Read our full God of War Ragnarok review by clicking here
God of War Ragnarok review codes are out, and many outlets and reviewers are playing the game. Sony was kind enough to send us a review code, and we thought to test it out on both PS4 and PS5. The game runs perfectly on the PS5 across its graphic settings, including the 120Hz mode. But does it play well on PS4? Can the old-generation console run this massive game properly? Have we encountered any performance issues yet? Let’s find out.
Is God of War Ragnarok on PS4 worth it?
Yes, it is. My friend and reviewer for Ragnarok, Darren, is playing the game on his PS5 on a massive screen. For purely comparison purposes (I swear), I’m playing the game on my old, exhausted PS4 Slim on my second monitor. The game runs absolutely perfect.
When we received the code, we thought it’d only be for the PS5 version, but there was a PS4 version as well. I carried my PS4 back to my desk, dusted it off, and prayed to God for it to work. It did. I downloaded the game overnight, ran it the following day, and voila! It was a hell of an experience!
You won’t notice any differences if you don’t play the game on a PS5. Trust me. Yes, the visuals look a little blurry since it’s still 1080p and locked at 30fps. But if you played the first God of War on a PS4, you won’t feel a difference. The visuals are spectacular, the gameplay is smooth, there are no jitters, no lags, and no bugs, and almost every animation is perfect.
I’ve watched many animations closely, including when Kratos takes a hit, the way he throws the Leviathon, and when you’re dodging and rolling around the environment. It truly feels like a story continuation of the first game, but better.
The game loads pretty fast as well. Sony Santa Monica Studio has optimized the game really well for the PS4, and it shows. Once the game’s loaded, you won’t have to wait for any loading screens. Not during the invisible loading screens or the portals. It is smooth.
Now, it won’t be fair if you compare the PS4 version to the PS5’s, but let’s break it down for a more transparent conversation.
God of War Ragnarok PS4 vs PS5; Differences
- The texture quality is far better on the PS5 version, as it should be. But I’d emphasize, yet again, that the visuals are gorgeous, even on my PS4 Slim. The snow is intricately detailed, the particle effects are well done, and the animations are heart-winning.
- The performance mode choices on the PS5 version of God of War Ragnarok are its winning features. You can choose between 4K/30 FPS Locked, 60 FPS Locked, 4K/40 FPS Locked, or 120Hz Mode. There’s no such option for the PS4 version.
- The game loads faster. Again, as it should for a newer generation console. The PS4 version, however, isn’t slow either. You won’t feel the need to wait at any point during the game except when enemies are constantly killing you and forcing you to replay the checkpoint.
Should you buy God of War Ragnarok for the PS4?
If you don’t have a PS5, I’d definitely suggest you purchase God of War Ragnarok for your PS4. Apart from the performance features and an increase in texture quality, you aren’t missing much. The fights are seamless, the environment looks gorgeous, and I’m really hooked and curious to follow the story. The story could actually be the best element of the game. I’m just a few hours into the game, so let’s hope for the best.
If you have any questions regarding God of War Ragnarok, feel free to ask us in the comments below. You can also pre-order the game for PS4 and PS5 on Amazon. (Note: These are affiliate links and we’ll earn a commission from Amazon if you buy the game through our links. It’ll still cost you the actual price, with no extra charges)
We’ll publish our final God of War Ragnarok review on November 3. So, stay tuned!
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