God of War

Pros

• It's a port of a highly acclaimed console series
• Features performance-adaptable 1080p/4k graphics
• Superb animations and imaginative special moves improve as the game develops
• Supports dual-shock console controllers

Cons

• Requires a powerful pc
• Upscaling feature requires a potentially costly Nvidia graphics card

Windows computers become gateways to a world full of legendary heroes and villains when God of War loads on their machine. That's right, the game is steeped in mythology and godlore. It's going to be a tough challenge but determined players can certainly fight their way to the end, even if it means dropping the game's difficulty level down to Easy.

A long-time console favorite, the God of War franchise uses Kratos as its hero. The game antagonist is journeying through the realms of Norse legend this time, not Greece, and he's older, more grizzled. This is proven by the presence of Atreus, who is the son of Kratos. They're traveling together, questing for the highest peak of a distant mountain range in Jotunheim. This is where they'll scatter the ashes of Atreus' mother. Along the way, a gamepad-wielding player directs Kratos and his massive axe through a series of thrilling fights. Don't worry, both Atreus and Kratos will gain access to more fighting moves and greater magical abilities as their quest progresses.

Available on Steam and The Epic Games Store, this pc port is compatible with Windows 11. The game plays at a high framerate, but that's only if a gamer has access to a high-spec Windows computer. However, gaming performance is still acceptable on a midrange machine. For butter-smooth axe-throwing graphics, however, a computer with an Nvidia graphics card is required. It's with this potentially costly piece of hardware that next-level performance is achieved. Indeed, God of War takes on a whole new shine, with Nvidia's DLSS technology delivering the AI backed gaming muscle when that card is installed. Using those graphics, it's even possible to play God of War in 4k, assuming the gamer is using a 4k monitor, of course. Other hardware benefits include an option to use a dual shock controller, plus the ability to play the game in 21:9 ultra-widescreen.

Back to the game itself, Atreus and Kratos plough through Norse mythology at speed. As they cut a swathe through the land, their relationship deepens. The Leviathan axe boomerangs out and back while the Blades of Chaos cuts deep, all while father and son fight using the most beautifully animated special moves. Meanwhile, a more mature emotional connection develops between them. When not fighting, Atreus will ponder an obstacle, turn to Kratos and work with him to solve the puzzle. This could mean using his father's super-strength to knock down a few trees for a bridge. Alternatively, the solution to a puzzle might be as fun as picking up Atreus and throwing him up to an otherwise unreachable platform.

Pros

• It's a port of a highly acclaimed console series
• Features performance-adaptable 1080p/4k graphics
• Superb animations and imaginative special moves improve as the game develops
• Supports dual-shock console controllers

Cons

• Requires a powerful pc
• Upscaling feature requires a potentially costly Nvidia graphics card