 2022, changed my major to archaeology, haven’t looked back. The gameplay varies between games, and I think Odyssey has fairly clean fight mechanics but the parkour is lacking; on the flip side, everything pre-Origins has pretty good parkour mechanics. Unity is supposedly the best but I haven’t played that yet. My favourite part about the games is probably the detail that went into building the worlds. Some of the maps aren’t perfectly accurate and that’s okay since they’re built more for gameplay function than historical accuracy (like the maps for AC2 and Brotherhood). Each game is set during weird periods of history that have a lot of blank spaces with so many possibilities. Like Brotherhood focuses a lot on the Borgia family and their scandals, Odyssey plays with the known history of the Peloponnesian War, Origins takes place in that fuzzy time in early Roman Egypt. And the VISUALS, my god. Please watch a playthrough of Revelations. The moonrise over Ayasofya is the best thing you’ll ever see. I regularly climb the minarets just to watch it. I’ve never been to Türkiye but the Grand Bazaar feels so familiar, the environment reminds me of my birthplace, it’s so comfortable. And in AC2, Florence just feels like home. I can run that city with my eyes closed. Don’t even get me started on the music. Home in Florence (AC2 soundtrack) is my study music. I adore these games so much.

TLT might be one of my favourite series and that’s going up against my longtime favourites Jurassic Park and The Martian. I was soooo hesitant to start it and then I did and yknow what? I’m gayer for it. It helped me study for a couple of my bone/evolution related midterms lol. Tazmuir sets up GtN as a murder mystery and I love those; it was a real treat trying to work out who the killer was. I think I texted my dear snootual about a thousand times with theories. HtN opened my third eye and now I’m writing a thing that’s partly inspired by the second person pov fuckery in HtN. It fucks you up on the first read but it’s pretty straightforward after that. NtN killed me. Emotionally, mentally, physically. It was heartbreaking to know we would never see certain characters again, and it was heartbreaking to find out some characters had come back. On top of all that, TLT dives very deep into a few separate mythologies and I appreciate Tazmuir’s inclusion of Hindu mythology. It’s ancient and vast and arguably an influence on quite a few later mythologies, and I feel like that isn’t appreciated enough, but TLT appreciates it to the point I pulled out my copies of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata just to put together some theories.

In conclusion. These are two of my favourite media in the whole wide world. Deeply impacted my psyche. 10/10

[gauntletqueen]

I know they don't seem up your alley but have u played the new God Of Wars? (2018 & 2022)

Haven't played them, I have watched a full playthrough of the first game. Also having seen playthroughs of most of the pre-norse GoW games, I thought it was very interesting! I like the concept of Kratos running away from everything he'd done and that had been done to him in his past, to another part of the world, where another pantheon of gods resides, I think that's a fun way to take the franchise if you're gonna take it anywhere. I enjoy "all pantheons are real they just reside in their own part of the world and clash sometimes" as a concept. Kratos' personal struggle and his more subdued personality to go with it is interesting too, and the whole "one camera shot the entire time" thing leads to a lot of cool framing of visuals. Gameplay seems alright I dunno I didn't play it.

I know basically nothing about the second game!

[felassan]

In this post on the Insider Gaming article and this post on the Reddit screenshot etc leaks (spoiler warning for DA:D at links), I mentioned comments made by possible playtesters/similar folks on Reset Era from October 2022. since I referenced them and many people don't use that site, I thought I'd belatedly collect them here for reference. under a cut in case of DA:D spoilers -

first, the usual set of disclaimers that should be kept in mind with all leaks: might not be real, unable to verify at present, sometimes leakers think they’re right about things but are unintentionally incorrect or got some wires crossed, games change a fair bit between development phases and final release, take with grain of salt etc.

User: "Important to remember that this doesn’t mean the game is anywhere close to release. Still plenty to do and plenty that will be changed between now and release." Possible playtester or person who has otherwise seen or heard about the game (hereafter notating these users as "PP" for brevity): "At the very least I like the gameplay direction they are taking is better than the previous games, and they have a clear direction of where they want this game to go. Although I have always preferred actions rpgs, and am looking forward to the inspiration they took for combat." - PP2: "Folks should be excited but also expect a smaller scale game, plenty of people on the team have 'complained' that it doesn't feel AAA in scope." [...] "I would say just dont go in expecting something other WRPG are producing in terms of game size...if that makes sense lol" - User: "Totally fine, it sounds like it's gonna be a better version of Dragon Age 2, with fleshed out city + surroundings" PP1: "This is not a good description of DAD." - User: "For the love of the Maker, bring back the Darkspawn." PP1: "They did." - User: "I haven't been paying attention. Are they bringing back tactics, or are they leaning more towards the awesome button?" PP2: "They're leaning toward God of War/ Mass Effect over the shoulder combat." - User: "is it open world or splitted in several areas?" PP1: "Only saw certain linear zones, but whether it is all DAO/2 style zones or mixed open and linear zones like DAI is up in the air. I would prefer the latter with less grinding required to progress like everyone else of course." - User: "That's a bit disapointing, but as long as they have a coherent direction, it's still better than the last 2 game's attempt at spliting the baby in twain" PP1: "GOW 2018 style melee, so not mash button for success but timing, combos, mixing up skills, and playing on your build/skill strengths." - User: "ok but I need Knight Enchanter mage or gish equivalent" PP1: "I think with each class you choose at the beginning you can end up with three subclasses." - User: "Was what you played still party-based?" PP1: "Party commands were disabled, so how much control you have is also an unknown." -

User: "Does one [class] include a magical archer, something beyond the Tempest specialization in scope?" PP1: "Well my base class was a warrior type so there was no access to ranger or mage types, but the warrior does have a magic subclass." - User: "Oh wild lol. I thought this kind of stuff is usually under lots of NDA or something similar" PP1: "It is, helps that no one has leaked screenshots or footage." - User: "I figure you can’t say exactly when it happened, but given your mention of party commands being disabled, it guess it happened after the report of last year about the game shifting to a full SP experience, correct? It seems the action-based gameplay that was lightly teased by some devs before remained even when the game shifted to SP, given your impressions." PP1: "Yes, any part I have seen of the game was after that. This part is speculation, if they have open zones like DAI they can still pull off a live service similar to the last three AC games and it would have no effect on people strictly coming to the game for the story. I would even go as far as saying this might be positively received if they only have cosmetic BPs and mtx." - User: "I think dlcs of various forms, from story to outfits/weapon will still happen; even before, when the game was mentioned to be a live service one, they used DAO as something that already fit that definition. The game won’t go beyond that scope in terms of ‘live service’ though, given how much they’re starting DreadWolf is a full SP experience. Interestingly, from the blog update and the lead developer afterwards, ME seems to follow the same path." PP1: "Yeah I think dlc in terms of story expansions are a lock. If they ever want to tread the live service waters again, there is a great template for them to follow." - User: "the neon colored logo has me thinking this might go a very different direction than typical fantasy" PP1: "Not really." - PP1: "The second one [DAII] was quite literally hold a button to attack since the game was easy. The new one is not at all like that." - User: "Or if Dreadwolf even has a party-based system?" PP1: "Yes"

[source <- DA:D spoiler warning for link]

Notes: Posts from October 2022. Some of the stuff said is corroborated by the Reddit leak (e.g. no control of party members at timepoint when game was played, the part of the game that was made available to test being a linear zone). in some places PPs are speculating. and ofc screenshots/a bit of footage has now leaked on Reddit the other day.

[alphajasperdimitri]

Hello greetings guys! And a happy new year! my name is alphadimitriflair, and Im new here at tumblr I would like to share my first post also btw im from instagram: alpha_jasperflair

I never really played the God of war game series but I watched it being played by one of my friends, I was so deeply inspired by the art, the story, the narrative, the music, everything, so I decided to make a fanart of it with all my heart, the greek saga not only made me inspired but deeply inspired by the #norse saga, the story deeply resembles my relationship with my father, it made our hearts warm.

Also pls forgive me if my time-lapse vid looks kinda blurry as I said to the video I double checked it before, but there was a time where my Ipad shut down because of low battery and I went back to procreate, the time-lapse broke im so sorry, but I never lost hope to still post it lmao.

⏰ TIME: Took me almost 2 months, I started doing this during school days, it was a bad idea I was either pressuring myself studying and drawing at the same time lol, so I continued it during christmas vacation and at the end of new years eve.

✂️EDIT: Using Imovie on apple ios, bruh this took me almost forever I thought I was gonna die out of exhaustion.

ALSO HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE OR RAGNARÖK!

🔺BACKGROUND MUSIC CREDITS TO:

@bearmccreary

1. Jotunheim https://youtu.be/G0RnRnGwacU

2. A son’s path https://youtu.be/bWMpjQCpcpg

3. Raebs lament https://youtu.be/7-qUJ0uEAeQ

AJ Dela Torre

🔹 Follow me on socials🔹

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajmdt_artworks

Art station: https://www.artstation.com/u39a198d5?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aj.ajmdt.5

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ajmdelatorre

You Tube Channel: https://youtube.com/channel/UCzMoU-EkocI3WKtdCmFJagA

TECH: iPad (7th generation) - Technical Specifications

🔶HASHTAGS🔶

#godofwar #godofwarragnarok #godofwarfanart #godofwarragnarokfanart #goty #gameoftheyear #sonysantamonica #fanart #digitalart #illustration #digitalartist #digitalillustration #artist #artistoninstagram #artistofyoutube #filipinoartist

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[deadbydad]

All of The Games That I Played In 2023 and What My Game of The Year Is

I have played a lot of video games this year, most of them didn't come out this year and are old games, but I still want to mention them!

Destiny 2

God of War Ragnarök (2022)

God of War (2018)

Spider-Man (2018)

Spider-Man Miles Morales (2020)

Final Fantasy 7 Remake (2020)

Final Fantasy 16 (2023)

Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)

Spider-Man 2 (2023)

Mortal Kombat 1 (2023)

Alan Wake 2 (2023)

I didn't play a lot of video games, mainly due to because I am still in school, so I don't have a lot of time to do that, but I still played some and I all enjoyed and enjoy them! I have played God of War Ragnarök about thirty times this year at least.

So the Game of The Year went to Baldurs Gate Three, which I didn't even know existed but I saw gameplay and some stuff and I will say that it did deserve that award, most of the award winners did. In my opinion, Yuri Lowenthal should have won the Best Game Performance Award because while yes Neil Newborn is a fantastic voice actor I just felt like Yuri did a better job with Peter Parker in Spider-Man 2. But, congratulations to Neil I fucking loved him as Karl Heisenberg in Resident Evil Village and I am happy that he won that award.

So my game of the year in my opinion is Spider-Man 2. I just loved the story and the voice acting was just beautiful. Yes, it was a safe game didn't really go super far with the potential it had and Insomniac had, it was just the most fun I have ever had playing a game since God of War Ragnarök. Also, Venom was dope as fuck!

[murfeelee]

End of Year Asks

Saw this questionnaire on my dash, and couldn’t resist!

___________________________________________

1: Song of the year? The Rumbling (Attack on Titan OST). AoT started 2022 off CORRECT, lemme tell you.

2: Album of the year? The Bleach Thousand Year Blood War OST. That Quincy Imperial March gets me going! I can’t wait for the official release.

3: Favorite musical artist / group you started listening to this year? Kaho Nakamura, from the Belle (2021) OST. Every song she sang was EXCELLENT, her voice is LITERALLY a bell.

4: Movie of the year? The only movies I’ve watched this year are anime, and Belle was my favorite, even though it came out in 2021.

5: TV show of the year? TV: AMC’s Interview with the Vampire. Anime: Bleach.

6: Episode of tv or webisode that defined the year for you? Bleach TYBW S01E01, the hype was real--Bleach is BACK, baby! \(^0^)/ This has been the year of astounding adaptations. We waited TEN YEARS for this, and it was PERFECTION.

7: Favorite actor of the year? Jacob Anderson. My mind was blown, seeing Grey Worm from Game of Thrones turn into THIIIIIIIIS sexy AF vampire, WTF?

8: Game of the year? God of War: Ragnarok. Only been waiting FOUR EFFING YEARS for the sequel.

9: Best month for you this year? June & July, when I was on Summer Break.

10: Something that made you cry this year? So much anime, too much homework.

11: Something you want to do again next year? Go to an anime convention.

12: Talk about a new friend you made this year. I met a nice girl in my Greek class who’s super sweet. We study together and spend most of the time fussing about how much we hate Greek. XD

13: How was your birthday this year? I don’t even remember. My Halloween was lovely though.

14: Favorite book you read this year? The only books I read lately are for school, and none of them are what I’d call favorites.

15: What’s a bad habit you picked up this year? Getting fat off of junk food. I’ve never been this big in my life. I’m depressed.

16: Post a picture from the beginning of the year:

I really didn’t sim much this year--the only pic I posted in January was from my New Years miniset. U_U

17: Post a picture from the end of the year:

My newest hyperfixation--I make myself tired.

18: A memorable meal this year? I ate raw fish at a sushi place for the first time. Never again. At least I wasn’t the one paying. DEEP FRY my food, please, thanks.

19: What’re you excited about for next year? My fave professor’s coming off sabbatical next year, so I’m stoked! I was dead bored this year.

20: What’s something you learned this year? A lot. How much of it will be relevant to my research though....? HA.

21: What’s something new about your place of residence (room, home, or general location) now vs the start of the year? The extra layer of dust over everything, cuz I ain’t in the mood to clean.

22: Favorite place you visited this year? My mom’s is the only place I ever travel to.

23: If you could send a message to yourself back on the first day of the year, what would it be? Get more sleep, idiot, and put the Pepsi down.

24: Did you keep any New Year’s Resolutions? Not really U_U I didn’t get around to doing any Dragon Age or Cyberpunk stuff this year. And I only did a little bit of the Untamed gameplay. The most headway I made was with Bleach, but I didn’t even finish the Substitute Arc--I really wanted to get to the Soul Society stuff.

25: Did you create any characters (in games, art, or writing) this year? Describe one: I REcreated plenty of sims from a bunch of new fandom INSP gameplays, including: Bleach, The Old Guard, Critical Role, and Interview with the Vampire. I think my favorite has been Caduceus from Critical Role.

I had a lot of fun making him and his CC with all the mushrooms, and the lot I built for him, full of plants and stuff. So rarely do I indulge in High Fantasy, because it’s HARD to do fanciful gameplay--especially for MEN, since everything’s female-oriented in The Sims 3 communitty--unless I make the CC myself--which I hate doing. But I really wanted Caduceus in my game, so, alas.

________________________________________________

Thanks for reading!

Happy Simming, and Happy New Year!

[brandulox]

10 Best PS4 Game Stories Guaranteed to Give You All the Feels

The PlayStation 4 boasted an impressive game library spanning various genres. While gameplay is important, many of these titles also featured engrossing stories worth getting invested in. Here are 10 best PS4 games with standout narrative experiences.

10. Horizon Zero Dawn

https://youtu.be/wzx96gYA8ek Guerrilla Games ventured into the action RPG space with Horizon Zero Dawn and its imaginative dystopian setting. It follows Aloy, a young hunter living in a future dominated by machine creatures. With a cryptic past to uncover, Horizon Zero Dawn crafted one of gaming's most inventive sci-fi worlds.

9. The Last of Us Part II

https://youtu.be/vhII1qlcZ4E The Last of Us Part II continued Ellie's story five years after the first game. While seeking bloody revenge, she becomes embroiled in conflicts with both a religious cult and former friends. Shocking yet engrossing, The Last of Us Part II provided an unforgettable, harrowing sequel.

8. Persona 5 Royal

https://youtu.be/SKpSpvFCZRw Atlus' Persona 5 Royal has players joining a group of vigilantes in Tokyo that reform villains by night. This stylish JRPG enraptures with its sprawling story and characters thanks to its 100+ hours of content.

7. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

https://youtu.be/hh5HV4iic1Y Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End wrapped up Nathan Drake’s treasure-hunting adventures, this time reuniting him with his long-lost brother. It was a fitting and emotional finale for the series and its Indiana Jones-esque bravado.

6. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

https://youtu.be/fBJ0ifVtK5c An ambitious psychological horror tale, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice follows a traumatized Celtic warriorjourneying to Helheim. Its stunning visuals and sound design absorbed players in Senua’s mental anguish.

5. Red Dead Redemption II

https://youtu.be/eaW0tYpxyp0 Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption II was worth the long wait, letting players inhabit its slow death of the Wild West. Its story of Arthur Morgan and his outlaw gang on the run made for an immersive spaghetti Western.

4. God of War

https://youtu.be/K0u_kAWLJOA God of War saw a matured Kratos struggle with his savage past while protecting his son Atreus. Its shift to an intimate parent/child tale proved to be a welcome evolution for the series.

3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

https://youtu.be/c0i88t0Kacs Still an RPG benchmark, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt realizes a dark fantasy epic quest to find Geralt of Rivia’s daughter. CD Projekt Red masterfully translated The Witcher novels into an open-world masterpiece.

2. God of War Ragnarök

https://youtu.be/hfJ4Km46A-0 2022’s God of War Ragnarök wraps up the Norse saga on a strong note, with Kratos and Atreus dealing with prophecized doom. Its epic scale matched with grounded character writing made for a thrilling sequel.

1. The Last of Us Remastered

https://youtu.be/AaOWRvmtEFQ Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us remains a narrative masterclass, following two survivors across a zombie apocalypse. The PS4 remaster showed just how well its cinematic drama and tense gameplay hold up. Read the full article

[mrlenox98]

God Of War Ragnarök - Review

Pros: After replaying the first game and getting prepared for thia sequel I was really hyped and I think this is even better then the first game. Kratos and Atrues shine in this game. The voice actors gave it all for this game and the fact that Christopher Judge who voices Kratos won a award for best voice actor, he fucking deserved it. Gameplay is even better. Music is again amazing. Side missions are really good. Bosses in this game are again amazing. By far my best game of 2022.

Cons: None.

My final review is a 10/10

[email-core]

jon's top 5 games of 2022

5. Stacklands (Sokpop Collective)

Sokpop managed to combine the perfect mix of mechanics to keep me hooked for hours. Luckily this game has an "ending" of sorts, or I probably would still be playing. It's a card-based village-building game with fun twists and Sokpop's signature whimsical art style. There have been two free expansions released already, with more on the way.

4. Deep Collar (uncle_specter)

This was a micro-indie game submitted to a game jam that I also entered. It's a free 2D pixel game conveyed mostly through dialogue. It's only a few minutes long. It fucking ruined me. I didn't expect to care about these characters so much - they all feel like real people.

3. Pentiment (Obsidian Entertainment)

I haven't finished this game yet, but I can just tell it's going to be one of my all-time favourites. Josh Sawyer is a wizard and he and Obsidian have done it again. It's a Disco Elysium-esque blend of humour, mystery, and long blocks of text, with a gorgeous marginalia-inspired art style. I only wish it wasn't a Microsoft exclusive, but that's capitalism I guess.

2. Tunic (Tunic Team/Finji)

My favourite game of 2021 was Death's Door, and Tunic follows in the same vein of isometric Souls-like Zelda-like action-adventure. I did need to use a guide for some sections, but it's overall not a difficult game. It's a beautifully designed world with some truly horrific secrets, and excellent gameplay mechanics.

1. Elden Ring (From Software)

This is my most boring take. Look, anyone who says Elden Ring isn't the Game of The Year is kidding themself. It's everything people love about FromSoft games, but more of it. Yes, some of the bosses are badly designed, the story is less coherent than other games, and the open world reuses a lot of assets. It's definitely not the platonic ideal of a video game. But it is quantitatively and qualitatively the best game of 2022, and a step forward for games as a medium.

Honourable mentions: Stray, God of War: Ragnarok, The Open House, The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe

[yuurivoice]

What’s your opinion on the new god of war and the characters

*contains discussion of themes and components of God of War Ragnarok, skip this if you don't want vibe spoilers!*

Just beat it yesterday. I think it's fantastic! I have a few criticisms, but my time spent being a creator also makes me realize that sometimes you've gotta make sacrifices and take turns that aren't necessarily exactly what you wanted, but are what gets you to the finish line...so I ain't mad at it.

The cast of characters in particular was the highlight for me. Getting to spend more time with them rather than "oh hey it's my favorite NPC!" moments that kinda highlighted God of War in the past.

Family has obviously been a key theme, and it's a favorite of mine.

It speaks volumes that "foolish naive youth fucks everything up because they don't know any better" is one of my most hated tropes but I'm totally okay with it in this game because of how much heart Atreus has, and that it's pretty logical that when a lil baby god finds out about prophecies that blow up his ego, he'd make some dipshit choices. He doesn't know any better, and I love what it does for Kratos as a character. The culmination of these choices and how it has impacted the people around them, and ultimately their relationship as father and son, makes it all worth it in my eyes.

You know what helped me with Atreus? Seeing him practice self-talk not only as himself, but from the perspective of the people he cares about. Exhibiting a level of understanding and emotional intelligence, knowing what those people would likely think or say to him, and considering that (despite typically ignoring it, as boys often do lol) helped me avoid ever feeling like "UGH THIS FUCKING IDIOT!" which I think is critical to avoid given that we need to care about Atreus even if he's not wise.

I love every character in Asgard. Yes, even that one.

I called the squirrel hot.

I love the side quests, they're particularly well written and given a lot of care (I think each map has one key side quest, but even the smaller ones are interesting), which is what open world games typically lack. They feel meaningful because of the themes and morals shared with the characters.

I typically hate "split POV between a favorite character and someone else" but any time I spent away from Kratos felt earned and not like a chore. I'm guessing that's not a popular opinion, but then again, I don't really pay attention to reviews or anything like that.

It's my game of the year, and I loved Elden Ring, but GoW2 is the total package. The performances, the music, the writing, the gameplay. Everything is exactly what I'd want in a big AAA game in 2022, and they delivered a complete experience.

[kanzgamesandtrailers]

God of War Ragnarök - "Father and Son" Cinematic Trailer | PS5 & PS4 Games

God of War Ragnarök is an action-adventure game developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was released worldwide on November 9, 2022, for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, marking the first cross-gen release in the God of War series. It is the ninth installment in the series, the ninth chronologically, and the sequel to 2018's God of War. Loosely based on Norse mythology, the game is set in ancient Scandinavia and features series protagonist, Kratos, and his teenage son, Atreus. Concluding the Norse era of the series, the game covers Ragnarök, the eschatological event which is central to Norse mythology and was foretold to happen in the previous game after Kratos killed the Aesir god Baldur. The gameplay is similar to the previous 2018 installment. It features combo-based combat, as well as puzzle and role-playing elements. The gameplay has been revamped from the previous game: in addition to Kratos' main weapons, a magical battle axe and his double-chained blades, he also acquires a magical spear and his shield has become more versatile, with different types of shields that have differing offensive and defensive abilities. His son Atreus, as well as some other characters, provide assistance in combat and can be passively controlled. Additionally, and for the first time in the series, there are some story missions where the player takes full control of Atreus; his gameplay is similar to Kratos, but he uses his magical bow as his weapon. There are also more enemy types and mini-bosses than in the previous game. Originally slated for a 2021 release, the game was delayed in part due to Kratos actor Christopher Judge's health problems in August 2019, and later, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on development. Ragnarök garnered universal acclaim from critics and was praised for its storytelling, characters, visuals, level design, and overall improvements to the gameplay over its predecessor. It won Game of the Year at the Titanium Awards and was a nominee for the same award at The Game Awards 2022, where it won Best Narrative, Best Action/Adventure, and Innovation in Accessibility, among other awards and nominations. The game was a commercial success, selling 5.1 million units in its first week, becoming the fastest-selling first-party game in PlayStation history. By early February 2023, 11 million copies of the game had been sold.

[view-from-over-the-controller]

Half-Life 2 and Episodes 1&2 - Why 2023 is the best time to experience this masterpiece. 

Half-Life 2 and its episodes are a cult classic that I revisited in 2022, they are the cool older brother of the gaming industry, sometimes lost on modern gamers now due to their age. But when I picked up the orange box for Xbox 360 I didn't expect this perfect little collection of games to live up and almost point out the flaws of current video games as they did. They have a class about them, a poise, a nuance that makes them feel utterly distinct. 

Much like the cool older brother they have “lived” they have this mystery and status that makes you wish you were there in their hay day, but have a level of care and attention in their design that makes them some of the greatest games that have ever been made. 

In this blog, I will break down how the Gameplay, Story, Atmosphere, and creative freedom make these games just a must-play even 18 years plus after their release!

“Pick up that can” - Gameplay

Possibly the most surprising thing to me when I re-acquainted myself with this masterpiece was the gameplay. The last time I played Half-Life 2 was an era ago when I would sit in my tiny gaming dungeon of a room and wait patiently as the loading screens buffered on my original Xbox! Since then most of the quaint pieces of gameplay had slipped away from my memory as it had been so long. So when I entered into some of these fantastic moments, now flawlessly loading on the Xbox Series X and with some all-time great games under my belt I was invigorated by how much this game stands out to this day as an example of fantastic and intuitive gameplay. 

Physics are are the heart of these games, they are often referred to as a tech demo with a story and the use of these is constantly engaging and makes for some really memorable moments that stand out now against modern games. You are often presented with a scenario that feels like walking into a room with a set of tools hanging on the wall and everything you would need to use them on sprawled out on the floor. Moments that exemplify this are where you are hindered and need to find out via the use of physics how to get yourself to where you need to go. 

As opposed to the more modern takes like Breath Of The Wild where you are literally put into a room with the available tools in the shrines, or God Of War where things at times feel inorganic and forced (you are Kratos why can't you just smash through it?) Half-Life organically places you into scenarios that are obstacles and puzzles but also tutorials and feel like realistic barriers that require problem-solving. 

Such as putting bricks on one side of a see-saw-like plank so that you can use it as a ramp, or using buoyant barrels to fill an underwater crate to rise a platform. Later in the game and into the two episodes the gravity gun opens up so many fantastic and engaging ways to work out how to fix problems like when you can shunt a car into a hole at the top of burrows to stop the Antlion enemies from crawling up out of it. But what makes the physics-based puzzles so fantastic is their variety, their pacing and placement, and that they feel less intentional to get more hours out of the game but genuine obstacles for you to get through to get to where you are going. The tools are often laid in front of you but in a more experimental, do-it-yourself way, you can certainly see how these fed into Portal, utterly brilliant. 

Another thing I must mention before we move on from gameplay is the plethora of weapons that Half-Life offers you as a player and how they not only have a distinct feel but also affect how refreshing and engaging the gameplay feels. The guns are super varied, from the zombie smashing shotgun to the hard-hitting Combine pulse rifle with its ultra satisfying reload animation where tiny spider-like robotic arms discharge and replace the ammo pouches, and a secondary fire that shoots an energy ball that bounces around the room and vaporizes any enemy it comes into contact with. But each weapon doesn't just offer a different means to destroy but a different strategy, Caught in sniper fire? Use cover and sneak up and throw a grenade into where they are. Facing a lot of zombies? Run away through an alley with a gas leak and use the pistol to ignite the flames and watch them burn away! Strider waltzing around laying waste to you and your freedom-fighting pals? Use a rocket launcher and a healthy dose of cover! Antlions burrowing from the floor fly aggressively at your face? Use the ant lion pouch from a queen and they become your new minions to pile into unsuspecting Combine troops. 

Lastly, the gravity gun is the perfect example of how a weapon can be a gameplay tool, use it to pick up objects and smash them into the Combine. Or zombies, or Zombine! Use it to move supplies from unreachable places into your hands, use it to move turrets that are pelting you, Or when supercharged use it to literally grasp the very physical being of your enemies and toss them into each other, or better yet the abyss of the citadel. The gravity gun is one of the most diverse weapons in any game I have ever played, Offering a means to overcome obstacles and puzzles, but also cleverly use it to attack enemies with projectiles! Whatever the weapon the joy of using any of the ones given to you in Half-Life is that there is rarely a moment that they don't also offer you the opportunity to use your ingenuity and find clever means to make them the most lethal, and fun they can be!

“The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world” - Story

Half-Life and its episode's narratives on the surface are about a struggle against a brutal enemy, to bring down an overarching power as a rebellion. To fight Stormtrooper-like enemies and bring down the greater evil that controls them. But before you walk through a crowd of people and are awarded a medal of honor from the alliance, that you hopefully donate to the Wookie that accompanied you along the way, you should realize that this is more than a battle against a cackling Sith lord in a hood but a visceral tale of control, totalitarianism, loneliness, humanity, hope, and desperation that I believe especially now strikes a powerful cord. 

In the wake of the Black Mesa incident, the combine is now almost in full control of the human race, but rather than a swift obliteration there is something more desperate and demoralizing happening, humans are in a suppression field that stops them from breeding. They are under lockdowns in numbered cities being fed on repeat the words of Dr. Breen, a voice that seems to have the feeling of something that is trying to offer you comfort but there is a disconnect, the feeling that although his words are presented in a manner of assurance that there is something just not right, and leaves you with a feeling of unease. 

His echoing words saying, “Welcome to city 17, it’s safer here” then later justifying the current state of goings on and the suppression field in a long speech answering a concerned citizen that had written to him which included disconcerting comments like, “Do our benefactors really know what's best for us? What gives them the right to make this kind of decision for all mankind?”, “Our true enemy is instinct, inseparable from instinct is its dark twin superstition, instinct is inexplicably bound to unreasoning impulses, instinct has just become aware of its irrelevance, and like a cornered beast it will not go down without a bloody fight. It must be fought tooth and nail, beginning with the basest of human urges: the urge to reproduce. We should thank our benefactors for giving us respite from this overpowering force. The suppression field will be shut off the day that we have mastered ourselves. And that day of transformation, I have it on good authority is close at hand”

Although I have abbreviated Dr. Breen's words I believe even here there is enough to unpack, the combine are a disconcerting and mysterious entity, they wish to remove instinct and combine people into subservience, they do this by keeping people scared and forcefully policed. But they also apply further means to shatter the human spirit, keep people moving, and keep people confused and lonely, the people you first meet at the train station echo this, the woman waiting for her husband who she was separated from during the stopping of a train, the man who warns you off the water, “They put something in it, to make you forget, I don't even remember how I got here.” and a man pacing in anxiety about the trains explaining, “They are always departing but they never leave, there always full but no one ever gets on” all of this confusion caused by the combines clever schemes to sever what I believe is the most important human need, connection. One of the ultimate forms of that is sex and the ability to reproduce. Humans are being “Humanely” culled by the suppression field.

The combine are a powerful, intimidating force that makes people submissive through fear, now before I get all “does any of this remind you of the world you're living in now” I will say that Half-Life's story is a sight grimmer than the current state of the world we live in, but the removal of individuality, the lean towards subservience, the use of harsh physical fear inducing policing to establish control, and the voice of a man in a suit in control of where you reside telling you everything is okay but there is just that feeling of mistrust like he’s leading you in a direction that is in no way beneficial to you but certainly to him and his “benefactors” do all in some way make me feel a little uneasy about my own reality and I think that alone is a powerful thing for a video game to evoke in someone. 

But what the story of half-life also does is highlight something that I certainly believe in and that is the unbreakable human spirit. Instinct is the very deep biological call that makes us question the uncomfortable and rise up against it. It's the feeling that calls you to remove yourself from situations that feel wrong. Even if it's that time you're offered a cigarette for the first time and your heart sinks and you think, I shouldn't be doing this. Gordon Freman embodies this, not only for the humans but for the Vortagons too, he is this silent anomaly, that finds a way no matter the situation of force against him, he is the guiding light you play as and every individual fighting the good fight against this suppression rallies behind him and gets to bask in his “freedom” the “free man”. The supporting cast are brilliantly written characters that fight with an upbeat and at times comedic energy against this seemingly unbeatable, unrelenting enemy with limitless resource. Alyx particularly has a great aura, a cheekiness, and slight air of flirtation, but also a childlike nature to her that makes her character particularly lovable, seeing her react to her father or dog is heartwarming, and her mischievous nature showing in excellent moments like when the lights cut out and she makes a zombie noise and laughs as you rush to turn your torch on worried you have unwelcome company but its really just her. 

Each character in halflife and its episodes which are mostly solitary games manages to have genuine feeling and is really well delivered in the moments they get to shine, even Dr. Breen as an antagonist is perfectly performed and used in the narrative. They all add to the great storytelling and they all really motivate you to fight for the people around you, for freedom, and against those who seek to quell it. 

Lastly like with any great storytelling, there is almost more mystery to half-life than there is revealed to you, who are the benefactors? What happened during the seven-hour war? How did Gordon get to city 17? Who is and what are the motives of the Gman?.......................................

{Fades to black} - *A Man in a dark suit approaches with slightly of center, but piercing turquoise eyes*

“Rise and shine…….rr, reader of this blog, Rise and shine! Not that I wish to imply you have been… sleeping on this read. No one is more deserving of a rest. All the effort in the world to understand would have gone to waste until….well, let's just say your time to continue reading has….. come again”

“Welcome…Welcome to city 17” - Atmosphere

The penultimate and perhaps to me most important part of this piece is about the atmosphere, Half-life has a near unexplainable magic in its atmosphere. Not only the source engine itself seems to carry this feeling but the sound effects and music do too. This is that of an eerie almost alien feel. Like you are being watched, but also alone. It's powerful, the sense of being disconnected with what is going on around you but also being intrinsically linked to everything around you as the protagonist. 

The sounds of this game are so distinct, from the distant monotone robotic overlord voice echoing throughout the streets of city 17, to the sounds of the Combine's muffled voices behind their gas masks and the loud flat line as they die, the hissing of Headcrab's, the guttural moaning of the zombies that sound not only terrifying but also like they are suffering, the thundering, alien but yet mechanical moan of a strider, the hum of the gravity gun, the slight tinniness to the sound of anything being moved as if the sounds were recorded in a vast empty room. There is something individual about all of it, but there is a near indescribable nuance that seems to spread between the music and sounds that mirror that feeling of something Alien, of being watched, of being alone, a feeling of despair but also a feeling of hope and at times a sense of calm. Later games like The Last Of Us combine these feelings also but what makes half life special in comparison to The Last Of Us is that it manages to add that spooky otherworldly feel into that mix also. 

A great example of this that I must highlight is the moment when you are under a bridge high above some water and there are these broken metal rails that loosely connect in a platforming section to the other end. As you begin to cross the song “Lab Practicum” plays, this song is filled with preternatural noises and a gong-like synth combined with the whistling wind hits you. (GO ahead and give it a listen) It is a stop-and-stare moment that along with the platforming, the metallic sounds of Gordons feet hitting the metal rails between jumps, and the intense rattle as one of the mysterious trains plows overhead, this is the most “Half-life” feeling moment I can possibly describe from the game. In my opinion, it connects with that part of us, that 6th sense or that “feeling” you get. I will now just place a couple of quotes below I found on the youtube link to this song that not only illustrates how this same piece connected with others but that they also tap into this “feeling” it gives them. All of these games throughout leave you with moments of this. It's just fantastic. 

“This song makes me feel like there is something important I have forgot but I don't know what”

“This song feels like wanting to go home, but knowing there is no home”

“The only way I can describe this is, it's not depressing but just feels like eternal loneliness”

“The Abyss stares back”

Lastly, in this section about the fantastic atmosphere of these games, I must quickly tip my hat to a certain section of Half-Life 2 and that is Ravenholm. As a kid I think Ravenholm was the first time alongside my lifelong best friend that I truly felt fear, the game forces you through this area after cruelly building it up with the chapter name “We don’t go to Ravenholm”. This area is completely overrun by zombies and turns the game from a puzzle shooter to a horror game just for this segment, it's dark, gloomy, and full of zombies old and new. Especially the “Runner” zombies with their distant echoing howls, as opposed to the usual moans of the slower zombies they are particularly terrifying as they sprint on all fours at you and squeal aggressively as they lunge at you. The mood and general ambiance of the zombie-riddled wasteland give this area a distinct and horrific feel. But what I really want to highlight is the first moment you lay eyes on Ravenholm as I feel like with the bridge that this is a seminal moment.

The broken sign lays before you in white block caps you read “RAVENHOLM” and there is a tree with the bottom half of a body strung up on it swaying gently. The feeling of this area is just so eerie and you just have that awful gut check as you gaze upon this obvious and harrowing obstacle in your way and think to yourself “Nope”. This section is an example of how these games throughout the main and episodes flip the script, put you into different scenarios, from the citadel to the outposts, to city 17 and they all have a distinct, interesting, and memorable feel, but what is magic is that those feelings being watched but also being alone, those “spooked hairs on your neck stand up and you check behind you but no one is there” feelings are particularly special and something truly worth experiencing.

“This is the Freeman. The Combines reckoning has come” - Creative freedom

My final reason that I think that these games scratch the “Man this is a great video game and I am thoroughly enjoying myself” itch so well in 2023 and beyond is the feeling of freedom this game has. In a world where movies/games/media feel like it's rinsed dry and has no end in sight this game has a real refreshment to it. As Disney descends back down the hill to the skinny malnourished Star Wars cow, to give her yet another milk to package up and sell to us again, I personally feel a tiredness, a slog that feels like “Create, consume, create, consume” with characters being brought back that stood alone as excellent stories to be given more context and back story, that in my opinion detracts from one of the greatest things about storytelling, Mystery! Now Mos Isely cantina feels like a school reunion as you can probably name 90% of the characters in there and explain how they are all linked when, to begin with, it was this murky bar with strange and fantastic creatures drawing your eye and filling you with wonder. 

Despite standouts like God Of War or Last of Us franchises that go back to the cow and find a new udder with perhaps even tastier milk than the first, Games feel to me like they are restricted like they need to only go back to the safe, and familiar ground but feel like they are under pressure from external forces to ensure they tick political boxes and comply, to market well or be seen to fit in. Which I think in certain circumstances makes them come across as pieces of art made by people who don't really “love” what they are making. They are often filled with obvious and tiresome tutorials and safe narratives. Although I am fully confident that games will continue to be amazing works of art, they definitely feel like they are products more than art at times now. Narrative games releasing with skins you can change the main character to if you purchase them. These kinds of things can make them lose that special magic. 

Half-life is free of this, you can tell there is true craftsmanship behind each moment. That the people that made this game really cared about it, they cared about the narrative, the characters, the world, and the setting, and really cared about keeping this game mysterious. Half-life features a diverse cast of characters that don't feel deliberate but natural. Its narrative is about oppression, humanity, and hope. But none of it feels like it is trying to make a political statement, of course, all art derives from life, but you can tell it's from a time when people were not scrutinizing it because of social issues, and it is just a piece of art. It's a strange mysterious game full of fantastic fun, that shows you where to go without a mini-map and a curser ahead of you, it guides you without words. Silent tutorials like walking up and seeing a flammable barrel and ahead of you a slippery surface leading to the tongues of aliens that you get caught in and they pull you into their mouths above, so you throw the barrel down first and shoot it as it ascends and blow them all up. It gives you problems and the tools without a prompt appearing saying “Barrels can be used to blow enemies up if shot”. Its design does this for you, it makes you think but gives you the tools to work out problems as I mentioned earlier. This along with its narrative that is in my opinion about highlighting that gut “Feeling” of “this isn't right” and ensuring you fight against it makes these games feel so special, especially now. 

These games have a freedom, a narrative that doesn't need explaining because you are supposed to wonder, to question why? I don't think you are ever supposed to really know what's happening. We don't really deep down know why we are what we are as humans, or what is beyond? Or what was before? But like Gordon here we are in this moment, faced with it all, with near no explanation and we may as well pick up a crowbar and follow our feelings and do what we can do help do what we can to feel free. They feature gameplay that promotes being inquisitive and finding a way to move beyond your current obstacle where you can tell the developers care about every moment you find yourself in. There is magic in their atmospheres that evokes so many feelings. They are the foundation from which so many fantastic games have drawn from. They have a timelessness that makes them seminal and so very playable now. They are masterpieces and I belive that the reasons above should give you the motivation to grab yourself the orange box and fire up a console or jump on steam and give these games a playthrough in 2023. if you're lucky it’ll be your first playthrough or if not like me last year give them another whirl and enjoy the nostalgia trip as perhaps you will find the experience, “Freeing”.  

{Your eyes blur as if reality is crashing all around you, a man in a suit approaches again}

“Time…….. Is it really that time again? It seems as if you have only just arrived. You have read a great deal in this short timespan, You've done so …. Well in fact, that I have received some interesting offers for your services, ordinarily I wouldn't contemplate them. But these are …….. Extraordinary times.”

[samprestonbigbadabruce]

John Wick...the Video Game?

With the upcoming fourth iteration of John Wick, which will likely be another awesome event, there has been recent discussions of a possible video game based on John Wick by the CEO of Lionsgate. While not a gamer myself, this would be a great decision, capitalizing on the popularity of the series and allowing fans the dream of representing Wick in action. In fact, there are some clips already on YouTube of John Wick in the Unreal Engine 5 world.

The question I have is what type of game could they incorporate? A simple adaptation of the movies seems a bit obvious and underwhelming, so what could they make instead? Unquestionably it has to be an open world style, possibly in the guise of Grand Theft Auto or more likely, Red Dead Redemption, allowing side quests to accomplish alongside the main gameplay.

You’d have to include three different types of gameplay, which would cover the three main parts of John Wick’s appeal:

Car chases

Gunplay

Hand-to-hand combat

The style could be akin to the most recent iterations of God of War and God of War:Ragnarok, a one-shot camera that follows the protagonist as they travel the world, mixing between distance attacks (gunplay) and hand-to-hand combat, while using the horse riding of Red Dead Redemption to replicate the car chases for Wick.

But what would the story be? Personally, I feel the perfect choice would be based on a scene from the first movie:

A masterclass scene that introduces the mythos of who John Wick is and why you should be terrified. I personally would have the opening of the game feature Wick undertaking a hit (which can count as a training sequence getting you used to the guns and combat system), with Wick afterwards meeting his girlfriend Helen and deciding he needs to leave the business.

Based in New York City, you could have Viggo Tarasov as the leader of the Russian Mafia based in Manhattan but the weakest of Five Families, and Wick is given the task of eliminating the other four families, to allow the Russian Mafia to take over New York City completely.  Each family could have their own borough, working through The Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens as you battle through each families mob and eventually kill the leader of each family.

As you kill enemies, you can earn new gold coins that you can use in a Continental Hotel (one based in each borough) to upgrade weapons, outfit and contacts, meeting a different Sommelier in each one, cameos from Winston, John Lequizamo’s Aurelio (when upgrading vehicles) and other assassins from the movies. As you take over different areas of the five boroughs, the reputation for the Russian Mafia builds up, with the aim to reach 100%.

The option of variety in antagonist you can have, the different guns and vehicles, but more than anything, the possible size of this world could be amazing. New York City has a square mile of 302.6 miles, There are only twelve games supposedly bigger as of 2022, which includes Just Cause 3, Final Fantasy XV, The Elder Scrolls II and No Man’s Sky. I for one would love to see this game.

What about you, any thoughts, things you’d like to see, ideas you’d incorporate?

[killscreencinema]

God of War Ragnarök (Playstation 4)

God of War 2018 was one of standout games of that year, but my memory of it is bittersweet, as it was the last game I would ever rent from the Family Video next to my apartment before it was turned into an... AutoZone. Yuck. There's nothing wrong with an AutoZone... unless there's an O'Reilly's right down the road already, making another car parts store completely unnecessary... but video stores are a dying breed and have such a unique magic to them. Living next to one was a dream come true for a video game/movie nut like me, so seeing it not only close but turn into something as ubiquitous as an AutoZone, well, it was my own personal Ragnarok.

Which brings me to God of War Ragnarok, developed and published by Sony's Santa Monica Studio in 2022, and the conclusion to the Nordic saga, which shocked the shit out of me! I mean, I guess with a title like "Ragnarok" it would have to be, but I still assumed this would be a trilogy. I'm fine with a duology, though, because boy oh boy is this story epic and it wraps up so well (while still leaving options open for future adventures with these characters).

The game plays similarly to the previous entry, but it's been too long since I played God of War 2018 to really compare. The combat is still a blast - challenging, but fair, and with plenty in your arsenal to help give you the edge. The armor and weapon options seem much expanded as well, especially armor. I was continually surprised with the variety of armor, all of which have their pros and cons.

Here's the thing - I don't want to get too much into the gameplay because it's pointless and can best be summed up with: it's good. It's good game. However, the real reason to play God of War Ragnarok is the same reason you should play God of War 2018: the story. As mentioned above, the story is huge, much longer and complex than GoW 2018, and deals with some complex themes like the difficulties of becoming an adult, whether it be struggling to be recognized as an adult or a parent letting their child go. The story also deals with fate, and whether or not one can change it or if the very act of changing fate is what brings it to be in the first place. A lot of the tensions between Kratos and Atreus come down to a lack of communication, as the two keep secrets from each other in the misguided desire to protect one another, and to the story's credit, the characters don't spend the whole game this way - they grow, and learn, and resolve their issues rather than belabor them for the sake of plot.

Although it isn't explicitly stated, the game also deals with the issue of toxic masculinity in ways that are restrained and subtle. While Kratos is a physically strong warrior, who is in many ways the "masculine ideal", he also exhibits "feminine" traits like compassion and empathy. Kratos, while stoic for the most part, is also unafraid to express his emotions. It's all of these things, and more, that he imparts to Atreus, not just how to hunt a deer or hand-to-hand combat. By the story's end, Kratos makes it clear to Atreus that his compassion and empathy is not a weakness, but a strength more formidable and valuable than even Krato's brute force power. In direct contrast, Odin's family is mired in toxicity, where value is placed more on how useful one is to Odin than the strength of their character or integrity. It's Odin's selfishness, arrogance, and toxic behavior to those he loves that ultimately brings about Ragnarok more than anything that Kratos or Atreus does.

Also, I'd be remiss not to mention how Christopher Judge puts in yet another powerhouse performance as Kratos. He recently won a Video Game award for his performance, but the man deserves a Golden Globe or something. As mentioned before, Kratos is a complicated character, and Judge's performance is such that even a grunt and speak volumes.

My only critique of the game is the menu system is a little clunky. That is all.

If you're a Playstation owner and haven't played both God of War 2018 and Ragnarok, you're doing yourself a disservice and wasting the console.