Fans expecting a drastic evolution with God of War Ragnarok over the 2018 game may be disappointed. It’s more of the same but that is not a bad thing at all. This means that players will be more accustomed to how the game plays, even on a new system like the PS5.

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That doesn’t mean God of War Ragnarok doesn’t have any new tricks up its sleeve because it certainly does. There are new worlds, new powers to unlock pathways, new combos for each character, and the list goes on. For some extra help getting reacquainted with the chaotic world of Norse gods, here are some handy tips for this new lengthy adventure.

8 Fiddling With The Options

The options menu in God of War Ragnarok

There are a few features players should mess around with before starting the game in the options menu. First, for those worried about the challenge, there are five difficulties to choose from, and all but one, Give Me God Of War, can be adjusted at any time.

Also, be sure to make shortcuts using the touchpad on the PlayStation controller. Swiping up to reveal or hide the compass and health bars is a great way to get immersed without cluttering the HUD. Finally, for Auto Pick Up, select “Full” so that a button doesn’t have to be pressed constantly to grab items.

7 Use Headphones

Fighting enemies in God of War Ragnarok

The sound design in the game is out of this world. The music is great, but the voice work is also top-notch. Characters can help out while exploring the world or when in combat. For example, Atreus or Mimir might tell Kratos an enemy is coming up from behind. When stuck on a puzzle, the two may also point out a solution for Kratos. These audio cues can help players survive for longer and make the game less frustrating.

More action games like God of War Ragnarok should implement an audio cue system like this.

6 The Right Weapon For The Right Job

Fighting enemies in God of War Ragnarok

One of the most basic tips beginners should know in an action game like God of War Ragnarok is that they should take out ranged enemies first. For example, there are creatures early on that can spit acid, which will constrain the viewpoint of the player along with drain their health. Throw the Leviathan Axe or tell Atreus to take them out on the double.

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It’s also a good idea to know which weapon is right for the situation. Single enemies, or large enemies, deserve the Leviathan Axe, while the Blades of Chaos should be used for crowd work.

5 Dock At Every Beach

Exploring the world in God of War Ragnarok

It took a while for the world to open up in the 2018 version of God of War. Eventually, players could sail around a small hub area and explore beaches for extra quests.

It takes less time to start sailing around in God of War Ragnarok, but the exploration bits are similar. The goal of this area is to find Tyr, the Norse God of War. Before venturing off on the main mission, be sure to explore this bay thoroughly. Even if a beach is not marked for a side quest, dock on it. There may be secrets lurking in these areas even if players can’t access them right away.

4 Take Manual Notes

Exploring the world in God of War Ragnarok

The first game in this reboot series was like a Metroidvania, and this gameplay style continues with this sequel. Certain powers and pieces of gear can be used to explore new areas previously locked down. For example, the first new unlock comes in the form of Atreus’ bowstring, which can shatter certain materials.

Whenever an access point is blocked, be sure to take a screenshot and make a note. Doing so will help players remember where they need to go back to once a new ability or piece of gear is acquired.

3 Keep Track Of Saves

The save menu in God of War Ragnarok

God of War Ragnarok allows players to manually save for seemingly an infinite amount of times so long as they have space on their console. The good number of saves allows players to keep a record of areas they like the best if they wish to revisit them at a later date. A good rule of thumb is to rotate between three saves.

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That way, if a glitch occurs on one of them that may restrict access, there are two backups for safety. If the three-save system seems like overkill, at least be sure to manually save from time to time to back up the autosave file in case it gets messed up.

2 Upgrading The Boys

The shop in God of War Ragnarok

There are two major ways to upgrade Kratos and Atreus in the game. Defeating enemies and completing quests will earn the boys some experience points, like in most action RPGs. Instead of leveling up traditionally though, these points can be used to purchase upgrades in a skill tree. Don’t go hog wild on either skill tree. Build the points up and unlock things only if it feels necessary, like if players keep dying at a certain point.

The same is true for using materials at the dwarven shops. Players shouldn't just buy things or upgrade armor just because they can.

1 Resurrection Stones

Reviving Kratos in battle in God of War Ragnarok

Players can’t heal at will with potions or anything like that, unlike other action RPGs. Enemies can drop healing stones, which can regain health, but drops are random. The only way Kratos can heal manually is if he falls in battle. If players have a Resurrection Stone and Atreus is in the party, Kratos can be revived. The first stone is free, but everything after that will cost a pretty penny. It’s a good idea to keep one Resurrection Stone on hand at any time especially if players are on the harder difficulty levels.

God of War Ragnarok was released on November 9, 2022, and is available on PS4 and PS5.

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