Recap: Why God of War Won GOTY At the Game Awards 2018

God of War surprised many when it outmuscled the clear favorite, Red Dead Redemption 2 to scoop the coveted GOTY accolade at last year’s Game Awards 2018. Rockstar’s western wonderland was expected to clean house at the annual event. That was until Santa Monica rocked up and gate-crashed the party. Looking back, with the bonus of hindsight, it was such a tight run-in.

What with Fortnite and “Red Dead” hot on the heels. That said, was the game justified in victory? Besides, “RDR 2” won the best narrative with Roger Clark as Arthur. Hence, ousting Christopher Judge as Kratos for the best performance in a lead role. With that in mind, let’s get down to it and examine the key points as to why God of War may have deserved the crown.

God of War: The Story

 

Although “RDR 2” created a compelling anti-hero in Arthur, God of war conjured up a narrative with emotional weight. A Son, desperate for his Fathers acceptance, and a Dad, fiercely protective yet sentimentally withdrawn. As the story evolves, we see a soft-side to Kratos, as Atreus’s infectious spirit and morality begin to rub off on him.

As the story unravels, the two form an inseparable bond, guided by a joint aspiration. To scatter the ashes of a loved one, at the highest summit of the nine realms. Despite the immortality of Kratos, a human side is exposed as the relationship blossoms. As powerful as it is poignant, this is a moving story, worthy of any GOTY.

God of War: The World

 

God of War was not the most expansive or ambitious game of 2018. After all, “RDR 2” had a sprawling open-world, far more significant in size. However, the linear framework worked in GoW’s favor. What’s more, the developer’s bold decision to ditch the cinematic camera shots of the past, for an over the shoulder perspective revolutionized the series and personalized the story in the process.

Also, the dev team decided to do away with quick time events and focus on a cinematic tale told through the medium of cutscenes. The result of which is a highly immersive game whereby events progressively unfold as part of one seamless, forward-flowing act.

 

Another facet where God of War truly stands-out is in the depth of its lore and mythos, both of which are out of this world. Not only that but the vast codex of creatures, inventive bosses and faithful tie-ins to Norse mythology create an enchanting world, full of magic, mystery, and intrigue. Better still, the beautiful landscaped vista’s serve up some of the most impressive feats of graphical design in living memory.

 

God of War: The Gameplay

 

Finally, we have the game-play. Notorious for its hack and slash roots, GoW surprised everyone with its depth of combat, aided of course, by the use of Kratos’s Axe. A multi-dimensional weapon fully-customizable, used during puzzle solving sections and battle scenes. Ultimately, this was just so much fun to use, whether that’s throwing it as a lethal boomerang or performing brutal finishers. Undoubtedly, this was GoW’s ace in the hole, over its competition. Take that Thor!

With Hindsight, it’s easy to see how GoW achieved the seemingly impossible. After all, it was always going to come down to the wire, but in the end, Kratos emerged as the victor. Both had supremely high production values, stunning visuals, and a decent story. Perhaps God of War’s emotional and imaginative odyssey managed to capture our hearts just a little more?

 

What is your best game of 2018? Or is it too close to call? Please write in with your views. Your thoughts matter to us.