Unleashing the True Power: God of War Ragnarok's Game Plus Update Takes the Next Step

Nowadays, players expect more content from single-player games compared to the past. The introduction and popularity of post-launch updates have had both positive and negative effects on the gaming industry. On one hand, it allows some developers to release unfinished games at full price and fix them later. On the other hand, it enables passionate developers to continually update their games with exciting new features. A prime example of this is God of War Ragnarok's New Game Plus mode.

This mode was released approximately five months after the game's initial launch and follows the trend set by many other single-player games. In New Game Plus mode, players have the opportunity to start the campaign from the beginning, but this time with all the skills, abilities, and gear they acquired during their first playthrough. While God of War Ragnarok's New Game Plus mode successfully accomplishes this and more, there is still room for improvement in one specific aspect.

God of War Ragnarok's New Game Plus Mode Should Have Let NPCs Leave the Arena

God of War Ragnarok's New Game Plus mode expanded upon the strong foundation set by its predecessor. In addition to introducing five new currencies, this mode offered an array of powerful armor and weapons. Players were also rewarded with numerous new Enchantments as they upgraded their gear to level 9.1. However, the standout addition in God of War Ragnarok's New Game Plus mode was undoubtedly the inclusion of the Sparring Arena.

God of War Ragnarok's Niflheim Sparring Arena underwent a significant transformation in New Game Plus, despite already being available in the base game. In addition to offering multiple difficulty levels, the New Game Plus version of the Sparring Arena allowed players to take control of both Kratos and Atreus.

Once players selected either Kratos or Atreus, they would then be presented with the option to choose their NPC companion, encompassing every possible combination in the game. This meant that players could opt to control Atreus while having Kratos as their companion, or they could form a team with Kratos and Thor. While the unique team-ups featured in God of War Ragnarok's New Game Plus mode are indeed impressive, there was potential for even greater exploration in this aspect.

In God of War Ragnarok, it would have been exciting to see the NPC companion feature extend beyond the Sparring Arena in the New Game Plus mode. While it wouldn't be logical to have Thor join forces with Kratos during or after the game's story, it would have been a welcomed addition to have the freedom to switch companions during post-game exploration.

Furthermore, if Santa Monica Studios wanted to exceed expectations, they could have incorporated unique character interactions into these team-ups. These interactions wouldn't impact the game's canon story but would provide enjoyable exchanges, similar to the pre-game lobbies in Overwatch 2. The inclusion of these distinctive interactions alone might have enticed numerous fans to revisit God of War Ragnarok for another playthrough.

God of War Ragnarok is available now for PS4 and PS5.