The short answer is yes – God of War Ragnarok can be an extremely tough game depending on the difficulty setting you choose. While not as punishing as the "masochistic" Souls series, the higher difficulty levels require hardcore combat skills and reflexes to best menacing mythic foes.
But the challenge is deeply rewarding, enriching the moving narrative of Kratos and Atreus. With smart progression and combat mastery, you can conquer the hardship and immerse in one of PlayStation‘s greatest modern epics. This detailed guide breaks down everything you need to know.
God of War‘s hardcore combat demands skill – but offers options
Make no mistake, God of War Ragnarok can brutalize the unprepared. Fast attacking speeds, varied enemy movesets, and hard-hitting combos put your reflexes to the test. Health pickups are scarce, and enemies quickly overwhelm the careless.
But crucially, the game provides difficulty options so you can tailor the experience:
- Give Me Story: Very easy combat focusing on narrative.
- Give Me Balance: Moderate difficulty for most players.
- Give Me Grace: Harder enemies and reduced health regen.
- Give Me No Mercy: Highly challenging combat requiring mastery.
- Give Me God of War: Extremely tough enemies and limited health regain.
Even Give Me Story retains some combat scenarios. But the action emphasizes cinematic spectacle over white-knuckle gameplay. Give Me God of War offers the biggest hardcore test for seasoned action fans.
God of War‘s combat challenges are uniquely demanding
Give Me God of War rivals ultra-hard modes in FromSoftware‘s esteemed Souls series for sheer lethal difficulty. But God of War diverges in some key ways:
- You regularly face waves of enemies rather than isolated foes.
- Kratos boasts a customizable arsenal rather than fixed weapons and gear.
- You have more reactionary defensive options via parries, counters and dodges.
- Atreus provides ranged support and distraction abilities.
These elements give you more tactical flexibility compared to Soulsborne titles. But the combat is no less demanding. Survival requires diligently utilizing Kratos‘ full repertoire of offensive and defensive moves in concert. Fixed strategies simply won‘t cut it against God of War‘s shifting, ruthless encounters. Victory goes to the wise, not just the strong.
Key tactics for mastering the hardest difficulties
Here are some key tactics to overcome God of War‘s most punishing challenges:
- Upgrade armor early on for vitality boosts to survive big hits.
- Stock up on resurrection stones and health potions for tight spots.
- Focus first on skills that stun and disrupt crowds of enemies.
- Keep Atreus supplied with different arrow types to exploit enemy weaknesses.
- Use Spartan Rage judiciously as an emergency heal rather than primary attack.
- Practice parry and dodge timing against different enemy telegraphs to perfection.
Button mashing and reckless offense will only get you so far. Careful defense and crowd control gives you space to counterattack. Use Atreus and the environment to separate dangerous enemies. As Sun Tzu said, tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.
Estimated hours to complete God of War‘s main story and optional content
God of War Ragnarok‘s main critical path offers between 20-30 hours of hardcore gameplay on higher difficulties. But completing all side content can easily double your playtime:
- Main story only: 21 hours (average)
- Main story + extras: 51 hours (average)
- Full 100% completion: 80+ hours
Post-game content like Valkyrie boss fights and Niflheim present meaty new challenges for seasoned players, especially on Give Me God of War difficulty. Pursuing 100% completion could add dozens more hours.
How God of War‘s difficulty compares to other challenging PS4 and PS5 titles
Here‘s how Give Me God of War stacks up against other tough-as-nails PlayStation exclusives:
| Game | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| Bloodborne | Comparable, requires mastery of reactive combat |
| Horizon Forbidden West | Easier, more accessible open world combat |
| Returnal | Harder, permadeath increases stakes |
| Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | Comparable, emphasizes precise parrying skills |
Give Me God of War demands skillful use of all of Kratos‘ combat systems. But it offers richer RPG elements compared to these contemporaries to empower your progression.
Is overcoming the difficulty worth experiencing this Norse epic?
Without question. God of War Ragnarok caps off Kratos and Atreus‘ poignant father-son journey through Norse myths, with affecting story beats and beautifully cinematic moments.
The punishing combat complements the narrative weight, making victories more rewarding. Each conquered challenge helps Kratos reconnect with his humanity after decades of tragedy and turmoil.
Approach Give Me God of War difficulty as a chance to experience profound growth alongside a beloved character within one of gaming‘s most remarkable adventures. The hardship only enhances the epic scope.
How to get Kratos combat-ready for the dangers ahead
God of War offers deep RPG systems to transform Kratos into an impenetrable juggernaut:
- Armor sets – Craft and upgrade armor boosting strength, defense, vitality, etc.
- Enchantments – Socket weapons and armor with buffs like health regen.
- Weapon upgrades – Improve axe and blades with materials to increase damage.
- Runic attacks – Swap light and heavy runic attacks for new properties.
- Skill trees – Spend XP to gain combat skills and passive boosts.
Focus first on armor boosting Kratos‘ ability to take hits. High damage comes later. Prioritize skills that control crowds and defend against large attacks. Atreus‘ abilities to stun and distract enemies are invaluable too. The depth supports tailoring Kratos to your preferred playstyle.
What armor, weapons and abilities to unlock first
When spending resources and XP, focus first on:
- High vitality armor sets to survive devastating enemy attacks.
- Parry, evade and block counter skills to React quickly on defense.
- Luck boosting gear to maximize XP and material gains.
- Atreus arrow skills that stun, shock and slow mobs of enemies.
Also purchase health and rage stones to give yourself an emergency lifeline. These defensive investments will enable you to go on the offensive against enemies seeking to crush you at every turn.
What awaits the most dedicated God slayers?
You‘ll earn trophies over the course of the game for major milestones. But God of War offers little in-game reward for beating Give Me God of War specifically, beyond major bragging rights.
The main exceptions are the shields tied to defeating the optional Valkyrie bosses on the hardest setting. These are the ultimate prizes for players craving a challenge.
The true reward lies in overcoming greater adversity amidst an unforgettable narrative. And fully experiencing the breadth of combat mechanics on offer against overwhelming odds.
Kratos‘ Spartan strengths and burdensome weaknesses
As a demigod warrior, Kratos boasts formidable power. But his tragic past also leaves him vulnerable:
Strengths
- Peerless combat ability honed as a Spartan general.
- Tremendous strength to best beasts and gods alike.
- Vast well of rage to channel against enemies.
- An arsenal to handle any threat – blades, fists, shields.
Weaknesses
- Plagued by nightmares of those he has killed.
- Susceptible to illusions and mind manipulation.
- Burdened by guilt over his bloody past.
Overcoming the past to protect his son‘s future is Kratos‘ ultimate challenge. Their journey together strengthens them both.
Upgrades and stats to prioritize early on
When leveling Kratos‘ skills and gear, focus first on:
- Vitality – More health and armor to survive devastating attacks.
- Luck – Improves XP and material find rates.
- Strength – Increases melee damage against hard-hitting enemies.
- Runic – Stronger special attacks to turn battles.
Also invest in defensive reaction skills – parrying, dodging, blocking – to offset damage. Support Atreus with stun and distraction abilities to control mobs.
You‘ll need to play defensively to find openings for offense. Dynamic hybrid skills will carry you further than pure brute force.
Preparation and mastery conquer the hardest trials
At higher difficulties, God of War demands skill, strategy and patience to overcome deadly enemies and challenging terrain. But with wise progression, knowledge of its deep combat systems, and tenacity, you can prevail.
For those seeking a truly intense battle of wits and reflexes, Give Me God of War awaits. The journey will push you to your limits, and enrich the sweeping father-son narrative throughout.
May this guide help you face the game‘s most merciless trials and emerge victorious. Glory awaits for those who persevere. The path is arduous, but immensely rewarding.
