God Of War launch date is just a week away & we have a whole bunch of God Of War reviews out now at the same time on major gaming & non-gaming websites.

It is a huge risk for the game studio to send out early review copies to major gaming websites & reviewed it days or weeks before the game hit the store shelves, which could hugely impact the sales of the game. Santa Monica Studios & Sony Interactive Entertainment placed an immense amount of effort & faith on this, confident that they have made the best game they possibly could & lots of people would enjoy it.

So what do the critics think about the game? They absolutely love it! The game received a unanimous praise from every critics, even from non-gaming websites. To find out what the critic have to say, check out the review round up from major gaming & non-gaming websites below.

Polygon

A decade ago, director Cory Barlog helped establish the God of War franchise as an iconic gory and debaucherous video game romp. While its antihero, Kratos, had pathos (he killed his wife and daughter in a fit of rage, his skin forever grayed by their ashes), it served little dramatic purpose, rather existing as a grimdark excuse for his god-slaying and orgy-having ways. Barlog — now older, a father — has returned to the series with a bundle of talented designers, many of whom served on the earlier games, to make good on that rich but neglected potential at its core. There’s still plenty of gore, but the now the guts have meatiness.

Some die-hard fans may fear this isn’t really God of War. I suppose they’re right. It’s even better.

https://www.polygon.com/2018/4/12/17226486/god-of-war-review-ps4-2018

Game Revolution

I've never given a game a perfect score before, and I thought long and hard about whether or not God of War deserves it. No matter how much I enjoy a game, typically there are at least a few moments where I get frustrated or bored, but not with this one. It's possibly the best example of what the PS4 has to offer, and I feel like it's going to be one of those games that instantly comes to mind when they think of this console generation.

The graphics, sound, combat, world, and plot all come together to make an exquisite package that is a prime example of why games are art and God of War is right up there with the best films and novels when it comes to storytelling. If you have a PlayStation 4, you should play God of War. If you don't have one, you should consider getting one to play this game.

http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/381919-god-of-war-review-an-olympian-feat

Dualshockers

Ultimately, God of War is the perfect example of how it’s possible to revolutionize a beloved series while improving it massively, in a way that does not feel unnatural. Mechanical improvements add up on top of a compelling story and impressively solid and likable characters.

Cory Barlog and his team managed to reinvent the wheel, and while they added more pieces, it rolls smoother than ever before, providing the best God of War experience of the history of the franchise.

https://www.dualshockers.com/god-of-war-review/

Gamesradar+

Realistically, however, I don’t think it’s possible to overstate just how good God of War is; how well realised its world, how nuanced and layered its characters and storytelling. The depth and craft of its combat, puzzles and almost every system it has sparkles and shines with an indulgence and luxury that regularly stopped me in my tracks to drink it all in. Whether breathless and bloody in the aftermath of an axe-hacked victory, or watching Kratos and his son Atreus share a genuinely human moment, this is a level of game making that doesn’t happen often. The final question really isn’t about where it sits in any game of the year discussions, but rather its place in eventual game of the generation talks. 

https://www.gamesradar.com/god-of-war-review/

PlayStation Lifestyle

God of War is an epic reboot of an epic franchise. The evolution of Kratos could have gone horribly wrong. Instead, Santa Monica Studio has given the franchise the treatment it deserves. This new narrative tone has heart, and serves to make Kratos much more relatable in his new role as protector, while remaining as brutal as past installments. Reworked and improved combat options make for an enjoyable and customizable experience, and phenomenal audiovisual performance ensures that each trip to the mythical lands before the Vikings is a wonderfully grisly experience. God of War is a must-buy experience well worth the wait.

http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2018/04/12/god-war-review-shattered-chains-past-ps4/

Push Square

God of War is a special game. This reimagining of the famous PlayStation franchise elevates the series in unexpected ways, without forgetting the core tenets that made Kratos a fan-favourite to begin with. This is a sprawling single player epic with an abundance of secrets and a storyline that keeps you hooked from start-to-finish. While it borrows liberally from other action adventure greats, its unique combat and outstanding artistic direction separate it from its immediate peers. A truly impressive achievement.

http://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/god_of_war

Eurogamer

Such are the intricate pleasures of brawling your way through Midgard and beyond, it can sometimes be hard to notice all the game's wilder ambitions. Despite the plotting, I didn't really reflect much on God of War's relationship with the other big relationship games out there: Kratos and Atreus just sort of get on with it. Despite the backtracking, I didn't really think much about the fact that the whole adventure was knotted up in an audacious, improbably calm single shot with no cutaways or flashbacks. There's padding and asset reuse, but look at the richness of the assets and the world they are delivering. And at the end of it there's still so much left to mop up, still so much that remains unseen. God of War does a lot with holy light and crumbling temples, but one of its best moments involves waves of enemies and two bonfires that must not be extinguished. It is capable of making fun from very straightforward things.

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-04-12-god-of-war-review-astonishing-technological-craft-in-the-service-of-simple-pleasures

Gamespot

In many ways God of War is what the series has always been. It's a spectacular action game with epic set pieces, big-budget production values, and hard-hitting combat that grows more feverish and impressive as you progress. What may surprise you is how mature its storytelling has become. Like Kratos, God of War recalls the past while acknowledging the need to improve. Everything new it does is for the better, and everything it holds onto benefits as a result. Kratos is no longer a predictable brute. God of War is no longer an old-fashioned action series. With this reboot, it confidently walks a new path that will hopefully lead to more exciting adventures to come.

https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/god-of-war-review-just-shy-of-a-masterpiece/1900-6416893/

Destructoid

Don't think that Santa Monica put all of their effort into dialogue and drama, as God of War maintains the same bonkers-level boss fights and setpieces, all of which are presented in the stunning in-game engine that features a hell of a draw distance. Environmental destruction helps give fights scale, and the new engine is constantly trying to push the envelope. I was hanging on by a thread in what feels like nearly every battle, which speaks to the balance team's talent on a technical level too.

https://www.destructoid.com/review-god-of-war-ps4--497165.phtml

Game Informer

Years ago, Kratos killed the deities of Mount Olympus in a gory rampage. Now, in the Norse realm, he has remade himself into a different kind of god. He is quieter and more deliberate, affected by his history but not constrained by it. Kratos’ reinvention serves as a narrative hook, but it also parallels the series’ evolution as a whole; where God of War once relied on bombast and bloodlust, now it leaves space for strategy and nuance. It still has superb action and plenty of jaw-dropping moments, but it supports them with a new level of depth and maturity. God of War learns from its past while clearing an exciting path for the future, and emerges as one of the best games of this generation.

http://www.gameinformer.com/games/god_of_war/b/playstation4/archive/2018/04/12/god-of-war-ps4-review-game-informer.aspx

The Verge

God of War is the kind of lush, expensive single-player experience that has become increasingly rare in a world where online, service-heavy titles have come to dominate blockbuster games. It feels singular in its purpose, and it pulls it off magnificently. There are some minor nitpicks — the narrative’s heavy use of magical MacGuffins, a needlessly complex loot system, and an over-reliance on particularly gruesome kills — but they do little to detract from the overall experience. On their own, the various elements that make up God of War don’t sound especially unique or interesting. But it’s the way they work together — how the story informs the action and vice versa — that makes it memorable. God of War takes a one-dimensional series and turns it into something with depth and emotion.

This isn’t the Kratos you remember — and that’s what makes it work so well.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/12/17223854/god-of-war-review-ps4

Kotaku

Hey, want to feel as old as Kratos? It’s been over 13 years since the first God of War was released for the PlayStation 2. Between its brutal, beautiful combat, its unique and dramatic story, and its groundbreaking camera work, that debut was like nothing I’d ever played before. It was an entity unto itself. 2018's God of War seems more content to borrow from other successful recent games: it’s a little bit Witcher, a little bit Dark Souls, a little bit The Last Of Us, and a little bit old-school God of War. It feels like more of a trend follower than a trendsetter, a pastiche of ideas. But they are good ideas, done well enough to bring a once-stale series back up from the depths of Helheim.

https://kotaku.com/god-of-war-the-kotaku-review-1825188422

IGN

I expected great action from God of War, and it delivers that handily. But I didn’t expect it to be a thrilling journey in which every aspect of it complements the others to form what is nothing short of a masterpiece. It’s a game in which Kratos, a previously one-note character, becomes a complex father, warrior, and monster, embattled both on the field and within his own heart about how to treat his son; one in which the world opens up and shifts, offering rewards in both gameplay and knowledge of its lore that I treasured with each accomplishment. The obvious care that went into crafting its world, characters, and gameplay delivers by far the most stirring and memorable game in the series.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/04/12/god-of-war-review

Attack Of The Fanboy

It’s hard to imagine a God of War fan not enjoying this, for all the reasons that we DID mention and some that we’re holding back for the sake of spoilers. Eventhough it has seen considerable changes from previous games in the series, they almost all feel like they were for the better.  It’s a bigger, better looking game than any in the series.  The tone is a welcome change that shows us a side of Kratos that hasn’t been seen before, while introducing us to a brand new world.  There are countless hours to spend on the single player campaign and there’s a ton of stuff to keep you busy on the side. Regardless, this next chapter in the life of Kratos seems like it’s going to be just as interesting as his younger years.

https://attackofthefanboy.com/reviews/god-of-war/

The Sixth Axis

A lot of what goes into God of War feels as though it was cherry-picked from the modern gaming zeitgeist. The semi-open world structure, loot system, and a much deeper narrative focus work well, but are all trends being pushed by most other big games. As a result, God of War can feel slightly homogenised in a way that some fans may find unappealing. Thankfully, a strong sense of setting and brutally satisfying combat help maintain that God of War identity. If it wasn’t made abundantly clear already, this is the first in what will most likely be a new trilogy for the God of War franchise, and this first instalment serves as a pretty great foundation.

http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2018/04/12/god-of-war-review/

VG24/7

God of War has grown up. It is violent, but it’s not excessive. It is angry, but there is something to contrast it against. There is a flash of nipple, but it’s Kratos’s. Kratos is older, and he feels remorse for his past, but it feels like Sony Santa Monica also wants to atone. If that was God of War’s goal, the studio deserves a standing ovation. This isn’t only the best God of War game, it’s one of the best games of the current generation.

https://www.vg247.com/2018/04/12/god-war-review/

Cheat Code Central

God of War feels ambitious in the best kind of way: the messy kind. It’s not afraid to get its hands dirty digging at something it thinks is interesting, while knowing it might not find it at that moment. It’s fine with not telling you everything, or with dialing back on the usual tropes of loud music, brutal violence, and hamfisted emotional manipulation. Sometimes, God of War just wants you to take some time and think about how you feel, and compare notes with Kratos as he struggles through his trauma to relate to his kid. And sure, sometimes you beat group of monsters to death by juggling them in the air with a magic axe and a pack of wolves made of lightning fired from a bow. It’s still a video game about a violent, hulking bald man, but it’s thoughtful and, most importantly, genuine.

http://www.cheatcc.com/ps4/rev/godofwar2018review.html

Gaming Trend

It’s very rare that a game grabs me this completely, but God of War is, without a doubt, an early contender for Game of the Year. It’s flawless in its execution, and the new benchmark for action titles. Well done, Santa Monica Studios, and thanks for taking us on this entirely new adventure.

http://gamingtrend.com/feature/reviews/apple-doesnt-fall-far-god-of-war-review

God Is Geek

This is easily up there with the best games of this generation, and it’s the easiest ten out of ten I’ve ever given. When you think you’re reaching a point where the gameplay slows down, you’re introduced to something better. This is by no means a game just for original fans of the series either. Due to the new setting, newcomers will enjoy it just as much. It’s welcoming and punishing, but ultimately satisfying, and the benchmark has been set firmly for the future of video games. A masterpiece.

http://www.godisageek.com/reviews/god-of-war-review/

COG

God of War isn’t just a great God of War game, it’s the best so far. Sony Santa Monica has clearly put love into this latest title of the series and given both longtime fans and newcomers a monumental gaming achievement. Put your fears to rest – yes, Kratos is getting older, but even after all this time, he’s better than ever.

http://cogconnected.com/review/god-war-review/

Gaming Nexus

This God of War game stands on its own. It’s beautiful. It’s savage. And it even gets real as I re-examine my own parenting tactics. You might not have a kid. But don’t let that scare you. You’ve definitely been a kid. And seeing how this father-son dynamic plays out with a Norse mythology backdrop—you know, like in real life—is a thoughtful conversation punctuated with axe and arrow wounds.

This is a skull-smashing story about making mistakes and taking responsibility. While hacking and slashing their enemies, a father and son build bonds of love and loyalty. God of War is a minor masterpiece.

https://www.gamingnexus.com/Article/5654/God-of-War-(2018)/

EGM Now

God of War shows us how the evolution of a series, no matter how popular it is in its original state, is essential for it to improve. The end game doesn’t expand on the game’s strengths quite to the extent that it could, but such an omission is only notable due to the uncompromising quality of everything leading up to it. God of War does exactly what it sets out to do, and if it isn’t perfect, it’s damn near close.

http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/god-of-war-review/

Forbes

This new God of War does that for Norse mythology, but in a different way: we still have the grandeur here and there, between the massive, stone-swinging trolls, the great coiled World Serpent and a few other pieces of set dressing I won't spoil. But it does something beyond that, too, giving us a much more involved look at the twisted family drama that make up these stories as well. The Gods here are more human then they've ever been, and there's something as captivating about that as there was about the larger-than-life absurdity of characters like Poseidon and Hades in the original series. God of War works for what it keeps and works for what it changes. It's a foundation for a series that's suddenly a tentpole once again.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2018/04/12/god-of-war-review/#34a7106488a4

PSU

We return to a father and son. Even while incorporating camera techniques, RPG conventions, and open-world tropes of the last half-decade of gaming, God of War strikes with singular vision. Kratos and Atreus are the beating heart of this journey, which asks what’s left to pass on after we’ve made peace with ourselves. In doing so, it reconciles with a gaming legend and successfully writes his next chapter: a challenging, emotionally affecting adventure that stands among PlayStation’s best.

https://www.psu.com/reviews/god-of-war-review-ps4/

CGM

God of War has evolved and brings players a new and rewarding experience. While the setting and pantheon have changed, the core of what makes a God of War game remains ever present in all aspects of the experience. This is without a doubt the best God of War game yet, and arguably one of the best games currently on the PlayStation 4. Whether you are a newcomer to the franchise or a veteran player, you would do yourself a disservice by not playing this game. God of War is back, and better than ever!

https://www.cgmagonline.com/reviews/god-of-war-ps4-2018-review/