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A stirring new ‘God of War’ story trailer reveals an April 20 launch on PS4

By Steven Petite Published June 15, 2022

We now know when Kratos will make his return in God of War, and it’s not far off. A new story trailer revealed the PlayStation 4 exclusive launches on April 20.

Since its reveal at E3 2016, we’ve known the game centers on the relationship between Kratos and his son Atreus and takes place years after the events of the God of War III. The soft reboot trades Greek mythology for Norse mythology.

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In the new trailer, we learn more about the plot. Atreus’ mother dies at the start of the game. Her last wish was to have her ashes scattered at the “High Speaking Realms.” That symbolic task drives the journey Kratos and Atreus embark on together.

While Kratos seeks to guide his son in a dangerous world, it seems as if his past deeds will come back to haunt him. Arteus is at least partially blind to his father’s history, but as the story carries on, it seems as if certain ugly truths will be spilled.

Setting itself up as part redemption story, part coming-of-age tale, the trailer demonstrates once again why God of War will likely be one of the most talked about PlayStation 4 games of the year.

All those who pre-order net three legendary shield skins. Pre-orders at GameStop give Kratos the Luck of Ages XP Boost, which increases experience gained, currency finds, and allows Kratos to trigger more fighting perks.

Along with the standard edition of the game, three special editions will be available on April 20. The Digital Deluxe Edition ($70) includes a God of War comic from Dark Horse Comics, an artbook, Death’s Vow Armor Set, an extra shield skin, and a PS4 dynamic theme.

The Collector’s Edition ($130) comes with a 9-inch Kratos and Arteus statue, 2-inch Huldra Brothers Carvings, lithograph, cloth map, and steel bookcase, as well as all of the goodies from the Digital Deluxe Edition.

On top of everything included in the Collector’s Edition, the Stone Mason Edition ($150) features four physical versions of important in-game items: the Defender of the Chosen Shield Skin, the Stone Mason’s Ring, Mimir’s Head Talking Keychain, and 2-inch Horse and Troll Carvings.

God of War

launches on April 20 on PlayStation 4.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Steven is a writer from Northeast Ohio currently based in Louisiana. He writes about video games and books, and consumes…

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Gaming

God of War Ragnarok shares a key strength with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Hafgufa flies away in God of War Ragnarok.

God of War Ragnarok’s main story is memorable, but some of the smaller moments are what have stuck with me most since completing it. I'm not just talking about its moments of quiet, but its optional Favors as well. These sidequests can be entirely ignored, but skipping them is a mistake as they contain some of the game’s best scenes. It's a trait that God of War Ragnarok shares with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, one of the best RPGs of the last decade.
In some large RPGs, sidequests can often boil down to boring fetch quests, or they simply may not have as much polish put into their writing. As a result, they can feel like content bloat that does more harm than good to the game’s pacing. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and God of War Ragnarok avoid this problem by elevating these sidequests, making the entire adventure feel more cohesive and ensuring that the small moments stick out as some of the best.
More than a side thing
Like God of War Ragnarok, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt features a lengthy main story full of memorable characters, set pieces, and boss fights. While those alone would have made it a strong RPG, it’s remembered as an all-time great because of how rich its world is, something that's reflected in its side content. There were quests like Ghosts of Past, which pays off the character arc of Witcher 2 character Letho, but it's entirely possible to finish the game without ever seeing it.

Others, like Return to Crookback Bog, turn what could just be some fun supernatural fights into a chilling tale about abuse and broken families. While The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s main narrative is strong, these side moments are what make it a game that sticks with you years after release. I can already tell the same will be true of God of War Ragnarok, as some of my favorite missions in the game are entirely optional Favors.
An early game Favor called The Weight of Chains sees Kratos, Mimir, and Atreus freeing a giant Lyngbakr sea creature that Mimir imprisoned while working with Odin. They manage to break its chains, but find that it now struggles to move and do what it used to. This sidequest takes a series of somewhat standard combat encounters and puzzles and spins them into critical aspects of a memorable tale. The Weight of Chains reflects on how Kratos and Mimir’s reckless actions have had irreversible consequences, but they now have an opportunity to be better people in the future.
Another standout Favor called Secret of the Sands, where Kratos and Atreus free a trapped jellyfish-like creature called a Hafgufa, is also quite beautiful. The short story shows what Kratos will do to be able to spend more time with his son in the face of Ragnarok. However ordinary these sidequests may be from a gameplay standpoint, their narrative relevance and level of polish are on par with some of God of War Ragnarok’s main quests. This high effort even applies to some side missions that wholly exist with NPCs in the game’s overworld, ones that aren't even built around huge set pieces. For example, there’s The Lost Treasure quest.

Gaming

The best armor sets in God of War Ragnarok

Kratos equipping his armor.

In the past, Kratos was perfectly fine fighting his way through monsters and gods alike bare-chested. Perhaps in his older age, or due to the new, chilly climate he finds himself in in God of War Ragnarok, he has taken to wearing a variety of armor to better protect himself. Aside from looking cool, these armors also add different buffs to Kratos' stats, allowing you to tweak your build to better suit your playstyle. That being said, there are a ton of armors in the game to find and upgrade.

Armor in God of War Ragnarok comes in three pieces: your chest, wrist, and waist armor. While you can mix and match them to your heart's content, they typically give the best buffs when worn as a complete set. These are some of the strongest armor sets you can equip in God of War Ragnarok and why. Also note that, once fully upgraded, you do have the option to transmog your armor if you don't like the look of it but still want the benefits.

Gaming

God of War Ragnarok: all Ratatasks and rewards

Kratos and Atreus sail on water in God of War Ragnarok.

As pressing a matter that the end of the world (aka Ragnarok) is in God of War Ragnarok, there's always time to diverge from the main path and do some side activities. The game is a realm-hopping adventure, and essentially every place you visit has something optional you can do. There are main side quests, called Favours, but also smaller objectives you can do throughout your playthrough called Labours.

Many Labours are tied to your skills or various collectibles, but there is one special set called Ratatasks. Named after the caretaker of the world tree Yggdrasil Ratatoskr, this mystic squirrel will present you with four categories of tasks, each with multiple tasks, tiers, and rewards for completion. There are a ton of these, so knowing which ones to go for if you want the best rewards will save you quite a bit of effort. Frost up your ax and get ready to unleash your Spartan rage as we go over every Ratatask and their rewards in God of War Ragnarok.
How Ratatasks work