God Of War PS4 Review: 10 Critical Reactions You Need To Know

2. Exploration And Puzzles Are Just As Enjoyable As Combat

While the addition of a boat was always an indication of how much freeform exploration was going to be included in the game, it seems as though this part of the experience is one of the biggest draws, with endgame dungeons in particular offering challenges long after the main story has been completed. Praising the exploration in the world, GamesRadar have stated:

Even now, a good 15 hours post credits, I’m still finding new areas, and puzzles that have me slow-clapping the screen at whoever made the damn thing.

Likewise, exploration also yields a larger variety of different gameplay activities. While puzzles are present in the main quest, they're said to come alive in the challenges scattered throughout the world, acting as a welcome breather to the constant combat the series is known for. As Kotaku puts it, this blend of combat, exploration and puzzle-solving is what keeps the game so engaging, explaining that:

You’re not just slashing, slashing, slashing without breaks. Often, you get through a major battle to find that you now get to explore the world around you, find secrets, test out your brain cells a bit.