After five long years of waiting, the God of War franchise is back and better than ever.

With the first edition on PlayStation 4, Santa Monica Studios reap the rewards of changing something that is not broken. While Kratos remains the mascot of the series, the newest God of War introduces Kratos’ son, Atreus, the Leviathan Axe, and more side quests and content.

Joined by Atreus, players set off on a journey to scatter the ashes of Kratos’ wife atop the highest peak in all the realms. The game features a magnificently written story, with no cutaways or loading screens, that follows Atreus’ struggle to mourn his mother’s loss, adapt to his father’s violent behavior, and cope with the necessity of maturing rapidly.

Kratos and Atreus butt heads numerous times throughout the story, adding a new dynamic of Kratos having to monitor some of his actions and take care of a loved one. With this, players are introduced to a caring side of Kratos.

Kratos and Atreus combine to make a formidable duo in battle and also, more importantly, as father and son. Apart from the excellent story, Kratos and his son partake in the usual hack-em-up combat that established the franchise as a household name.

The axe makes for an insanely fun addition as it handles well and wreaks havoc on any enemy in the game. There is some strategy involved in fighting with special runic attacks that deal heavy damage but take time to recharge.

Along with an immersive story and fun combat, God of War contains extensive side content that potentially opens up side quests, puzzles with a reward at the end, or even dragons that need to be freed. Side quests are given by known characters and random people alike, adding more fun to the already interesting main story. The game rewards players who take the time to complete puzzles with valuable chests that upgrade armor or attacks.

Overall, the combination of a captivating story between father and son, insanely fun combat, and exciting adventure makes for a great single-player game in an age of prominent multiplayer gaming. God of War is a must-buy for any Playstation 4 owners looking for a fun single-player experience.