God Of War PS4 Review: 8 Ups & 1 MINOR Down

5. Atreus Is A Landmark In Helper Character A.I.

Factoring heavily into battle, Atreus goes from just upgradeable to invaluable. His inclusion is a dedicated face button, meaning whenever you prod square there'll be an arrow from behind in seconds. Many enemy encounters rely on using him to open them up for weak spots, hammering home that sense of teamwork in-game that the cutscenes and thematics are hung on.

Out of battle he's clearly been hitting the books more than Kratos, and will frequently decode runes or tell you about the surrounding world. Atreus' last contribution is hinting towards or away from where you're "supposed" to be going, once you select a specific quest. He'll murmur or suggest you require a different weapon or item for specific locks that then get opened later in the game, or run in the direction of the exit when you're deep in a dungeon.

Like Bioshock Infinite's use of Elizabeth to toss you ammo or guns in a firefight, Atreus can also be equipped with armour that makes him seek out health stones or hold foes in place for a wind-up attack.

He's an absolute delight, never needs protecting and only chimes in when you actually want to hear him. Perfect.