#8. GOD OF WAR
God of War was pretty much dead and buried before Sony Santa Monica – led by the creative genius of Cory Barlog – revived the franchise, and the fact that they not only managed to revive it, but also took it to heights it had never even dreamed of touching before should tell you something about how spectacular of a game it turned out to be. God of War is pretty much the perfect cross between a reboot and a sequel. It is a true-blooded continuation of the story the previous six games had told, while still being an excellent fresh beginning in multiple ways. A completely new story arc, a brand new setting, and best of all, a completely reformed Kratos who, in spite of being a much deeper and much better developed character than ever before, still feels like the man who ripped and tore through Greece across the previous six games. It also boasts an incredible narrative, excellent writing, and fantastic performances from all actors involved. Best of all, it’s got excellent, visceral combat that somehow manages to stay fresh and exciting throughout the game’s long runtime. At about the halfway mark, God of War also delivers what is probably the single most hype-inducing moment we’ve ever experienced in a video game (especially if you’re a fan of the series)- and that moment is perfectly emblematic of the pure genius and unadulterated excellence of God of War.
