On November 19th, Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s western release will finally arrive on PC, priced at $59.99. As the highly anticipated follow-up to the 2018 critically acclaimed masterpiece, God of War: Ragnarök presents an all-new, electrifying adventure that sees the return of beloved characters Kratos and Atreus, embarking on a perilous quest fraught with catastrophic consequences that threaten the very fabric of their world. has acquired widespread acclaim and sold over 15 million units as of November 2023. When it finally drops on Steam and the Epic Games Store for PC gamers, they should expect a gaming experience that seamlessly integrates the best of both worlds. Let’s dive into all of it completely spoiler-free.
Fimbulwinter has arrived. As Kratos and Atreus stand ready for the impending apocalypse of Ragnarok, their path is unexpectedly disrupted by an encounter with the notoriously temperamental Thor. Subsequently, they embark on a perilous journey to track down the enigmatic Tyr. While sparing details, the conclusion to the Norse saga unfolds with heightened stakes and dramatic flair surpassing that of its predecessor.
The game also features a diverse cast of new and familiar characters. Gamers first encounter the enigmatic Angrboda outside Kratos’ campsite, accompanied by Atreus in an expanded role from their initial introduction. Additionally, they meet Ratatoskr, a cunning and resourceful figure who guards Yggdrasil, the majestic World Tree, as well as Thor himself, further deepening the game’s rich mythology. As the fates conspire to bring about Ragnarok’s apocalyptic dawn, a coterie of complex characters takes centre stage: Freya, enigmatic blacksmiths Brok and Sindri, and the sage Mimir, each playing out their pivotal roles in the cataclysmic event.
As with its predecessor, the game is a fast-paced hack-and-slash title that also incorporates action-adventure elements. As you venture forth, you’ll stumble upon a treasure trove of wonders, including one-of-a-kind armor, ancient relics, exotic currencies, and vital supplies. Diverse armor units possess unique perks and can be upgraded to amplify their intrinsic attributes. As they accumulate XP, Kratos and Atreus can unlock new skills and expand their combat capabilities by acquiring fresh expertise. To date, nothing too stunning.
Indeed, this has the potential to become an enormous sport as all nine Realms can be explored and traversed. New realms welcome Svartalfheim, the dwarven stronghold, and Vanaheim, where verdant forests flourish abundantly. As distinct realms from the primary sport return, albeit modified, like Midgard’s lake now frozen over, As exploration of the realms unfolds, hidden facets unfold, revealing fresh quests, dynamic actions, formidable foes, secret treasures, challenging puzzles, and more.
While fans of the original series will recognize the familiar gameplay rhythm, the sequel introduces numerous innovative mechanics that significantly enhance combat encounters. Currently, various types of shields exist, including the default Guardian Defense, renowned for its proficiency in parrying and blocking, as well as the defense-oriented Stonewall Defense, which prioritizes blocking over parrying.
You can imbue the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos with icy and pyrokinetic elemental magic to unleash devastatingly potent standing combat results. The revised extent design offers additional pathways for vertical exploration, allowing for innovative jumping attacks. Spartan Rage boasts not one, but three distinct variants, while Atreus’s arsenal has been significantly expanded to unlock new levels of combat prowess.
While the main sport offers a limited set of end-game objectives, the secondary game provides a comprehensive and engaging end-game experience. Without further ado, the eagerly anticipated sequel promises even greater wonders: hidden realms to uncover, including an entirely novel domain, formidable foes to vanquish, treacherous trials in Muspelheim to conquer, coveted armor sets to collect, and a wealth of other surprises awaiting discovery. With burdens that come equipped with detrimental perks, players are presented with an additional layer of complexity. You can even opt to upgrade to New Sport Plus, a feature that includes newly added armor units and offers alternative assault tactics against specific bosses.
A new roguelite mode has been seamlessly integrated into the game, available at no additional cost to players following its initial release. While it explores Kratos’ past, the narrative also brings fresh developments, confrontations, and epic showdowns. If you’re a fan of the iconic trilogy and always yearned for a connection to its world, then this game is an absolute must-play experience that will transport you directly into the realm of Norse mythology.
Providing notable enhancements in performance on the PlayStation 5, the PC version also offers additional features by unlocking new body charges. Gaming enthusiasts can now fully appreciate smooth visuals at 60 frames per second or higher, all while maintaining native 4K resolution, but be prepared for a significant investment in hardware to power this performance.
Another feature of PlayStation Studios titles on PC is support for massive ultra-wide displays. Isn’t there an exception for any display, supporting both 21:9 ultra-widescreen and 32:9 tremendous ultra-widescreen displays on PCs. As evidenced by the visuals unveiled thus far, the results are nothing short of groundbreaking, plunging players into the 9 Realms in a manner unseen since the dawn of the PS5 era.
Unfortunately, PC gamers desire a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to fully take advantage of online features in their favorite game. While the single-player experience for both the original title and its upcoming remastered version will remain unaffected by PSN linking when played on PC, given their focus on solo play. Sony’s reputation precedes it, and unfortunately, this instance is no exception.
Hardware requirements for a smooth PC experience are indeed substantial, as one would expect. In order to play the game without any issues, it is essential that you have Windows 10 64-bit operating system installed, along with at least 190 gigabytes of available space on a solid-state drive. A suitable configuration to achieve minimal necessities includes an Intel Core i5-4670K processor or AMD Ryzen 3 1200, 8 GB RAM, and either Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD RX 5500 XT graphics card, allowing for a median of 30 frames per second at 1080p on Low settings.
A robust PC configuration for smooth gameplay at 1080p with medium graphics settings requires a minimum of a Core i5-8600 processor or its AMD equivalent, the Ryzen 5 3600; an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Super or AMD Radeon RX 5700 GPU; and 16 gigabytes of RAM to ensure seamless performance. At 1440p resolution with a frame rate of 60 FPS, running Excessive settings demands considerable processing power. A high-performance CPU such as the Core i7-7700K or Ryzen 7 2700X, coupled with 16 GB of RAM, will likely be necessary to achieve smooth performance. Additionally, a graphics card like an RTX 3070 or RX 6800 is also required for optimal results.
To push gaming performance beyond the standard 4K and 60 frames per second, enthusiasts seeking exceptional visuals will require a powerful CPU like a Core i7-7700K or Ryzen 7 2700X, coupled with 16 gigabytes of RAM and an RTX 3080 Ti or RX 6900 XT graphics card. For optimal performance in high-end settings, including 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, you’ll require a powerful CPU like the Core i5-11600K or Ryzen 7 3700X, paired with 16 GB of RAM and an RTX 4070 Ti or RX 7900 XT graphics card.
Nvidia Reflex technology has been confirmed, significantly reducing system latency to facilitate faster response times – a crucial factor for success in particularly demanding endgame challenges. NVIDIA’s DLSS 3.7, AMD’s FSR 3.1, and Intel’s XeSS 1.3 technologies are now further supported. As high-resolution displays and 4K monitors often overlook upscaling considerations, PC gamers can capitalize on this oversight to enjoy increased performance benefits.
Unlike other platforms, PlayStation’s own first-party titles now support both the DualShock 4 and DualSense controllers on PC. The latter even offers haptic suggestions and adaptive set-off assistance, but you’ll need a wired connection to fully utilize these features.
Players using various gaming devices, including but not limited to certain Microsoft console-based controllers, will be able to pair their gamepads seamlessly? Keyboard and mouse controls are also fully customizable, allowing PC gamers the flexibility to modify key bindings.
Regardless of whether you’re a newcomer or an experienced player, events offer exceptional value for money. According to HowLongToBeat, the main storyline typically consumes around 26-27 hours of playtime, while striving for completion status extends this duration to approximately 54 hours on normal difficulty. That fails to take into account the existence of New Game+ and Valhalla, which adds an additional 10-11 hours of gameplay for completionists. As some of the most captivating video games released in 2022, and indeed up to this point, they will keep you thoroughly engaged for quite some time.
