God of War: Ragnarök has launched to major acclaim from both critics and fans alike. The title from Santa Monica Studio which is available on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, has exceeded the original God of War and ensured that the narrative continues in a genuinely satisfying way.
Despite the love that's coming in for the video game experience, not every player has a mainstream attitude toward the piece. These Redditors have been sharing their unpopular opinions and reactions to the title, with most God of War: Ragnarök fans likely not too pleased with their point of view.
10 The New Auto Set-Up Gear System
The gear system in the original God of War was slightly complex. While players eventually got used to it, there were some complaints that might have proven unpopular among those who appreciated the crafting and customizable aspects of the Kratos setup.
God of War: Ragnarök is utilizing a similar system but provides the option to auto-set the best gear. Purists might but unhappy with that, with AnOfferYouCanRefuse saying, "Many players like that stuff... I look forward to minimally engaging with this system." For some it might be a little unpopular that this auto system is the preferred option, but it will provide easier accessibility.
9 Removing The Gear System Entirely
The gear system will continue to be a significant area of discussion for new players though, as they argue over the best armor sets and how to craft them. For some, the auto-system just isn't enough, and controversially would like a complete overhaul or even removal for the sequel; something they haven't received.
User Serizilla_602 said, "I wish they removed the gear system. It served no purpose aside from gating the later levels artificially." It's a point of criticism from the first title that continues to plague the second, but most still want that opportunity to craft on their own terms.
8 God Of War Semi-Sequel
Fans have been genuinely excited to see where Ragnarök will go in terms of its story details and new gameplay elements. But immediate reactions from those who got their hands on the title first led to many painting similarities between the initial game and the sequel.
chewin_3 analyzed these reactions further though, making a point that might be unpopular among the community by saying "I wouldn't be surprised if some of the criticism of Ragnarök for many would be 'it's just GoW 1.5'." Despite this argument, there are plenty of new characters and significant depth to the game that will help it avoid such comparisons in mainstream feedback.
7 The Difficulty Level
It's one of the oldest areas of discourse in video game history: choosing the difficulty level for your first playthrough. For the most part, throughout Reddit and general social media, it's clear that fans want to experience the story first and would opt for the easier difficulty settings.
There is no wrong answer, although considering the mainstream approach FreakLikeChewy's opinion may be a tad unpopular saying, "Whatever the hardest difficulty available is. Make me suffer!" They'll likely still have fun, but this thought process certainly isn't for everyone and many prefer to immerse themselves in the story first without having to redo the same battles over and over, especially when they're unfamiliar with the fighting style at first.
6 Give Me God Of War
Regardless of the discussions surrounding how to start God of War: Ragnarök, many people did enjoy replaying the game through the hardest difficulty, in order to unlock an exclusive skin. The difficulty 'Give Me God Of War' is thus designed as the ultimate test, but not necessarily the normal way to experience the game.
The option should certainly be there, but Gorotheninja went against trends and hoped Santa Monica Studio wouldn't repeat the mode. Discussing it in detail, they referred to the first title when they said "Going through GMGOW recently was so ******* annoying. Every bit of difficulty in that mode felt arbitrary and antithetical to the combat mechanics already present in the game." Regardless, Ragnarök does include the mode for those who want it.
5 Game Of The Year Debate
God of War: Ragnarök was one of the games that players were most looking forward to in 2022, however, there was another title that might have rivaled it in anticipation levels. Now that they have both been released, the debate is on as to what will gain Game of the Year, Ragnarök or Elden Ring.
Those who have been fans of the God of War franchise for many years are of course going to side with Ragnarök. But funnyfunny420 said, "I already expected it to be better than 2018. Even then, I don’t see it beating Elden Ring as GOTY for me. ER was something special." That discourse is only going to continue into 2023 as long-term reactions can gauge how the games age.
4 Graphical Improvements
One of the penchants of the God of War franchise is that there have been massive graphical improvements between each installment. That's partially because of the speed in which technological improvements have been made in the industry and also because of the shift in console generations.
Many have noticed a more detail-focused approach to the graphics of Ragnarök with subtle improvements adding to its photo-realism. Yet, with many caveats, WolfmansGotNards2 did unpopularly point out that "I did notice the graphical leap isn't nearly as much as PS2 to PS3 or PS3 to PS4. Why is that? No hate though. I already pre-ordered it. I'm just curious." The popular consensus is that the game is stunning.
3 Shield Skill Tree
Changes have to happen for games to move forward. Not everything from God of War could be copied over to Ragnarök. For the most part, fans are happy with all the shifts, especially when it comes to the new ways in which they can advance Kratos and his weaponry.
Although, JustArran7 has said "the shield skill tree is gone man, :( You would think they would build on the last games skills which they did to an extent but shield feels barebones now." The original poster, sobchak_securities91 countered this though saying, "Actually man, I’m enjoying it. I think they streamlined it," which continues to be the overwhelming reaction.
2 A Special Move
Much like the skill trees, certain animations and moves within combat have also been changed, to reflect a Kratos that continues to evolve and of course to ensure that the fan base doesn't get bored with the same movements again and again. It's an important component in the development of the sequel.
Mostly the audience is on board with this, with some of the best animations simply getting redistributed in other forms. But that OP sobchak_securities91 said, "I SORELY miss from GOW…The Executioner’s cleave... I know we have the R3 stun kill, which is basically the cleave animation, but it feels different. In GOW, it felt really like something I had to plan ahead." For the most part though, reviews are pointing to the combat revolution as a great step forward that pays homage to the original still.
1 Atreus' Explanations
Those familiar with God of War will know that Atreus can be a massive help when the player gets stuck. Their narrative still fleshes out the lore of the world, but provides hints and tricks on how to progress. Casual gamers will especially find this feature useful, as it returns in the sequel.
However, FunkinDonutzz has said "Another Sony game, another character that will tell you exactly what to do before you can survey the scene. Please Atreus, just shut up." Atreus is a pretty popular character in the community and his useful dialogue has already been aiding veterans and newcomers alike.
Source:gamerant.com