GOD OF WAR (2018): THE ANGRIEST GOD LEARNS TO BE A FATHER
9.5 of 10 bananas. Kratos grows up, the axe comes back to his hand, and a whole genre learned from it.
By the Alpha. PS4 standard edition disc listing. Updated Oct 2026.
Platforms: The PS4 standard edition disc is the Amazon button. It also plays on a PS5 with a disc drive. PC on Steam exists too. This page sells the PS4 disc only. At my check stock was thin, so the seller and price on that listing can change. Check them before you pay.
Get God of War for PS4 on AmazonSit with me a moment. The first time I threw the Leviathan Axe into a draugr, walked away, and called it back through his friend's skull, I put the controller down and laughed out loud. Old gorilla, many hype cycles, and I still remember that sound. Then the boy said something quiet, and Kratos did not know how to answer him. That is the whole game in one minute: brutal hands, clumsy heart.
What It Wants To Be
Santa Monica Studio rebuilt the series from the ground up for PS4 in April 2018. Kratos has left Greece behind and lives in the Norse wilds with his son Atreus. His wife has died, and her last wish is to have her ashes scattered from the highest peak in all the realms. The camera never cuts away from them. It is one continuous shot, from the first tree to the last mountain. The PC version came to Steam in January 2022.
What Works
The axe is one of the best weapons ever put in a game. Throw it, freeze an enemy to the wall, punch the next one bare-handed, then recall it mid-combo. Atreus is a real partner with his bow, not a burden. Mimir, the talking head on Kratos' belt, is the best storyteller in the canopy, and his tales fill every boat ride on the Lake of Nine. The world opens up like a puzzle box, with hidden realms and side paths that reward curious climbers. The optional Valkyrie fights are among the hardest and most satisfying bosses of the PS4 era.
What Breaks
Listen well. Enemy variety is thin. You fight the same trolls in new paint more times than a proud ape wants to admit. The gear screen is crowded with stats, enchantments, and crafting parts that ask for spreadsheet patience. Some early stretches lean hard on slow climbing and squeeze-through-the-gap walking. And if you came for the old button-mashing rampage, this Kratos is heavier, slower, and more thoughtful. That is a choice, not a flaw, but it will not suit everyone.
Who Should Play
Play if you love story-driven action, boss fights that test your patience, and a father and son tale with real weight. Skip if you need nonstop speed or hate gear menus. Play this one first, then read my God of War Ragnarok verdict for the sequel.
STRENGTHS
- The Leviathan Axe throw and recall
- One-shot camera that never cuts away
- Mimir's stories on every boat ride
- Valkyrie boss fights
HONEST COSTS
- Thin enemy variety
- Busy gear and crafting menus
- Slow climbing stretches early
- Button is the PS4 disc, stock was low at my check
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