With God of War Ragnarok making its way out this week to eager gamers, one thing that will dawn upon them quick is how massive and deep the overall game is; from the deeper combat mechanics compared to its 2018 predecessor, to the plethora of side quests and other things you can do across your jaunt in the Nine Realms. For those starting out, we have 10 tips you probably want to keep in mind before starting God of War Ragnarok.
10 God of War Ragnarok Tips You Need to Remember Before Starting:
Don’t forget to change the dodge button from X to O:
While on the surface this might seem like not a big deal, it does feel weird pressing X to dodge in the game given our fingers have been conditioned throughout the years that O is the dodge button. If you’re like that would rather just stick to what my muscle memory knows, then just change it.
Buy a Resurrection Stone and Don’t Be Afraid to Use It:
Given how generous the game is with Hacksilver, chances are, you’ll have enough of the currency for upgrading weapons, armor and the like. That said, use that money to buy a Resurrection Stone. Buy one every time you can. And more importantly, DO NOT SAVE IT.
If you’re like me, I save these little life giving stones for boss fights and just hate having to use it on “regular” encounters. But you know what? Just use one when you want to. It’s easy enough to buy another one if ever you’ve used it up, and Brok and Sindri’s armory are literally everywhere in the world, so getting another one is a quick trek to where they’re marked in hte map.
Think of it this way: how many hours and grief will you have saved if you just popped a Resurrection Stone instead of saving it for a “big” fight? Yeah, I thought so.
Explore the Accessibility Options
Santa Monica Studio has outdone themselves when it comes to making sure the game feels personalized for the player. Dive into the options menu where you’ll see adjustments to video, audio, performance, and a ton of other stuff. If you feel like you need a help with a puzzle or two, there’s a toggle for that.
For more in-depth on this, go read our God of War Ragnarok best settings guide.
Mimir Picks Up His Stories From Where He Left Off
Say you’re riding, trekking or sailing and Mimir starts a wonderful tale that enthralls you. But wait, you want to hop off or do something that might break his tale; well, no worries on that, as Mimir will resume his story when you’re done and back in your sled, boat.
You won’t lose track of Mimir has to say even after certain game events, as he will go back to them, which is a nice touch by Santa Monica Studio.
Upgrade or Keep the Armor You Want; Don’t Rely on Just the Newest Ones
Santa Monica Studio has made a huge change in how armor works in Ragnarok in the sense that you are not required to craft the latest one you find. Sure, you can, but it’s also viable to upgrade your existing ones. Maybe you like the bonus buffs it gives you? Then just upgrade it since each armor item has their own unique ability/buff.
This goes hand-in-hand with…
…Don’t Save Crafting Resources (Doesn’t Apply to Endgame Stuff)
Unless you’re not going to do any side quests at all, you shouldn’t be strapped in crafting and upgrade resources. If you want to upgrade an armor piece, go do it! You can always find more resources by exploring the world and doing favors.
Mind, this doesn’t really apply to the endgame stuff where you’ll need to pick wisely which items you want to level up/upgrade.
Explore the Map: The Game Won’t Penalize You for Doing So, and All Paths and Items Can Be Backtracked To
Don’t you hate it in some games where if you go to a certain part of the map, a cutscene or something is triggered, and you can’t explore the other parts of the map that you haven’t gotten to yet? Yeah, that won’t be a problem with Ragnarok, as Santa Monica Studio has made the game’s level work around each gamer’s need to collect everything, as you’ll be able to backtrack almost everywhere.
Every item in the game can be backtracked to if you can’t get it at that moment, and the same goes for paths too.
Choose Your Runic Attacks That Fit Your Playstyle
In Kratos’ journey across the Nine Realms, you’ll come across various runic attacks for your weapons. Now, it doesn’t mean that just because you find one at a latter part of the game, that it’s better than what you have equipped. Choose how you play the game and base your runic attacks on that.
Are you a defensive player? Maybe you value stun more than damage? If so, the game lets you see which can do what, and sometimes, the old stuff you had before, works best. Also, you can upgrade these runes as well, so don’t fret that they might be under-leveled the further you are in the game.
Don’t Be Afraid to Run Away From Fights If You Feel You’re Under-Leveled or Your Gear Isn’t Good Enough
Let’s face it: you will die in Ragnarok…a lot! Be it from bosses, side mission enemies, prepare to see Kratos on his back often. Now that’s out of the way, be mindful when tackling side quests in the game, as some are clearly meant for endgame runs.
If you come across an enemy that’s super powerful, or just winds you up fast, then retreat, and have a go at ’em when you have better gear, or have high enough damage, defense and other stats.
Always Listen to Your Partner Cues, Since They Will Say If Don’t Have a Necessary Item for a Specific Puzzle/Door
In Ragnarok, Santa Monica Studio has ramped up the puzzles and hidden chests a lot. Early on, it’s easy to navigate around the world and be unsure whether a specific place is reachable or not with your current gear. Well, thankfully, your running mate in the game will almost-always voice out if you need a specific item to open something, or if you just can’t reach an area due to you not reaching that part of the story yet.
It makes navigating the world easier, since it cuts down on the needless experimentation for various nooks and crannies.
There you have it. These are just some of the tips you’ll want to have in your mind as you begin your journey into the Nine Realms.
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