Decoding the Divine: Choosing the Right Difficulty in God of War

Choosing the right difficulty in God of War (2018) or God of War Ragnarok is paramount to enjoying the experience to its fullest. For most players, the “Give Me Balance” difficulty (Normal) is the sweet spot. It offers a moderate challenge that allows you to learn the combat mechanics, strategize with your gear, and fully immerse yourself in the story without unnecessary frustration. However, the “best” difficulty truly depends on your gaming experience and preferences.

Diving Deeper: Understanding the Difficulty Settings

God of War offers a range of difficulty settings tailored to different player skill levels and preferences. Each setting significantly impacts the gameplay experience, altering enemy behavior, damage output, and Kratos’ resilience. Let’s break down each option:

• “Give Me Story” (Easy): This mode prioritizes narrative immersion above all else. Enemies are significantly weaker, allowing you to breeze through combat encounters and focus on the story and exploration. This is perfect for newcomers to action games or those who simply want to experience the epic tale without a steep learning curve.

• “Give Me Grace” (Very Easy): This is the easiest mode in the game, perfect for those who just want to experience the story without much combat challenge.

• “Give Me Balance” (Normal): As mentioned earlier, this is the recommended starting point for most players. It strikes a balance between challenge and accessibility. You’ll need to learn enemy attack patterns, utilize different combat techniques, and upgrade your gear, but you won’t be constantly overwhelmed.

• “Give Me No Mercy” (Hard): This is where the challenge ramps up considerably. Enemies are more aggressive, deal more damage, and have increased health. You’ll need to master parrying, dodging, and utilizing all of Kratos’ abilities to survive. It’s ideal for experienced action game players.

• “Give Me God of War” (Very Hard): This is the ultimate test of skill and patience. Enemies are relentless, incredibly powerful, and feature altered attack patterns. Moreover, this difficulty option often restricts auto-saving, and demands perfect execution in every encounter. This difficulty is truly meant for veteran players, and should probably be attempted after already completing the game.

New Game Plus and Difficulty

It’s also worth noting how New Game Plus (NG+) integrates with difficulty. NG+ allows you to replay the game with your previously acquired gear and skills. While NG+ inherently introduces a higher level of challenge, the difficulty setting you choose still impacts the game. Even on “Give Me Story” in NG+, you’ll find the game slightly more challenging than a fresh playthrough on the same difficulty. Playing on the “Give Me God of War” difficulty after a completed playthrough unlocks exclusive cosmetic rewards, adding to the incentive for those seeking the ultimate challenge.

Tips for Choosing Your Difficulty

1. Assess Your Experience: Be honest with yourself about your experience with action games, particularly those with demanding combat systems. If you’re new to the genre, starting on “Give Me Story” or “Give Me Balance” is recommended.

2. Consider Your Focus: Are you primarily interested in the story, or are you seeking a challenging combat experience? Your answer will guide you to the appropriate difficulty.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Adjust: Both God of War titles usually allow you to change the difficulty mid-game if you find your initial choice too easy or too hard. Experiment to find the sweet spot. Be aware that on the hardest difficulty, you cannot lower it mid-game.

4. Embrace the Learning Curve: Regardless of the difficulty you choose, God of War’s combat system rewards mastery. Take the time to learn the nuances of parrying, dodging, and utilizing runic attacks.

5. Explore and Upgrade: Regularly explore the world, complete side quests, and upgrade your gear to enhance your combat prowess, regardless of difficulty setting. Remember to take advantage of optional areas, such as side quests.

6. Utilize All of Your Tools: Remember that Atreus can be a powerful ally in combat. Don’t forget to equip him with new skills and abilities as you progress.

God of War: A Journey for Everyone

Ultimately, there’s no “wrong” way to play God of War. The beauty of the game lies in its ability to cater to a wide range of player preferences. Whether you’re a seasoned action game veteran or a newcomer to the genre, there’s a difficulty setting that will allow you to experience the epic story and engaging combat in a way that suits your style.

God of War: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does difficulty affect loot in God of War?

No, the difficulty setting does not affect the type or quality of loot you receive in God of War. You’ll get the same items regardless of whether you’re playing on “Give Me Story” or “Give Me God of War.”

2. Is it okay to start with God of War Ragnarok without playing the first game?

While you can technically start with God of War Ragnarok, it’s strongly recommended to play God of War (2018) first. Ragnarok is a direct sequel, and you’ll miss out on crucial context and character development if you skip the first game.

3. Is God of War Ragnarok harder than God of War (2018)?

Generally, God of War Ragnarok is considered slightly more challenging than its predecessor, even on similar difficulty settings. Enemies are more aggressive, have more health, and are better at dodging attacks.

4. What is the best way to play God of War?

There is no universally “best” way, but “Give Me Balance” (Normal) is a good starting point for most players. Experiment with different difficulty settings to find one that suits your skill level and preferences. Take time to explore the world, upgrade your gear, and master the combat mechanics.

5. How long does it take to beat God of War on the easiest difficulty?

On the easiest difficulty, “Give Me Story,” you can expect to beat God of War in around 25 hours if you focus on the main story and skip most of the side content.

6. What happens if you beat God of War Ragnarok on “Give Me God of War” difficulty?

Beating the game on “Give Me God of War” unlocks exclusive shield skins, the Radiant Shield of Unity, and the Aspis of Spartan Fury. These are purely cosmetic rewards and do not affect gameplay.

7. How old is Kratos in God of War (2018)?

Kratos is estimated to be over 1000 years old in God of War (2018).

8. Why does Kratos feel weaker in Ragnarok?

The in-game explanation suggests that Kratos’ godly powers are dwindling due to the loss of his domain and the absence of worshippers.

9. Is “Give Me God of War” difficulty harder than Dark Souls?

Many players consider “Give Me God of War” to be more difficult than Dark Souls, mainly because of the enemy health pools, enemy aggression, and the way enemies are presented in waves or rooms.

10. What level should I be in God of War Ragnarok?

It is suggested to play on level 8, but play on level 7 for lower difficulties.

11. Is God of War really hard?

While it presents a challenge, God of War isn’t overwhelmingly difficult on the lower difficulties. It is a challenge, particularly on higher difficulties, demanding players to master the combat mechanics.

12. Is Ragnarok bigger than God of War?

Yes, God of War: Ragnarok is a bigger game than God of War, and the narrative is split more evenly between Kratos and Atreus.

13. Is Ragnarok longer than God of War?

Yes, God of War Ragnarok is longer than its predecessor, even the main content is not much longer, there are several side quests and activities for the player to engage with.

14. Who is the hardest boss to beat in God of War?

Sigrun, the Valkyrie Queen, in God of War (2018), is widely considered the most challenging boss in the entire series.

15. I’m interested in the intersection of games and education. Where can I learn more?

Check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org! This organization explores the potential of video games as powerful tools for learning and development.