Ok I was gonna say that I didn't see the fuss about the God of War graphics because they don't seem any better than Uncharted. But Uncharted doesn't have those kinds of special effects like in that gif, so I guess that is quite good.
@ThanosReXXX I promised to give an update on the mythology in God of War, so here it goes! I put it in spoiler tags just in case someone wants to go in completely blind, but I won't spoil the game itself!
I have to say I'm quite impressed. Santa Monica Studio did their research. I may not be obvious in the beginning of the game, but through some clever plot twists it all makes a lot more sense in the end, and in hindsight you can tell that it follows Norse mythology a lot more closely than it seems at first.
As with any adaption, the only way to stick 100% to the source material is to tell the source material, but the story in this game obviously involves a demi-god from another mythology, so you need some imagination here and there. Though I have to say that I like this adaptation way more than something you would find in Marvel's Thor series for example.
The game makes clever use of some uncertainties in Norse mythology. For example, there's a whole debate between scholars over Freya and Frigg being the same person, because seems very plausible that they originated from the same god. However, different sources also seem to point to them as different characters. So God of War can take these characters and makes them one characters. Even though this probably wasn't what the people living in Scandinavia in the 1200s believed, it may have been true for the people living in the year 700 for example, or a long time before that. So depending on your source, or the interpretation, you could argue that there's some rationality behind it.
I believe I also mentioned Norse runes. Well, it turns out that those are not simple transliterations. The runes are the elder Futhark (which makes sense, being the oldest form of runes as far as we know), and the language seems to be some kind of old Germanic/Old Norse language. I'm not entirely sure if they hired a linguist or if it's all made up, but it all seemed very believable from what the ''boy'' translated (Kratos cannot read nor speak the old language).
The world itself it pretty interesting. You start out in Midgard, and you get to explore some of the other realms later in the game. Their purpose is more story-related, but you can go back to them at any time and explore the place a bit more (there are a few secrets if you return with new powers for example, classic Zelda). However, Midgard is the main ''hub'', and it's where you will spent the vast majority of your time. I believe that the Midgard is described as a land surrounded by an ocean (which is in turn surrounded by a giant (ice?) wall). Midgard in God of War is the opposite of that. There's a big ocean (though it's called The lake of Nine) in the middle, and it's surrounded by land. The World Serpent doesn't circle around Midgard in the ocean either, but he is kinda everywhere. The thing is pretty huge, to give you an idea, here's an image: https://i.redd.it/2xjyzuuyiyt01.jpg Its body is visible in most parts of Midgard, from the lake to distant mountains.
The other realms are definitely smaller, but I'm certain we'll get to explore more of them in a potential sequel. Alfheim is pretty much what you expect from the realm of the elves, a clear Tolkien influence, but that's fine I suppose. We don't really know a lot about Alfheim to begin with. Muspelheim and Niflheim are interesting, as the two primordial realms, I expected a volcano realm and a cold icy realm. I got the first one, albeit it's more like a dormant volcano than the scene from Thor: Ragnarok. Though I guess they're kinda comparable. Niflheim on the other hand isn't cold. There's an in-game explanation that both world have cooled down/warmed up over the years, explaining why it's even possible to travel to them in the first place. Niflheim, though, is filled with a poisonous mist instead. And it's more a challenge realm anyway (it's optional too). They gave the status of ice realm to Helheim, which is completely frozen over with strong blizzards. It's something that makes sense story-wise. It's a lot more interesting to explore a place of everlasting blizzards, ghouls and death, and realm that is supposed to be a mere continuation of life according to Norse mythology. And I believe that the idea that Helheim is a place of death was mostly caused by the influence of the Abrahamic concept of ''Hell''. So I guess that the latter two realms aren't exactly like I imagined them to be, it's almost as if they switched them in a way.
Anyway, this post is getting pretty long, so I'm going to end it soon. I will say that there's a lot of lore in the game and most of it is told my Mimir, whenever you travel by boat, the severed head will tell Atreus/boy stories about the aesir and vanir gods, and the jotunn. It's essentially background lore during the Wind Waker boat parts, that's pretty neat. The amount of dialogue recorded is pretty insane though. I stopped in the middle of the lake once and I just let them talk, and it kept going on for a good 20 minutes before I returned to the game. Most of the stories told seem to come directly from Norse mythology, anything from silly stories about trolls and giants to more plot-related lore about Odin, Thor and Ragnarok.
I also watched a podcast with the director Cory Barlog the other day, and he also explained that the team came up with a lot more content, lore and story than what can be found in the game. He even referenced George Lucas from the time he worked at LucasArts. Apparently Lucas wrote several dozens of episodes before they filmed the first Star Wars film. He wanted to have enough source material to reference during the first film. And I guess that once everything's written down, you don't have to make stuff up as you go. And they make more than one game (which I believe they will), I'm certain that the end product (as in the entire Norse GOW series) will feel more coherent story-wise. I like that, because it's an issue many stories in video games have. Nobody thinks about the sequels when making the first game, but it's clear that this one has been made with sequels in mind. Even this game on its own references stuff very early in game that you won't get because it won't happen until later in the game. So it'll either result in a plot twist, an ''a-ha!'' moment, or something that you won't even catch until you play it a second time.
@Octane The Playstation 4 fan thread? Whà à à à à t?? How the hell did I get here? Must've stepped into the wrong wormhole...
But all kidding aside, thanks very much for that quite detailed explanation of your journey through the game so far. Over the years I've learned that online promises only go so far, and most of the times aren't fulfilled, so the fact that you've actually done that, speaks volumes of who and what you are and is much appreciated.
The story sounds quite interesting and it certainly does come across like they've done their research this time, or at least: done it better than with the Greek mythology in that they keep it more close to the source material with only small creative liberties. I can appreciate that much more than all the over-Americanized, over the top spectacles that most of the previous games had.
As far as Marvel's Thor is concerned: I wouldn't compare it to that, seeing as everything that Marvel does, that has to do with mythology, is only ever a highly stylized version of it, that only scratches the surface of the source material. Norse mythology is actually very grounded, rooted in the four elements and in family and heritage, and aspects of that, can still be found in modern Scandinavian society, such as in family relations and reference and respect for nature and the elements.
Your description might not exactly prompt me to buy a PS4, because like I already explained to you, I just can't validate to myself buying a console for just a couple of games, but I probably will check out one of these complete game movies including both cut scenes and gameplay, once one becomes available on YouTube, so I can still get to know the entire story regardless of not owning the console.
So, that's what you've at the very least achieved, which is actually quite something, and more than you might realize, considering my stance towards Sony and the GoW series in general, so give yourself a PS Trophy.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll head on over to the Nintendo/Xbox wormhole, to get back to where I'm supposed to be...
'The console wars are like boobs: Sony and Microsoft fight over which ones look the nicest and Nintendo's are the most fun to play with.'
So....I tried Bloodborne again....and I still don't get it. The world, the gameplay, the abilities, the story..... It's a beautiful looking game....though flat in lighting. But I just don't get the game, and I don't think it's very fun to play. I know that's a very unpopular opinion, but even for free it feels like a waste of money.
So....I tried Bloodborne again....and I still don't get it. The world, the gameplay, the abilities, the story..... It's a beautiful looking game....though flat in lighting. But I just don't get the game, and I don't think it's very fun to play. I know that's a very unpopular opinion, but even for free it feels like a waste of money.
What don't you get? I mean...I don't think it's that hard to "get" in the sense of "what it's trying to do". It's got a horror-esque atmosphere and a sense of dread, with a healthy dose of insanity. That theme permeates throughout the rest of the design of the game, which favors the cautious through it's difficult and fiendish level design, while also promoting fast-paced and accurate combat finesse, allowing you to make up for mistakes if you can quickly counter with a flurry of blows. This sense of risk vs. reward, mixed with more fairness and intuitive combat mechanics than its direct predecessors in the Dark Souls franchise, makes it a very exciting game with plenty of intense situations - yet it never truly discourages. There are in-game tools that will make it easier, and again, if you're cautious and look for tells and warnings, you can do well and succeed. In those cases where an enemy seems too powerful to beat, you probably just...need to get better. Either through sheer numbers, the right equipment, or simple practice, you are going to get better and overcome that challenge - it just takes more effort, and that makes it feel like a rewarding game.
Seriously, did I miss anything? As far as I can tell, that's all you really need to "get". If you mean you don't understand the mechanics or where you're supposed to go? Explore. Practice. You need to do those things anyways. Find a lamp post and kill a group of dudes, leave through the lamp, and then return. Repeat until you you are an untouchable God, and that experience - not EXP, but actual gameplay finesse and skill will help you as get further in the game, since the game as far as I can tell mostly builds on the fundamentals it establishes early on. I mean, If you told me you just started Devil May Cry, I'd tell you the same thing - just practice dodging, blocking, and pulling off combos until it's natural. The fact that I can even compare the two is a milestone in and of itself, actually...
Once you master both hitting things, and not getting hit, explore around the immediate areas, but move cautiously and always be ready to attack or dodge. Pick up rocks to attract enemies so you can fight 'em one by one. Observe your surroundings and see if there are alternate routes to your immediate destination, be wary of anything that seems out of place, etc.
That's all I got. It really is old school action game mentality with modern hardware, with RPG and horror elements mixed in.
Started playing Yakuza 0. I'm on Chapter 2 now. It's... fun. It's like a weird cross between GTA and a JRPG.
Kiryu is a delicious piece of beefcake. The whole game is full of these ridiculously macho yakuza guys being overdramatic about everything, so the story scenes are a lot of fun to watch.
The battle system is simplistic but good fun, and the visceral blows combined with truly brutal attack animations when you interact with objects in your environment keep the constant fights with thugs around Kamurocho from feeling irritating.
@NEStalgia You run around. Kill enemies. Use the currency accumulated from them to level up your stats. Occasionally find new equipment. Randomly stumble across and fight bosses. That's all you do, from the twenty hours or so I played of it.
The level design is complex, which is thrilling if you can get a feel for it, I guess. People certainly rave about the looping, interconnected level design enough. If you're like me and have a horrid sense of direction, it means running around feeling lost for hours at a time.
There's no story that's apparent in the normal course of gameplay. Apparently it has a cracking backstory that is hidden inside item descriptions... or something.
I really don't get it, either. And I paid $60 for it at launch. That was when I learned the hard way that what Sony fanboys get excited about and what I will actually enjoy don't typically line up.
If it's the first soulsborne game you've played, it often takes a while before it clicks for people. I restarted Dark Souls 1 about 4 times before I really got into it.
@Ralizah Glad to hear I'm not the only one. I don't know if it's a matter of Sony fans getting excited for things I don't like, or if I'm just not aligned with From Software's design approach. "Aimless Awaits?" @CanisWolfred Thanks for the description and advice. For me something just doesn't "click" - I can't even tell what the game structure really is supposed to be. I start in a room..ok. There's a monster, ok. I die, ok. I spawn in some odd place (the dream) that I've not been informed of and makes no sense. I go through the grave since it seems to be the only place to go. There's nothing to even infer about what's going on or what I'm supposed to do. I go back to the room. Rinse and repeat a few times. Finally I talk to the (online?) creatures on the ground, one of them gives me a "trick weapon" which I thought was cursed or something...turns out it's just a weapon. I equip it....kill monster, then move into what seems like a PS1-era map of narrow corridors with most paths infuriatingly gated, and more monsters. Buildings look like they can be entered, but can't be. I just roam the streets killing stuff....while combat is visceral and engaging (and challenging), it also seems kind of aimless and oddly unimportant. It sets itself up like it has an epic story, yet I see nothing but "atmosphere", little meaningful story development, and I don't see WTF the intro cut-scene has anything to do with anything else, nor any explanation for it, really. To make it worse, respawn times are annoyingly slow, and it's a game you will respawn often.
@Dezzy It seriously has me reconsidering my preorder of Dark Souls on Switch....
@NEStalgia Oh man, you think respawn times are bad now? For the first year or so after launch, it took between 40 - 50 seconds to reload the game every time you died. And now you can read stuff after you die. At launch, you were staring at the logo on the loading screen.
But yeah, unless things massively change late-game, it never really changes. You run around doing pretty much nothing but killing enemies and unlocking shortcuts between different areas. There are a few small cutscenes, but they never build to anything.
Currently Playing on January 13, 2026: The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy (PC)
@Ralizah Wow....that sounds amazingly awful. Who builds a game that's all about difficulty and then takes 40 seconds to respawn? Heck i was so bored with it I went back to Gravity Rush, which I'd already beaten on Vita, and even that is a fetch quest bonanza.
@NEStalgia It's not aimless, though. You have a purpose - kill all the bosses - and you progress through levels the same way you would in a Mega Man game, or the original Legend of Zelda. If you can kill it? Press forward. You're probably going in the right direction. If not, double back and try a different route. The initial story cutscene and directives are admitted also something you have to find...if you go up the stairs in the spawn area (as in the mansion atop a hill with all the grave stones), you'll meet an old man who'll give you the low-down. It reminds me of Metroid Prime...in that I could've potentionally gone half the game without ever getting this information. I dunno, I always loved that approach - you get as much story as you want, you just have to look for it. YMMV, of course.
Also note that there are side missions you can undertake if you encounter a house with a glowing lamp by it...it's not easy to differentiate, and it is my least favorite aspect, mind you. But it's there, and it can help set you on the right path, while also offering up big rewards that'll help you in the long run.
@CanisWolfred I think what probably is "wrong" with the game in that sense is that From just didn't do a very good job with the hidden techniques of guiding the player without the player realizing they are being guided. TLoZ, from 1 up through BotW mastered that technique. You know what to do and have a sense of purpose without explicitly being told. Bloodborne presumably tried to do the same....but just didn't get the hidden instructions right. For BotW, Aonuma was quite proud of the (secret) techniques he knows for doing that. Maybe that's the missing secret sauce to me.
OTOH, I went to the mansion at the top of the stairs, grave stone, locked door....no old man. Maybe I'm bugged somehow from dying "at the wrong time"?
Good info on the houses wit the lamps. I'll keep an eye out for that!
@NEStalgia trust you aren't the only one. Bought Demons souls back in the day because of all the rave reviews of it. Took it back after a few days with it. Fired up Bloodborne when it came to plus and promptly deleted it after about 8 or so hours. I'm glad people love them and I appreciate what they've done but the dreary atmosphere mixed with the learning curve mixed with the difficulty was just a recipe for frustration for me too. People kept telling me to push thru the initial teething pains but I'm not into that when it comes to playing games.
@NEStalgia@redd214 I don't blame you on either count. Especially Demon's Souls, that was pure garbage, IMO. Does everything possible to waste your time. As for Bloodborne, I think if you're not in it for the atmosphere, combat, and no-handholding difficulty, mixed with the exploration of an unforgiving world, then it might not be for you. Overall, I enjoyed it, but then again, I also really wanted to like Demon's Souls and Dark Souls, but couldn't due to how clunky they felt, or how the world was structured, particularly in Demon's Souls. It just feels like what The Order 1886 should've been like, with its dreary London atmosphere, making me feel like a Bad*** monster hunter, and yet everything feels like it's as much of a horrifying threat as they should be. To me, that's what sold it. It's the exact thing I'd want to play on Halloween, along with Eternal Darkness, Devil May Cry 1-4, and Parasite Eve. And honestly, it feels like it's a mix of all of those other games combined.
@redd214 Yeah, the dreary atmosphere certainly doesn't help. I'm not (even slightly) a horror fan. I avoid the genre at all costs, though Borne doesn't really seem like horror to me. As someone that found Jurassic Park a little too disturbing at times, that kind of says a lot about how generally bland the environment is And it's a "pretty" dreary world. I can almost get into its heavily ruined victorian-gothic aesthetic. But it's lack of differentiation doesn't draw me in. The learning curve feels less "steep" than it does "disjointed", and I haven't even really encountered terrible difficulty at least since getting that axe I was handed in the dream (thanks random internet dude, if that's where it came from!)...but I'm an MH fan (I didn't say I'm good at it...at all....but I'm a fan) so I'm used to the concept of difficult battle. But where MH makes me thrill for the hunt and feel like I'm taking down a beast because I'm awesome, even if I fail....so far, Borne just makes me want to mash buttons like a brawler till I get bored, all while feeling like there's no reason for doing so. MH says to take down the dragon. For the hunt. For the parts. For the glory, and it inspires. Borne says "go somewhere that looks like the other somewhere but is behind a gate I somehow can't climb, go do stuff, you'll probably kill nondescript things because I don't know..." The setup is just different. And the frustrating thing is it FEELS like it had so much more potential....a lot could have been done with that world and concept and it feels like I'm playing the concept board from a meeting room. It's almost like an indie game with stellar visuals.
@caniswolfred I haven't tried the Order yet. It's on my to do. I know it was panned heavily. Somehow that seems like it has more character though. In a way I realize that's just From's style...but I find it a hard style to absorb. I find Kojima's style hard to absorb as well though. In a way that's the problem, I don't feel like a bad*** monster hunter. Nor does everything feel horrifying. It's just kind of "there". if it were horrifying I wouldn't be able to stomach trying to play it, I'd ignore it as not for me. But it really doesn't. I kind of feel like I'm floating and not particularly strong, and there's monsters, like an NES game, but without the fun. The way you describe it is the way I IMAGINED it would be (and wouldn't be for me as a result.) Instead it's just kind of...IDK...Generic? Uniquely generic?
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