Is God of War Ragnarok Worth 100% Completion? A Deep Dive
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The burning question on every God of War fan’s mind: is it worth sinking the extra hours into achieving 100% completion in God of War Ragnarok? The short answer, unequivocally, is yes, but with a few crucial caveats. While the game doesn’t reward a specific bonus for hitting that coveted 100% mark, the journey itself is immensely rewarding, enriching your experience in ways that a standard playthrough simply cannot match. Completing everything Ragnarok has to offer is about much more than checking boxes; it’s about fully immersing yourself in its rich lore, mastering its combat, and truly experiencing the depth of its world.
The Path to 100%: What You’re In For
Achieving 100% in God of War Ragnarok requires a significant time investment. While a typical playthrough focused on the main story might take around 30-35 hours, aiming for complete completion will push that number to 55-60 hours or more, depending on your playstyle and familiarity with the game. Some reports even suggest that a full 100% run might stretch past 70 hours.
What exactly does this entail? It means completing every main story quest, of course, but also delving into the countless side quests (Favors), exploring every nook and cranny of the nine realms, gathering all collectibles (lore, artifacts), and defeating every optional boss. This is where the true breadth of the game unfolds. You’ll need to master the game’s combat mechanics, experiment with different builds, and engage with every aspect of its world.
Benefits Beyond Completion
While there’s no grand prize waiting at 100%, the benefits are deeply integrated into the gameplay experience itself.
- Mastering the Combat: The extra time spent completing all objectives forces you to engage with the combat system in a way that a linear playthrough might not. You’ll encounter challenging optional boss fights, including the formidable Gna, the Valkyrie Queen, which will test your skills to their absolute limit. This process will help you become a true master of Kratos’ formidable arsenal.
- Experiencing the Full Story: The side quests and optional areas are often interwoven with fascinating lore. Through these, you’ll find rich details about the world and its inhabitants that a rushed run would miss. You will gather more than a cursory understanding of the Norse mythology at the heart of the game.
- Building the Best Kratos: Achieving 100% means acquiring the most powerful weapon upgrades, the best armor, and the most valuable resources, enabling you to craft the absolute best builds for Kratos. The Ares armor, for example, is only obtainable in New Game Plus and is considered one of the best for its incredible stat distribution and survivability perks.
- Extended Game World: The world of God of War Ragnarok is breathtakingly detailed and meticulously designed. Exploring every area, uncovering every secret, and engaging with every character enriches the experience in a significant way. It gives you a more complete picture of the world that Santa Monica Studio has created.
- Post-Game Content: Completing 100% also unlocks several post-game activities that offer even more to explore. You can revisit key locations, complete any remaining side quests, and unlock unique interactions such as meeting the real Tyr or engaging with the many interactions with other characters.
The Caveats: When It Might Not Be For You
While the benefits are considerable, 100% completion isn’t for everyone. If you’re short on time or have a tendency to become bored with meticulous collection tasks, forcing yourself to achieve full completion might actually detract from your enjoyment.
Additionally, it is worth noting that there is no additional reward for reaching 100%. There is not an extra cinematic or a special set of armor that is immediately given upon completing all tasks. The game does not give you anything beyond the satisfaction of completing it. The “reward” is intrinsic. It’s the feeling of having fully explored everything that the game has to offer.
Final Verdict: A Worthy Endeavor for Dedicated Players
Ultimately, 100% completion in God of War Ragnarok is a worthwhile investment for dedicated players who want to immerse themselves fully into this world. The extra time spent will deepen your understanding of the game’s mechanics, enrich its story, and allow you to experience all its rich content. If you are a fan who loves to explore, to collect, and to master all aspects of a game, 100% completion will give you a feeling of genuine satisfaction. However, if you are short on time, if you find collecting tedious, or are simply happy with the main narrative, then a standard playthrough will be more than sufficient for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is God of War Ragnarok worth the full price?
Absolutely. God of War Ragnarok is a critically acclaimed masterpiece that expands upon its predecessor in meaningful ways. It offers a compelling narrative, engaging combat, and a richly detailed world. Even casual fans of the franchise will be impressed by what Ragnarok has to offer.
2. How long does it take to complete the main story of God of War Ragnarok?
A standard playthrough focused on the main story takes approximately 30-35 hours, though this can vary depending on your difficulty setting and exploration habits.
3. How hard is it to 100% God of War Ragnarok?
It is a challenging endeavor that can take upwards of 55-70 hours or more, depending on your skill level and focus. It requires exploring every area, completing every quest, and defeating every challenging boss.
4. Is there a reward for 100% completion in God of War Ragnarok?
No, there isn’t a specific bonus reward for hitting 100% completion. The reward is intrinsic: the satisfaction of fully experiencing and mastering the game.
5. What should I do after achieving 100% completion in God of War Ragnarok?
After 100% completion, you can still revisit locations, collect remaining lore and artifacts, and engage in several post-game activities, including interacting with certain characters such as Tyr, Angrboda, Thrud and more.
6. Is “Give Me Balance” a hard difficulty setting in God of War Ragnarok?
“Give Me Balance” is the equivalent of normal mode, and offers a challenging but forgiving combat experience. Boss fights may present a spike in difficulty, but the game includes checkpoints to help manage these.
7. Are there secret endings in God of War Ragnarok?
Yes, there is a secret epilogue that rolls the full credits and plays the “Blood on the Snow” theme. This scene isn’t a major narrative shift but provides a more conclusive feeling after achieving 100% completion.
8. How old is Kratos in God of War Ragnarok?
In God of War Ragnarok, it’s likely that Kratos is around 1,055 years old.
9. Is God of War Ragnarok longer than the first game?
While the main story isn’t drastically longer than the first game, the scale of side content and overall exploration opportunities are significantly greater.
10. What is the best armor in God of War Ragnarok?
The Ares armor, only obtained in New Game Plus mode, is considered one of the best for its strong stat distribution and survivability perk.
11. Is God of War Ragnarok better than the 2018 God of War?
Both are excellent games. Ragnarok is technically superior in terms of graphics and scope, but it lacks the originality and surprise that made the 2018 God of War a revolutionary title in the series.
12. Was Odin actually Tyr?
Yes, the Tyr players meet throughout the game is revealed to be Odin in disguise. The real Tyr is found later in Niflheim.
13. Where is Atreus after Ragnarok?
After the events of Ragnarok, Atreus is found in Midgard, and after visiting his old friends, is ultimately waiting in front of Angrboda.
14. Who is the hardest boss in God of War Ragnarok?
Gna, the Valkyrie Queen, is arguably the most challenging boss, only unlocked after the main game’s story. Other challenging fights include Odin, the duo Svipdagr the Cold and Sisters of Illska and King Hrolf Kraki.
15. Does Sindri forgive Atreus in God of War Ragnarok?
Sindri does not forgive Atreus after the incident early in the story, continuing to distance himself from the boy. However, Kratos and Mimir discuss Atreus’s readiness, acknowledging the need for more communication and understanding in the relationship.