Topic: God of War OT

@Th3solution It's been a while..! But if I remember correctly, you can level up by equipping different armour, or by upgrading your current armour. You can also increase the level by adding runes I think.

@Octane Okay, thanks. I’ve been a little hesitant to pour resources into equipment upgrades, as I worry about spending a bunch on something that becomes obsolete once the next level of stuff is opened up. I guess I need to just pick something and go with it.

I have defeated my first two Valkyries though. The first one wasn’t too bad. But I still had to use a resurrection stone to beat her. Since I had success, I took on the next one I came across and got killed pretty handily. She was calling a never-ending army of minions and it just overpowered me. But after restarting from the checkpoint about 3 times I was able to take her down.
Beating the Helheim bridge keeper was pretty tough too. But once I got his move set down, it became easier toward the end of the fight.

Really, really great game. I can’t believe you can buy this game for $10 on sale. It’s an absolute classic, intricately polished, runs perfectly, and has a boatload of content. I think I’ve been playing for 20-30 hours and I think I’m far from near the end and there is so much to explore. I do wish that the map marked some of the places and chests that you are locked out of due to not having the skill or equipment yet. I can’t remember where I’ve seen all those Hel’s wind glowing balls that I need to return to now. I like how Jedi Fallen Order had markings on the map so you knew where you were blocked off and need to return to later.

@Th3solution I think I rocked the basic set until the end. Because I'm not really a fan of the armour sets. But I can't really remember anymore. I think I just upgraded the basic set, but I honestly can't remember anymore. However, resources aren't too hard to come by. And whatever you upgrade, it all counts towards your level, so even putting high level runs on the axe or your armour increases your level!

Yeah, the Valkyries are something, aren't they? I had to put the back back to easy to beat the last couple of them...

Jedi Fallen Order didn't mark chests either. It would be a lot easier when you interact with inaccessible stuff, that it would mark them on the map. I keep a pen and paper for those moments, or I take a quick photo with my location on the map.

@Octane Oh man, why have I not thought of the photo technique! I’ll have to try that.

I guess I was thinking on Fallen Order about how I seem to recall it did mark (in red I think) barriers where sections of the map were blocked off, then the color changed once you obtained the skill or item. But yeah, it’s been a while for me since JFO. The problem with the JFO map is just how convoluted and labyrinthine it was. Even if you see a newly opened section of the map, good luck getting back there.
My favorite map so far this gen is Resident Evil 2 Remake, which had a brilliant map. Granted, it’s a completely different style of game and setting, but anytime you discover an item and decided to leave it to pick up later it marked it on the map for you for easy reference when you wanted to go back. Locked doors were marked (with even the type of key needed if I recall) as well. So convenient!

God of War’s map is a little of ‘style over function.’ It looked great with the whole 3D appearance (despite the World Serpent having an overt phallic look in it 😂) but it’s hard to tell exactly how to get to a specific spot. Thankfully each little sub-area it fairly linear, I’ve found. I’m just dreading going back to try to track down collectibles and Ravens later. I probably won’t go for the platinum unless I get to the end and see that I’m just a few collectibles shy.

@Th3solution Thinking about it, a screenshot may work just as well. But I find it easier to open the gallery on my phone than you sift through my screenshots on the console.

Yeah, JFO marks barriers which require upgrades, which is neat. There were a few locked red doors that are impossible to open. I discovered that the hard way lol. Like that one where you encounter the second sister for the first time, and you escape by activating one of those red doors. You can't ever open it again, but you can access either side. So it ends up as a stupid dead end from both sides.

God of War has a nice map. But functionally it's quite pointless. It's useful for general directions, but the map lacks any kind of useful detail. Though as you said, most routes are fairly linear, so this isn't a huge issue.

@TheBrandedSwordsman I forgot to tag you as you were interested in how I was getting along with Kratos’s latest adventure.

As you can see above, I’ve just finished my first trip to Helheim and I’ve obtained the Blades of Chaos. That whole sequence was brilliantly done. The way Kratos is reluctant to dig up his past but yet has to pull out the Blades from hidden storage in order to save his son... It was very well executed. Rather than having the Blades be part of his armament purely for fan service, they actually wrote them into the game in a touching and moving narrative way. Then when you start using them to slice through crowds of enemies it’s just pure bliss and you feel so overpowered I love it.

I’ve been making slow progress because I’m splitting time between this and Persona 5, but each time I play I just enjoy it immensely.

@TheBrandedSwordsman Yes I have already defeated Magna and Modi. I think those are Thor’s sons, if I recall. They were pretty tough too. Although one of them got away and then turned up again shortly after, and then got away again, so I’m not sure if I’ll see him again.

Did you go back and do all the collectibles and go for the platinum? I’m wondering if I will do so. I really enjoy the exploration aspect of the game, probably even more than the combat part, but the game is so big that I’m not sure I’ll take the time to revisit all these areas again.

@Th3solution One bit I liked from that segment was when one character (possibly Mimir?) asks if Kratos has been to hell before and he just replies "not this one"

I got the platinum and using a guide for the ravens isn't too bad but the collectibles are a bit of a pain as you have no way of knowing which ones you actually have. I found I had to use a video guide and do it as though I needed to find all of them. Not too time consuming in the grand scheme of trophy hunting but a bit of a pain.

The most time consuming one comes from needing to get the Valkyries in the optional areas, particularly one of them.

@Thrillho Yeah, I love Mimir and the interactions he has with Kratos and Atreus. Some of the banter is fantastic.

@TheBrandedSwordsman Yeah the sub-areas are pretty manageable, size-wise, compared to a larger map found in something like RDR2, or more appropriately Death Stranding that you’re playing which can take hours to move from one part of the map to another.
One thing that I appreciate is that usually a part of the area that is unobtainable is usually pretty obvious; not to mention that Atreus sometimes gives you hints (“I don’t think we have what we need to do that now. Should be come back later?” - or some kind of similar verbiage).
As such, the individual puzzles are great fun to try to figure it out when I come to a chest that looks like I can’t get to, yet I know there is a way and so I keep searching until I find the solution.

As for what Norse gods might come next time around, I have no idea. Maybe Odin, or Thor would be obvious choices. I don’t know my Norse mythology very well. 😄

I’m progressing steadily in the game. I decided to try my hand at some Valkyrie fights, even though I’m not near the end game yet. I’m at level 6 and I was able to beat the first 3 I came across, but the fourth one was so tough. I kept starting over again and again. I probably restarted about 20 times. I got close a couple times but I guess I just need to come back later.

Are the Muspelheim and Niflheim side areas worth doing? I have both languages now, but I’m not sure I want to get into a big distraction. But if the rewards are worth it then I’ll spend the time. I’m leaning toward maybe just trying to finish the mainline story and then try to do the Valkyries and if I run into problems then do the Muspelheim and Niflheim areas to get better gear.

@Jimmer-jammer Thanks for the info! Sounds like if I want to do do all the Valkyrie that I’ll need to go through Muspelheim and Neflheim anyways. The strange thing is that I’m eyeing the trophies and the achievement rate for the gold for defeating all 9 Valkyries is higher than either of the Muspelheim or Neflheim related trophies. So I guess it’s possible to go there and defeat the Valkyrie without actually completing the area trials.

@Th3solution I didn’t struggle with Muspelheim at all as it’s mostly combat challenges which are not overly difficult if you’re appropriately skilled (which most people will be by that point).

Niflheim is more time consuming as mentioned above but there is some really good gear available to you in there. It’s a bit of a pain balancing getting around the area before the mist gets you but once you get your bearings and get the right equipment to spend more time in there, it’s not too bad.

It’s been quite a while since I played but I don’t remember those Valkyries being particularly difficult.

@Thrillho Good to know. I suppose it’s worth it to try the two optional areas at least. I’m not a fan of the time limit based objectives in games. But so far I don’t mind the ‘Winds of Hel’ puzzles which are basically time trials with a twist. So far they’re designed well enough that if you use your noggin that there is plenty of time to get to the objective.

@Th3solution it really is worth going through Muspelheim and Nelfheim, they are both very good ‘endgame’ content and are good opportunities to put all the skills you have learned up to that point to good use. The Valkyrie’s are pretty cool fights too but I found that God of War’s combat shines more with multiple enemies rather than just the one... still that last Valkyrie is one tough challenge.

@colonelkilgore Yeah, I’m nervous about the last Valkyrie since I’ve heard how tough she is. And I struggled mightily with the Valkyrie Eir, I think her name is, and even put it down to easy and still struggled and then looked up YouTube videos of how to kill her and still struggled... 😰
So I figure there has got to be some leveling up to come that will help me. I know I’m not very good at these kinds of [almost Soulsborne] style boss fights, but I don’t think I should be struggling this much. So if there are good level up armor items in the supplemental areas then it is worth a go. But if the areas themselves are super difficult then it will defeat the purpose for me. But from the sound of it they aren’t as bad as they sound.

It was the Valkyrie that did the move where it would jump into the air and land on you I struggled most with.

I had to drop the difficulty down to defeat the final one too..

@Th3solution there is a fantastic armour which drastically reduces cooldown... you can ‘basically’ continuously cycle through all your specials and by the time you’ve don3 all of them the first one you used should be ready to go again.

@Jimmer-jammer That’s encouraging. I’ll give the area a try when I get some of the other items checked off.

I completed all the treasure maps now and also all the side requests of the spirits. I like ticking off lists that are less than 15 or so tasks. I’m not sure if I want to take on all the Ravens and minor collectibles.

@Thrillho I think you might be referring to the one I struggled with, Eir. She floats up in the air and bolts through the air to land on you, or she shoots an unblockable down at you. With Atreus you can shoot her out of the air if you catch her soon enough to stop the unblockable, but then she can still jump on you with an attack that, although blockable, hurts really bad if it lands. She has another AoA unblockable move on the ground that hits such a wide area, if you’re not perfectly timed in your dodge roll or if you’re caught up against the wall, it will land and hurts a lot too. Having PTSD from trying to fight her. 😅

@colonelkilgore That’s an interesting tactic. I might have to try those. I don’t think I’ve found the ones you’re referring to, but I have my cooldown cranked up pretty high. Second only to my strength.

@Th3solution iirc the dwarven smiths will offer to make you a special armour at some stage and it can either be cooldown specific or ‘something else’... the cooldown one just sounded to good to turn down and it worked out to be an awesome choice.

@colonelkilgore ok, good to know. Sundri was just telling me that. “Me and my brother are working on something for you. Meet us back at the temple” So maybe that’s it.

I did just defeat Eir finally, though. It was bugging me that I couldn’t. So I did a little questing and upgraded some armor and whatnot and went back with a Rage Resurrection stone and I was able to beat her after using the stone and Rage pummeling her at the end. Kind of a cheese way to do it, but after dying 20 times I was fine with it.