Why God of War Challenged Fate, Then Did It Again

Summary by Krater

A video essay comparing God of War Ragnarök and the original God of War series, concluding that while Ragnarök offers incredible scope, variety, and an advanced open-world approach, the original God of War maintains a uniquely relentless and unified momentum.

From the video

Answers: How does God of War Ragnarök compare to the original God of War games in design, camera work, and narrative?

• God of War Ragnarök vs God of War series
• Video game camera design and cinematography
• Mythology in game design and character motivation
• Comparison of combat and narrative pacing in games

What it concludes

• God of War Ragnarök releases nearly two years after the PS5 launch, yet runs and looks exceptional on base PS4 hardware from a decade prior.
• While Ragnarök features a massive open-world structure and deep RPG mechanics, God of War II and the original trilogy achieved a uniquely relentless narrative momentum and tighter focus.
• Odin's subversion of expectations in Ragnarök introduces a level of unpredictability that contrasts with the more direct, powerful gods of the original trilogy.
• The camera work in God of War II is dynamic and uses dramatic zooms, whereas Ragnarök adopts a tight, over-the-shoulder continuous shot style that creates intense narrative intimacy.