I strongly recommend: God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla (Review)

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
  • Thank you Manscaped for sponsoring this video. Get 20% Off and Free Shipping with the code SKILLUP at Manscaped.com. That’s 20% off with free shipping at manscaped.com and use code SKILLUP. Happy New Year to your Balls!
    --
    Sure, it's really good and it's free - but that stuff isn't what makes God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla so special.
    Video written and voiced by Ralph P, edited by Stuart K.
    #Review #GodofWar #Valhalla
    --
    Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. If you'd like to support the channel even more, the best way is through my Patreon: / skillupyt
    --
    Twitter: Sk... (@skillupyt)
    Instagram: www.instagram....
    --
    Grab 12% off any SteelSeries peripheral by using offer code SKILLUP at checkout: steelseries.pb...
    --
    Check out my curator page on steam:
    store.steampow...
    --
    Recent vids:
    The Finals review:
    • I recommend: The Final...
    Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown preview
    • We played Prince Of Pe...
    The Day Before - A Scam To Remember:
    • The Day Before - A Sca...
    Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora review
    • Austin recommends: Ava...
    Robocop: Rogue City review:
    • I recommend: Robocop -...
    Alan Wake II review:
    • I strongly recommend: ...
    Spider-Man 2 review:
    • I strongly recommend: ...
    Lords of the Fallen review:
    • Austin is pretty mixed...
    Assassin's Creed Mirage review:
    • I do not recommend: As...
    Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review:
    • I strongly recommend: ...
    Lies of P review:
    • Austin strongly recomm...
    Space Marine 2 preview:
    • So far, Space Marine 2...
    Final Fantasy XVI review:
    • Final Fantasy XVI - Re...
    Diablo IV review:
    • I recommend: Diablo IV...
    The Lord of the Rings: Gollum review:
    • Gollum is way worse th...
    The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review:
    • I *very* strongly reco...
    Redfall review:
    • Redfall is an absolute...
    Resident Evil 4 Remake Review:
    • I *very* strongly reco...
    Destiny 2 Lightfall Review:
    • Destiny 2: Lightfall -...
    Calisto Protocol review:
    • I do not recommend: Th...
    God of War Ragnarok review:
    • I strongly recommend: ...
    Gotham Knights review:
    • I do not recommend: Go...
    Saints Row review:
    • Saints Row is terrible...
    Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Review:
    • Destiny 2: The Witch Q...
    Elden Ring review:
    • I *very* strongly reco...

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,1 тис.

  • @SkillUp
    @SkillUp  9 місяців тому +59

    Thank you Manscaped for sponsoring this video. Get 20% Off and Free Shipping with the code SKILLUP at Manscaped.com. That’s 20% off with free shipping at manscaped.com and use code SKILLUP. Happy New Year to your Balls!

  • @GeremyG
    @GeremyG 9 місяців тому +1915

    Hard to argue with the price of free

    • @penumbrum3135
      @penumbrum3135 9 місяців тому +25

      Not free if you have to buy a console and game to access it. 😉

    • @regular-user
      @regular-user 9 місяців тому +1

      Really? How else are you supposed to play a dlc of something if you don't own the platform and game, you entitled nutjob? Some people have the most ridiculous arguments 🤦‍♂️

    • @ratchetryda
      @ratchetryda 9 місяців тому +269

      And internet and a house while we are being pedantic @penumbrum3135

    • @ninjakiwi2476
      @ninjakiwi2476 9 місяців тому +138

      ​@@penumbrum3135so then literally every single game in existence that's labelled as "free" isn't free???? These devs straight up lying to us wtf

    • @cairax23
      @cairax23 9 місяців тому +151

      ​@@ratchetryda don't forget the price of the food and water giving us calories that necessary in fueling us through our game session as we play this non-free game.

  • @MikeHeldTheWorld
    @MikeHeldTheWorld 9 місяців тому +761

    Kratos- 12% body fat
    Skill up- "he's got a Dad bod"

    • @Calafan87
      @Calafan87 9 місяців тому +90

      I literally said the same thing hahahah. I was like "He's go a dad bod?! What?! Kratos is hella ripped, lol".

    • @LinktheSamoyed
      @LinktheSamoyed 9 місяців тому +29

      came to write something like this and you beat me to it... in the words of Joe Rogan "he is jaaaaaacked"

    • @ihaveasecret9539
      @ihaveasecret9539 9 місяців тому +30

      Damn I need to become a dad PRONTO.

    • @nailinthefashion
      @nailinthefashion 9 місяців тому +3

      Then I am an amoeba even though I curl 40lbs one handed hahahahah

    • @joaniepepin4968
      @joaniepepin4968 9 місяців тому +4

      Ralph is coping hard, haha!

  • @dtanobo
    @dtanobo 9 місяців тому +791

    Delivering such a detailed epilogue about Kratos confronting his past through a free roguelite dlc is genius

    • @alesdrobek2512
      @alesdrobek2512 9 місяців тому +1

      Is the epilogue part confirmed? No more Kratos after this?

    • @OdinsDadd
      @OdinsDadd 9 місяців тому +9

      ​@@alesdrobek2512 no he will be back for part 3 100 percent. Its an Epilogue to the game not to His story

    • @TheBigJame_
      @TheBigJame_ 9 місяців тому +23

      @@OdinsDadd There is no "part 3" The Norse saga is done. Whatever comes next is a new story. a new beginning.

    • @JFTSwiertz
      @JFTSwiertz 9 місяців тому +5

      ​@@TheBigJame_
      Ok, part 6.

    • @XxWolfxWaRioRxX
      @XxWolfxWaRioRxX 9 місяців тому

      ​@@TheBigJame_They've already showed what's next it's gonna be Egypt, Mayan and then Japan and I can't wait for all of em

  • @yamradnong
    @yamradnong 9 місяців тому +825

    You know it great when free dlc gets chill up reviews

    • @yelsu3358
      @yelsu3358 9 місяців тому +2

      Wonder if they actually made more off of new sales than they would've off the DLC. Personally I only bought the game because of all the pre release hype around the Valhalla DLC and I'm currently working my way through the game so I can finally get to play it. I bought the game for about 40USD, so my purchase was worth 2 DLC sales if they had put it up $20 for example

    • @nattobaby
      @nattobaby 9 місяців тому

      @@yelsu3358 they got that cash infusion from that live-action tv series they are brewing

    • @Comicbroe405
      @Comicbroe405 9 місяців тому

      ​@@yelsu3358If more ppl like you exist, definitely.

    • @Wav03
      @Wav03 9 місяців тому +6

      @@yelsu3358I mean maybe? I don’t really see people buying the game for this dlc if they weren’t already interested in the story of god of war

    • @yelsu3358
      @yelsu3358 9 місяців тому +1

      @@Wav03 you're probably right

  • @sully408
    @sully408 9 місяців тому +794

    Fun fact: Santa Monica studios challenged themselves to make this DLC in a year, but they've managed to make it in 9 months instead. That is pretty incredible, it takes great execution in every department and careful planning to pull something like this off in such a short amount of time so hats off to them!

    • @ChosenOne-il4bm
      @ChosenOne-il4bm 9 місяців тому +18

      Really lool
      It’s the same location
      You die
      And die again
      Doing th same shit
      For 5 cut scenes

    • @eigmatic8166
      @eigmatic8166 9 місяців тому +155

      ​@@ChosenOne-il4bm bro is salty be absent he can't beat it.

    • @equinoxXIII
      @equinoxXIII 9 місяців тому +117

      @@ChosenOne-il4bm Game is free and people will still complain....

    • @sully408
      @sully408 9 місяців тому +28

      @@ChosenOne-il4bm Some locations repeat yes, I have no idea if u were even paying attention at all but theres alot of encouragement for builds and experimentation that can be super fun and rewarding, I died 5 times my entire playthrough, its not that hard this DLC has alot to offer lol. If u don't like it that's fine too :>)

    • @sully408
      @sully408 9 місяців тому +3

      @@eigmatic8166 tbh His point might be valid, I have a personal vendetta against the harpies in this game, for the life of of me i will not understand of all greek enemies why they brought THOSE back. 😭

  • @TelicSyndrome
    @TelicSyndrome 9 місяців тому +537

    i think the biggest thing this DLC made me realize is that the best DLC for a game happens when it tries to be different. Almost all DLC just adds more of the stuff you already know to a game. Like Horizon did with Forbidden Shores. It's nice, but you're going through motions you are very familiar with. This DLC pulls you out of what you've come to known for the past 2 god of war games, and tries something new for the series. I wish more games would do stuff like this.

    • @goattea9080
      @goattea9080 9 місяців тому +10

      I agree. It helps keep us more invested this way. This was such a great dlc.

    • @nailinthefashion
      @nailinthefashion 9 місяців тому +13

      It takes God of War budget though. They're millionaires and richer than most so they get to be more ambitious amd take risks.
      Zero Dawn did what was possible and even then there were a ton of glitches and limitations.
      Ironically, Burning Shores DID take risks but with the story. Tackling romance is hard. They did it perfectly. They gave players a choice, and told an incredible story.

    • @zElement7
      @zElement7 9 місяців тому +24

      Another great example of a DLC like this is Mooncrash for Prey, I absolutely loved my experience playing that!

    • @giomjava
      @giomjava 9 місяців тому +3

      Dishonored 1 and 2 did this as well -- freshen things up 👌

    • @latima123ify
      @latima123ify 9 місяців тому +4

      I dont think a DLC has to be completely different from the main game to work though. There are instances where you can do something different but they dont always work. HFW burning shores did plenty different while having the core of the main game and it was great

  • @chrishopkins6406
    @chrishopkins6406 9 місяців тому +331

    Absolutely agree with it forcing you to use the skills. I learned more about the combat system in 6 hours than I did playing 100+ hours in 2018 and Ragnarok. Had such a great time I rebooted the main game, upped the difficulty and had a blast playing through the story again.

    • @666slateran666
      @666slateran666 9 місяців тому +31

      Says more about you than the game

    • @futuredozer1735
      @futuredozer1735 9 місяців тому

      Nah​@@666slateran666

    • @Ouwesnuifduif1
      @Ouwesnuifduif1 9 місяців тому +9

      Gow is one of the few games i play on hardest dificulty. The combat sandbox is so much more rewarding and you are forced to play with multiple styles to overcome it

    • @BrorFraNord
      @BrorFraNord 9 місяців тому +13

      This is the main reason why I always play these type of games on the hardest difficulty. It forces you to use and learn everything. You can't beat the berserkers on give me god of war just spamming R1.

    • @luisalmanza119
      @luisalmanza119 9 місяців тому +5

      totally agree man. I’d say I had a good grasp on the combat before and always used al weapons, but Valhalla really encouraged me to “Master Myself”

  • @saud8620
    @saud8620 9 місяців тому +321

    What an intro Ralph 👏🏼, your writing never stops to amaze me

    • @kroth92
      @kroth92 9 місяців тому +6

      He was amazing in this one

    • @n8doggy733
      @n8doggy733 9 місяців тому +11

      hit close to home for me, i was a troubled youth who messed up and ended up wearing the Blue and Gold of the CDC for seceral years. ❤

    • @bluwzrdisgreedy234
      @bluwzrdisgreedy234 9 місяців тому +9

      Nevermind that he got the description of rouge-likes and -lites backwards.

    • @gavo7911
      @gavo7911 9 місяців тому +4

      @@bluwzrdisgreedy234Oh no, a tiny slipup that can be easily ignored in a 20 minute video, the horror

    • @raphaelgarcia1985
      @raphaelgarcia1985 9 місяців тому +8

      You also spelled rogue wrong so ...​@@bluwzrdisgreedy234

  • @TheWorldIsMineForTheTaking
    @TheWorldIsMineForTheTaking 9 місяців тому +88

    My absolute favorite line from GOW is "If you are to sail, do it toward somewhere" I feel like it's a lesson for them both in that moment.

    • @elibeeblebrox1084
      @elibeeblebrox1084 9 місяців тому +8

      My favorite is when Mimir says "you'd better start picking heavy things up and puttin' em back down" when Atreus asks when he'll have a physique like Kratos

    • @chojthoj08
      @chojthoj08 9 місяців тому +2

      So many wise words from Kratos... example. "If you are not better than me, then I had failed".

    • @StillWeRide
      @StillWeRide 9 місяців тому

      ​@@elibeeblebrox1084😆

  • @jeremyp5210
    @jeremyp5210 9 місяців тому +42

    This DLC made me appreciate Tyr as a character.

    • @CQchaos7474
      @CQchaos7474 8 місяців тому +4

      Same. In the base game he was just an insufferable hippie. Even if it wasn't really him

  • @TjinDeDjen
    @TjinDeDjen 9 місяців тому +54

    7:53 I think you switched the definitions of rogue likes and rogue lites there. Rogue likes are the unforgiving ones, since they are closer to the original rogue formula without any meta progression etc. The different definitions of what makes a rogue like or lite seem to change a bit over time, but generally rogue likes are pretty much always the less forgiving ones.

    • @sunrelease
      @sunrelease 9 місяців тому +7

      Yep, thank you, I thought I was going crazy for a second.

    • @eggcitedbro
      @eggcitedbro 9 місяців тому +7

      Yeah that’s my impression too, was confuse by that point

    • @R4MM3RNZ
      @R4MM3RNZ 9 місяців тому +6

      I caught that too but wasn't 100% sure

    • @solipsist3D
      @solipsist3D 9 місяців тому +4

      Indeed has mixed the definitions up

    • @Girvo747
      @Girvo747 9 місяців тому +4

      Yep he got ‘em backward. Oh well, I think we knew what he was getting at anyway :)

  • @xanderfulton3186
    @xanderfulton3186 9 місяців тому +28

    So that Baldur’s Gate review coming out any day now right?

    • @cristopher8186
      @cristopher8186 9 місяців тому +3

      I’m still waiting for that starfield review

    • @DragonHeart613
      @DragonHeart613 9 місяців тому +2

      I honestly don't get why he hasn't reviewed 2023's undisputed GOTY.

    • @ollyhodges
      @ollyhodges 9 місяців тому +4

      He spoke about that in the last podcast

    • @DragonHeart613
      @DragonHeart613 9 місяців тому

      @@ollyhodges What did he say? Details Please?

    • @jamiefroud633
      @jamiefroud633 9 місяців тому +2

      @@kidnamedfinger2625Actually no, he loved the game, but he doesn’t know how to talk about it. So many people have already done reviews so he doesn’t want to repeat the same thing. After multiple rewrites he’s not happy with his script, so he might just leave it be. He loves the game, that’s for certain.

  • @Panthro-lo2lh
    @Panthro-lo2lh 9 місяців тому +99

    If Kratos has a "dad-bod" I'm in trouble.

  • @Chispa9119
    @Chispa9119 9 місяців тому +132

    Truly outdid yourself with the writing of that intro. As a person with a past you sold me on not just Valhalla and therefore Ragnarok, but also to look for the documentary itself. Keep it up!

    • @neilk
      @neilk 9 місяців тому +18

      For real, probably his best opening monologue ever ngl

    • @rainer516
      @rainer516 9 місяців тому +8

      Came here to point this out. His best work yet.

  • @pierretadrus5285
    @pierretadrus5285 9 місяців тому +17

    Uh slight confusion at around 7:55 where you mix up roguelites and roguelikes. Roguelites are the easier ones with meta progression where roguelikes usually lack that boost between run power. Seeing Hades there for rougelike might be from its marketing but it is a roguelite. @SkillUp.
    Edit:Spelling

    • @rebotsomat
      @rebotsomat 9 місяців тому +8

      im so glad someone else noticed that. Its even implied it the name: lite vs like. Likes try to be more like Rogue, lites kind of try to be like it. Hilariously enough, even though Ive played plenty of both, Ive never played Rogue.

    • @zapspeed
      @zapspeed 9 місяців тому +7

      THIS.
      I mean, I'd argue that neither genre is any indication of the difficulty per-say. But the meta-progression in Rogue-lites can indeed often give a way to build your way up to overcome challenges that you may be lacking the skill to beat.
      And yeah, as you say, for some reason games often get mislabelled as Rogue-likes when they're very clearly Rogue-lites, or labelled as both.
      I wonder if it's to do with marketing departments not liking the word "lite" in the name, maybe they think it implies that it's not a full game or something... Or maybe they just honestly don't know any better.
      That said, the official PlayStation website's page for this game does very clearly say: "[...] replayable adventure that blends the beloved combat from God of War Ragnarök with brand new elements inspired by the **roguelite** genre." so... maybe it was just a simple mixup when writing the script.

    • @pierretadrus5285
      @pierretadrus5285 9 місяців тому +3

      @@zapspeed yeah I am fairly certain it was a script mixup. My theory is he checked out Hades again and got confused by the trailer calling it a godlike roguelike. But yeah could also just be a simple typo/mixup while scripting.
      Though on the other point I do somewhat disagree. Part of the meta progression elements basically guarantee eventual success (given a high enough ceiling) while I have played roguelikes that I suspect I will never beat without copious amounts of luck or practise. Sure you can have roguelites that can be harder than roguelikes but the meta progression elements I think will almost always eventually make the roguelite easier.

  • @GoodWill94
    @GoodWill94 9 місяців тому +15

    Fun fact: This free DLC is actually longer than the last CoD campaign

    • @Huzsar
      @Huzsar 9 місяців тому +4

      Last campaign? You mean nearly every CoD campaign.

  • @scorchedham9842
    @scorchedham9842 9 місяців тому +5

    This free dlc is longer than MW3 campaign, that is embarrassing.

  • @Lucien135
    @Lucien135 9 місяців тому +28

    So went from ship metaphors to prison metaphors. This my friends is called character development.

  • @noah9942.
    @noah9942. 9 місяців тому +38

    7:53 rogue-lite is what this is. It's more forgiving, mainly due to having meta progression. Think Hades, Rogue Legacy, or EtG.
    Rogue-like is more similar to the original game "Rogue", which generally means no meta progression. These are generally more brutal as you are entirely reliant on personal knowledge and skill to win. Some traditionalists also include turn based, grid based gameplay, but that's rare.

    • @profofgames
      @profofgames 9 місяців тому +7

      Yeah, this is a minor, but important point in an otherwise flawless review.

    • @bobsteel1981
      @bobsteel1981 9 місяців тому +1

      Saves me from writing those exact words. :D

    • @gunnarschlichting9886
      @gunnarschlichting9886 9 місяців тому

      Where would you put something like Binding of Isaac, where you don't get stronger but do unlock more items (that are often strong)? Ignore other characters who might be/are better for a second.

    • @Miriam_J_
      @Miriam_J_ 9 місяців тому +1

      Eh, it gets harder and harder to assign genres. It ultimately doesn't matter much, since most people will call this a rough-like instead. I blame how similar "like" and "lite" are. There had to have been a better name than one that sounds nearly identical.

    • @noah9942.
      @noah9942. 9 місяців тому +2

      @alexandriasmothitel1243 I agree that the names are too similar, and I feel like that's a large part of why people get them mixed up all the time.

  • @mkdmc
    @mkdmc 9 місяців тому +79

    This doesn’t feel like a review, this is one of your most well written videos ever. Cheers ralph, I had a great time with Valhalla too.

    • @ClipperFanW
      @ClipperFanW 9 місяців тому +8

      Bro you didn't even watch the full video yet💀. Guess you gotta farm your likes lmao

    • @mkdmc
      @mkdmc 9 місяців тому +6

      @@ClipperFanWi had written this comment about half way through, after i had finished the intro which i felt to be well written and expressive, moreso than his normal videos, but go off i guess ? be miserable?

    • @ClipperFanW
      @ClipperFanW 9 місяців тому +1

      @@mkdmc Whatever helps your jobless self sleep at night. Keep making excuses I guess?

  • @theveryrealbarto
    @theveryrealbarto 9 місяців тому +10

    Hot damn, that intro was slick. Taking another, very different work and connecting it so elegantly to the topic at hand.
    Well done, Ralph!

  • @nighthowell
    @nighthowell 9 місяців тому +3

    I thought the writing for this DLC's main narrative (the shieldmaiden's side narratives were corny honestly) was better than all of Ragnarok. Reminiscient of 2018's quality. Maybe it was the result of having fewer cooks in the kitchen.

  • @aspinnycracker
    @aspinnycracker 9 місяців тому +48

    Finished it tonight. The fact that this DLC is free and made in 9th months is absolutey amazing

  • @buddhistpossum3462
    @buddhistpossum3462 9 місяців тому +8

    I always thought "rogue-lites" where the forgiving ones, allowing for meta progression, and "rogue-likes" are the brutal ones, do to them being like their namesake, Rogue. Have I been wrong this whole time?!

    • @DoomsdayMayBeOkay
      @DoomsdayMayBeOkay 9 місяців тому +5

      Pretty sure he misspoke there, you are right.

    • @largebaboon5559
      @largebaboon5559 8 місяців тому

      nope you are correct, rogue lites retain elements that make each run a bit easier than the last, rogue likes usually throw you in the mix with the same starting point every run, or at the very least no possible upgrades

  • @Alex-ug9wx
    @Alex-ug9wx 9 місяців тому +7

    Santa Monica have not only produced a fantastic take on this franchise by GoW (2018), but, by Ragnarok and NOW THIS, have proven that it wasn’t just a fluke or a miraculous coincidence. What a great way to give some resolution and, more importantly, reassurance to all consumers- and overall just a great way to build rapport between the customer base and their every action from here on out. I feel genuinely privileged to be living during this period of high quality development that we get from this studio.
    Bungie should take notes.

  • @meizanmestech
    @meizanmestech 9 місяців тому +64

    Played Ragnarok & Vahalla DLC. Resonate strongly with me to my core.
    "who you was not always who you have to be" is something i still struggle with. As sad & emotional the game make me, i able to finish them without shedding a tear.
    Until this video opening monolog. I'm a mess. It was cathartic.
    Thank you Ralph

    • @NightRogue77
      @NightRogue77 9 місяців тому +2

      That journey is the toughest you will take, and it can feel unrewarding and isolating as you uncover your own secrets and begin to understand the world around you better, for better and for worse.
      But I maintain that, regardless of difficulty, there is no more fascinating or rewarding a journey, than the one that can be taken within

    • @nailinthefashion
      @nailinthefashion 9 місяців тому +3

      I hope you've played classics like Infamous, Second Son, Prototype that tackle similar themes!

  • @kewlbot
    @kewlbot 9 місяців тому +8

    dude that name drop of the documentary as the review begins was actually so good

  • @WendlerTV
    @WendlerTV 9 місяців тому +58

    The fact theres meta progression that rewards you to play another game playthrough, is absolute genius

    • @ModestPavement
      @ModestPavement 9 місяців тому +6

      That's every rouguelike.

    • @sunrelease
      @sunrelease 9 місяців тому +13

      Yeah idk what this dude is talking about, this is literally a *defining* feature of what makes a game a rogueLITE vs. a roguelike (skillup got it backwards lol)@@ModestPavement

    • @Evanz111
      @Evanz111 9 місяців тому +1

      Being able to shoot bullets in an FPS is genius according to your metric :’)

    • @WendlerTV
      @WendlerTV 9 місяців тому +9

      @@ModestPavement i was being vague intentionally to avoid spoilers. But the fact theres rewards specifically tied to this DLC, that you unlock on completion to go back to the core game with is nice.
      im not talking about the basic roguelike mechanics

    • @WendlerTV
      @WendlerTV 9 місяців тому +2

      @@Evanz111 the point wasnt talking about how rogues work, it was me being vague to avoid spoiling rewards that you unlock going back to NG+ of the core game.
      But you got me!

  • @RobSomeone
    @RobSomeone 9 місяців тому +4

    This review sounds more like Ralph not being able to play on hard mode or be a completionist in the base game because he's a reviewer and learning how deep the combat actually was.

    • @NickHunter
      @NickHunter 9 місяців тому +1

      if that's all you took away from this review I feel pretty bad for you

    • @Gainersy
      @Gainersy 9 місяців тому

      The depth doesn't matter if the sandbox doesn't ask you to explore that depth, which it really doesn't even on the hardest setting.

  • @Kinos141
    @Kinos141 9 місяців тому +4

    I was just calling this game "therapy through combat"
    The work. that's interesting.

  • @sicksteenwolves5318
    @sicksteenwolves5318 9 місяців тому +3

    Saying Kratos has a Dad Bod is basically saying you can See John Cena, A LIE!

  • @stinsonboyz2
    @stinsonboyz2 9 місяців тому +10

    It's videos like this that is at the heart of why I love your channel...
    This Crafted Work That You Gave Us Is A Masterpiece.

  • @nopenope7777
    @nopenope7777 9 місяців тому +13

    You deserve every subscriber you get including myself. Stellar work for everyone at skillup. Might be one of the best intros ive ever seen to a review.

  • @serjofcinder8925
    @serjofcinder8925 9 місяців тому +64

    It's one of the best experiences I've had this year, ridiculous that this was free and that borefest dlc for horizon was 25quid. Great job Santa Monica

    • @aspinnycracker
      @aspinnycracker 9 місяців тому +7

      Activision's borefest DLC was even more expensive!

    • @jonascelentano9251
      @jonascelentano9251 9 місяців тому +13

      Hey, burning shores was awesome! But ,yeah compared to Vallhalla its hilarious it wasn't free

    • @Coldstone666
      @Coldstone666 9 місяців тому +8

      Santa monica are in a better position to not charge. I’d gladly spend &25 to support Guerrilla games .

    • @DanteRU0312
      @DanteRU0312 9 місяців тому +23

      I wonder if there was ever a time when people could praise one good thing without insulting another good thing.

    • @GeterPiffinn
      @GeterPiffinn 9 місяців тому +6

      Burning Shores was pretty good. Mostly.

  • @Starpluckr
    @Starpluckr 9 місяців тому +28

    I remember before its release, one of my very few hangups with the 2018 reboot of GOW was the recasting of Kratos. I liked TC’s performance and wondered why they didn’t bring him back. Well it became evident the moment the opening sequence played out. No disrespect to TC of course. I think he was perfect for the younger, louder, outwardly angry Kratos. Chris Judge was the PERFECT casting for Kratos as an older man, equally burdened by the consequences of his past and the weight of responsibility for raising his son to never repeat his mistakes. A man already carrying the loss of one child, and trying desperately not to experience that loss yet again. The subtle deconstruction of masculinity that SMS created might be one of the greatest storytelling achievements in all of AAA gaming.

    • @saniakshay12
      @saniakshay12 9 місяців тому +5

      What happens when you have a team of creatives who have been involved with character since the beginning. It is incredible. 10 years agon Kratos was the butt of jokes for being an angry man, now he is one of gamings most focused and well written characters.

  • @FreemanEffect
    @FreemanEffect 9 місяців тому +7

    Valhalla Kratos is basically facing his own teaching to Atreus in the first game:
    "Do not be sorry. Be Better"

  • @artemkoropotkin3047
    @artemkoropotkin3047 9 місяців тому +3

    Did skill up just call older Kratos having a dad bod? God damn, standards have been raised.

  • @ionseven
    @ionseven 9 місяців тому +3

    Proof that AAA absolutely CAN overdeliver but normally chooses not to.

  • @mmichal
    @mmichal 9 місяців тому +3

    The best use of DLC since The Witcher 3 and its FREE how can you not like it?

  • @cluckendip
    @cluckendip 9 місяців тому +3

    As soon as you brought up The Work the second time I had to like the video. I didn't even think about it, it just happened. mf hypnotised me

  • @nimbleshadow
    @nimbleshadow 9 місяців тому +3

    Modern western author 1: "Let's make a viking themed product. But what do we name it?"
    Modern western author 2: "Well, it can either be Ragnarok or Valhalla, there is literally no third option that I am aware of."
    Modern western author 1: "How about "Ragnarok: Valhalla"?"
    Modern western author 2: "You are a genius! Jackpot!"

  • @aiwash2766
    @aiwash2766 9 місяців тому +6

    The correlation of The Work was absolutely brilliant I dint even know about this till this video

  • @TuriGamer
    @TuriGamer 9 місяців тому +3

    Million subs game youtuber recommends the new AAA gray sludge movie game? No way.

  • @Alacaelum
    @Alacaelum 9 місяців тому +3

    So... i watch a video saying that apparently the original creator of GoW... doesnt like the "new" Kratos, he says that he envisioned the character as an larger than life character akin to James Bond and similar, not a struggling father, which i have to say... i understand and respect his opinion, but i don't agree.
    It took some time sure, but this journey elevated the character to a new level, and personally... i dont respect the Bond character of old as much as i respect the one that the movies Cassino Royale and Skyfall showed, just i much as i dont respect the old Kratos.
    Sure, i still can have my fun with them, but the respective journeys and changes the characters had made them much better to me.
    This DLC, is proof that sometimes... a story outgrows even the original creator vision, dont mean they have to like it, but it doesnt make it "wrong".

  • @casthedemon
    @casthedemon 9 місяців тому +3

    I find it absolutely hilarious that we have AC Valhalla with Ragnarok DLC. And now we have GoW Ragnarok with Valhalla DLC. Its like they planned it. Two of my favorite games too lol.

  • @samulityyska2269
    @samulityyska2269 9 місяців тому +19

    I've just started playing God of War (2018). Can't wait to play Ragnarök and Valhalla DLC!

    • @WizzlyBearW0rms
      @WizzlyBearW0rms 9 місяців тому +1

      Kratos has a baby with wood elf

    • @martijn769
      @martijn769 9 місяців тому +3

      Be wary of spoilers bud it's an epic tale of father and son, hope you experience it without getting spoiled

    • @Contractor48
      @Contractor48 9 місяців тому

      @@WizzlyBearW0rmswasn’t she a Druid? Freya is Druid as well right? Everyone looks Druid to me in God of war.

    • @marcusclark1339
      @marcusclark1339 9 місяців тому +1

      don't its bad - just casual appeal game made for broad design
      better games exist and its story is bad

    • @WizzlyBearW0rms
      @WizzlyBearW0rms 9 місяців тому

      @@marcusclark1339 name a better game

  • @DonFrankAlvarez
    @DonFrankAlvarez 9 місяців тому +8

    Your writing keeps getting better and better, Ralph.

  • @brandond40
    @brandond40 9 місяців тому +39

    The way you connected your intro to the DLC at 5:50 was pretty epic

  • @Synchro789
    @Synchro789 9 місяців тому +4

    What a well-made, thoughtful review. Appreciate the depth! New subscriber sent from MrMattyPlays, but loving the content and the community. Keep up the great work! 🔥

  • @chrishackney9512
    @chrishackney9512 9 місяців тому +10

    Excellent, excellent analysis. One of your best reviews to date.

  • @crancelbrowser5478
    @crancelbrowser5478 9 місяців тому +3

    Thanks for making me cry watching a fucking DLC review

  • @Woodlouse81
    @Woodlouse81 9 місяців тому +3

    Just went and watched The Work, pretty intense documentary.

  • @Noah-yq5sy
    @Noah-yq5sy 9 місяців тому +6

    I never comment on videos, but that was so beautifully said. I'll for sure be checking this out before the end of the year. Thanks Ralph & team for all of your hard work always.

  • @Shawnpo76
    @Shawnpo76 9 місяців тому +8

    Damn that was an amazing review,, thoroughly enjoyed it and thanks for doing all the work

  • @lefteris797
    @lefteris797 9 місяців тому +21

    The first five minutes of the review is why we go so attached to this channel.
    Insight

  • @RealDrDoom
    @RealDrDoom 9 місяців тому +23

    This is incredible journalism, beyond the typical gaming journalism. Skillup made that connection between the documentary and the game and described them beautifully

  • @DUBDUB511
    @DUBDUB511 9 місяців тому +3

    Holly shit no one does better videos than this shill right here
    Amazing editing, writing, narration, and directing.
    Compared to the rest of gaming coverage, you really are a step up, skill up

  • @antisocialgamer1599
    @antisocialgamer1599 9 місяців тому +5

    Great review. The intro was particularly insightful

  • @Monox1de7
    @Monox1de7 9 місяців тому +8

    I just wanna say how much i appreciate your Narration! whether its you alone or a crew making a script your narration is top tier.

  • @moshpiler123
    @moshpiler123 9 місяців тому +17

    Masterful review! Mate u are the only person I've found doing this who truly elevates game reviews into an art form

  • @lucky_-1y
    @lucky_-1y 9 місяців тому +3

    [SPOILERS]
    The Valhalla ending got me bad, 3am and i was crying seeing Kratos arguing with his younger self, that message was so powerful, truly peak single player experience right there

  • @treebush
    @treebush 9 місяців тому +3

    its honestly insane this dlc was free i would have been fine paying 40 bucks for this. Its basically a sequel thats replayable and really shows why GoW combat is so good.

  • @Stealthoneill
    @Stealthoneill 9 місяців тому +30

    I was worried when Ragnarok ended the Norse sage but playing this reminded me of just how great that studio can be with what they create and I know I’ll be along for the ride.

    • @MtlRocker
      @MtlRocker 9 місяців тому +8

      I also respect that Santa Monica didn't try to squeeze a trilogy out of the Norse Saga. The story across the two games was well paced.

    • @StillWeRide
      @StillWeRide 9 місяців тому

      Same here. Being able to see real Tyr and Kratos together is just amazing. The world they built in these games is just sl addictive.

  • @abraxis59
    @abraxis59 9 місяців тому +8

    This was a fantastic review! I am a pure PC player and I very rarely feel like I am missing something that really matters because I do not have a console. Your review of this DLC was so good that I truly feel like I am missing something special.

    • @hamzashaikh9310
      @hamzashaikh9310 9 місяців тому +3

      Its coming in a year to pc.

    • @yomamasohot6411
      @yomamasohot6411 9 місяців тому

      ​@hamzashaikh9310 good to know you have a Sony insider

    • @DoomiePookie
      @DoomiePookie 9 місяців тому +1

      As strictly a PC gamer you actually miss out on quite alot. This is why i also have a PS5 and Switch.

    • @abraxis59
      @abraxis59 9 місяців тому

      @@DoomiePookie It's all a matter of perspective. There are only 2 games in the HISTORY of the switch that I would have had much interest in (I bet you can guess which 2 games) and for the PS4/5 era there are I think 3. That is not worth the investment for me as I already have a huge backlog 😀

    • @antagonist7
      @antagonist7 9 місяців тому

      We all have our preferences but playing 1st party sony games is one of the best gaming experiences i ever had, bloodborne, ghost of tsushima, god of war, returnal, spiderman and a lot more and playing 3rd party games here are always optimized, hopefully you will take interest someday

  • @MrZer013
    @MrZer013 9 місяців тому +3

    The best review of 2023 great job 👍🏾

  • @LimitNZ
    @LimitNZ 9 місяців тому +4

    Great review!

  • @zeruszephuros5419
    @zeruszephuros5419 9 місяців тому +6

    Not only the develolers are SO detailed throughout everything including the quest titles, you're also amazing for discovering them&conveying it to let us know!!

  • @DadGamer9000
    @DadGamer9000 9 місяців тому +1

    As a 38yr old dude who was very much an angry boy like Kratos and is now very much trying to be kinder and better, this DLC hit hard in a lot of fucking ways…AND was just a good fun time

  • @AB-hi6ru
    @AB-hi6ru 9 місяців тому +3

    PC gamers cry waiting patiently for the GoW sequel!

    • @GigglingStoners
      @GigglingStoners 9 місяців тому

      After the trash that was the first game... nah.

  • @Zeigy
    @Zeigy 9 місяців тому +1

    Great video Ralph. Intelligently put together. I thought I'd mis-clicked the video when you started getting into a whole discussion about prisoners in therapy sessions. 🙃

  • @ami4040
    @ami4040 9 місяців тому +7

    Great review. I really like the story analysis rather than just focusing on the directly visible game elements. Really adds value to the game itself.

  • @KingCrusoe
    @KingCrusoe 9 місяців тому +1

    Only 3 minutes into this video and I already want to replay the new GoW games AGAIN. Thanks, ShillUp; all I need to do now is figure out how to add more days to the weekends XD

  • @IndianTelephone
    @IndianTelephone 9 місяців тому +25

    This is what separates you from every reviewer on UA-cam. Never change Ralph!

    • @Q-nt-Tf
      @Q-nt-Tf 9 місяців тому +1

      what separates him?

    • @Turnoutburndown
      @Turnoutburndown 9 місяців тому

      And check out Like Stories of Old for someone doing incredibly personal deep dives on movies.

    • @IndianTelephone
      @IndianTelephone 9 місяців тому

      @@Q-nt-Tf He didn't review the gameplay or that its free or that its graphics or performance. He analyzed the story, and why this is an important and unmissable DLC for the game and what makes it a great addition to the story.

    • @clevelandbrown4571
      @clevelandbrown4571 9 місяців тому

      @@IndianTelephone Wait, so he didn't review most of parts of the DLC and just focus mostly on the story.... that's good?

    • @IndianTelephone
      @IndianTelephone 9 місяців тому

      @@clevelandbrown4571 Yes.

  • @PXAbstraction
    @PXAbstraction 9 місяців тому +1

    Not to be pedantic (even though I totally am), but you have Roguelike and Roguelite backwards. RogueLITES are the easier variants that have some manner of permanent progression to make subsequent runs easier. RogueLIKES are when you start completely back at square one when you die. Roguelike is named after the Epyx game Rogue from back in the day, which had full permadeath. Source: Have played and made videos on more of both kinds of games that I'd like to admit.
    That said, Ragnarok is currently on my "very soon backlog" and I'm glad that my delay means I have this mode right off the bat as well.

  • @SomP0
    @SomP0 9 місяців тому +3

    Damn Ralph you lied. This isn’t a review. This is a deeply analytical and beautiful video essay on this great dlc. You never miss. Inspiring me to make content like this someday.

  • @Raytheus
    @Raytheus 9 місяців тому +3

    Sony Santa Monica knows how to honor this character and his story. I have deep respect for the way they treat their characters. I LOVE this series and DLCs.

  • @gabeh711
    @gabeh711 9 місяців тому +3

    Ralph you purveyor of sweet serenader of game reviewers. You almost lost me with the jail reference at the beginning, but DAMN at the end your review struck gold in my heart my friend!! You're a bloody genius, please don't ever change. 🙂

  • @therandom802
    @therandom802 9 місяців тому +3

    The gow saga, as a whole, has been phenomenal. Always solid gameplay for the tech at the time, always a thoughtful and well-told story. The Valhalla dlc continues the trend, plus it’s free! Wisely, they waited for the BG3 tunnel vision to end, before releasing this lol

  • @samanderson1650
    @samanderson1650 9 місяців тому +3

    This is one of the best DLCs I have ever played, and it's free! It makes me want them to remake the originals even more than I already did. I think Ragnarok and Valhalla was a fitting end for Kratos's story, and they should go back to the originals and make them with the modern style. It would be soooo epic!

  • @johncra8982
    @johncra8982 9 місяців тому +13

    that final monologue man... Chris Judge delivering the year's best performance and it's in a free DLC at the end of December 🤌
    also love how they keep hinting at stuff between Kratos and Freya, I'd love to see the next game feature them as King and Queen, maybe intervening in a war between multiple other pantheons as a peacemaker power couple.

  • @manufacturingdescent
    @manufacturingdescent 9 місяців тому +23

    You are a great reviewer. You not only do a great job telling actually reviewing, you help me appreciate games in different ways. Keep it up yo.

  • @applebottomjames
    @applebottomjames Місяць тому +1

    I finally just played through Valhalla the last couple of days and it has been fantastic. I avoided videos about it bc I heard what it was and how it was free and wanted to experience it myself, but god fucking damn ya’ll. It’s so fucking good.
    At the end of each loop you fight a “final boss” and the final boss changes up their attacks each time 4 times in a row and they are the most fun I’ve ever had in a fight in a video game.
    I was on my final run (unknowingly, I wasn’t sure when the ending would come) but the final boss was using so many different tactics and really challenging me that I could feel this had to be near the end or else the next fight would feel unbearable lol
    By the end of that fight I was on a thread of hope, I had lucked out with the abilities I was given to choose and I had 2 main abilities that gave me health, my Rage which was the last one I needed to fight against this boss at the time to complete a Mastery objective, and a Relic which is just a special ability that I happened to take bc I thought I hadn’t taken it yet (to complete a Mastery objective)
    I was on deaths door but so was the final boss, but bc I had upgraded this one weapon with some crazy abilities I was able to win out on my first try, long after I needed to go to bed, and finished the game of Valhalla.
    I know there’s a bit more in there for me so I’m going to keep playing, but I LOVED my time with this DLC in a way the main game never hit.
    It’s fucking good, ya’ll

  • @elemde689
    @elemde689 9 місяців тому +3

    This might be one of the best videos you have ever done Ralph

  • @TheAsiandramafreak
    @TheAsiandramafreak Місяць тому +1

    I did not enjoy this game at all, I thought I would, but too many times it feels like I am watching a movie and too much hand holding. I used to be okay with the gameplay, but after playing Elden Ring and playing this game, it just doesn’t work anymore. Please no mean comments, I know people are passionate about this game, I am just giving you my 2 cents. Let’s make the internet a better place, where adults can talk!

  • @StephenFord
    @StephenFord 9 місяців тому +3

    Ralph’s writing is just on another level. Every time he drops a video like this I’m like, begging him to write movies.

  • @beck7607
    @beck7607 9 місяців тому +1

    God of War has always about (specifically) men accepting their actions, their trauma, their emotions.
    I'm glad the last two games have really lent into that and thank you Skill Up for pointing it out because a lot of people don't see it because they get so focused on the (freaking epic and satisfying) combat systems.

  • @DoomsdayMayBeOkay
    @DoomsdayMayBeOkay 9 місяців тому +8

    On a side note there are strong rumors Santa Monica is prepping a re-release of the original trilogy on current systems and could not be happier! 🤩

    • @jackakascko
      @jackakascko 9 місяців тому +3

      Damn, would love that, grew up with the series, even played it on psp

  • @Shl0kk
    @Shl0kk 9 місяців тому +1

    Fundamentally I hate the bullet sponge gameplay of modern GoW. I mean, c'mon. Every grunt you come across needs to be juggled 20 hits and, even leveled up, you take perhaps 5 hits till death? You're a goddamn God for chrissake.

  • @MyPronounsHeWhore
    @MyPronounsHeWhore 9 місяців тому +5

    just started yesterday, exactly what I'm in the mood for. 100% gameplay, dont want to wander around a big world, dont want to craft, just want straight up action I can pick up and put down whenever.
    The only reason why I have over 2k hrs of Elden Ring and only 80 in GoW is replayability. Can't skip lines in GoW due to all the climbing. I'll likely binge this DLC for a long time.

  • @DuctTapeJake
    @DuctTapeJake 9 місяців тому +1

    I think you have some definitions backwards, unless they've somehow reversed in the last few years. 'Roguelike' always referred to a game similar to Rogue or Nethack, old school randomised ascii based rpgs where if you die you lose everything and go back to the start. Closest modern game is likely Spelunky. 'Roguelite' tended to be much more forgiving, with cross progression between runs. It was a 'Roguelike Light'.

  • @coldwater7172
    @coldwater7172 9 місяців тому +3

    Lovely to hear i can finally justify my opinions

  • @thatdudeKarim
    @thatdudeKarim 9 місяців тому +1

    This Game is Hades with a GoW4 skin.... Absolutely Love it. The Rouges like gameplay and story format works surprisingly well for GoW story. This is a nice lil treat of a game.

  • @Thallium212
    @Thallium212 9 місяців тому +3

    Hell of a script, Ralph; Engaging, entertaining and to the point (without spoiling detail). Good shit, Shill up!

  • @delonejuanderer
    @delonejuanderer 9 місяців тому +1

    Hasn't reviewed BG3 yet, but HAD to review DLC, which I mean.... maybe if it wasn't free would be justified.

  • @KaiSchSp
    @KaiSchSp 9 місяців тому +34

    This one is so cool. Now I hope they remake the first three games. The new assets are great

    • @Mashrafi_Rian
      @Mashrafi_Rian 9 місяців тому +10

      I don't think those games need a complete remake. A nice remaster with a new coat of paint would be just fine

    • @ninjakiwi2476
      @ninjakiwi2476 9 місяців тому +9

      A high quality remaster is honestly more than enough, they still hold up incredibly well and who knows what they could change with a remake

    • @togp3403
      @togp3403 9 місяців тому +5

      I’m really sick of remasters/remakes. I just want this brilliant studio to keep making new things

    • @CB-lw7ty
      @CB-lw7ty 9 місяців тому

      I've seen reports they are in the works to be remastered.

    • @battlep0t
      @battlep0t 9 місяців тому

      There's leaks that a remastered trilogy is in the works.

  • @buergi
    @buergi 9 місяців тому +1

    Great video, will start up the game again. Thank you. But with all respect: Kratos has everything but "dad bod". Imagine a world where a man with a body like Kratos is "slightly too fat and does not appear to do a lot of exercise".

  • @MrButlertron9
    @MrButlertron9 9 місяців тому +10

    Never did I think my favourite video game reviewer would reference something as powerful and important as The Work. What an excellent analogy! Thank you so much for bringing to light such an awesome example of men doing such important work. Young men especially desperately need to be made aware of the value and accessibility of this kind of thing. We all have to do the work. Hopefully merely your mention of the documentary will encourage young men to watch it for themselves. Thanks again :)

    • @635574
      @635574 9 місяців тому +1

      I am 99.99% sure the devs watched it too.

  • @PaulM68322
    @PaulM68322 9 місяців тому +1

    Such a tragedy they didn't make it into 3 games.
    Ragnarok was narrativly a disaster. Clearly rushed and narrativly inept.
    The themes and ideas were good but the execution was more than lacking.
    Cannot understand why Balrog chose to walk away from his masterpiece and leave it in the hands of someone who could easily of been qualified if he just hadn't also forced the idea of making the sequel the finale..... such a shame

  • @CodexF0X
    @CodexF0X 9 місяців тому +3

    Absolute masterful review!