A look back at the best of 2018’s games

vengeance on the gods themselves.

Now retired to the snowy wilds of Midgard, Scandinavia, The Ghost of Sparta stands older, calmer, wiser, mourning the recent loss of his wife and now sole parent to his son, Atreus.

With his wife’s final wishes still hanging in the air, the pair set off to scatter her ashes atop a distant mountain. The Norse gods however, have very different plans.

Gone are Kratos’ signature doublechained blades, replaced with the magical Leviathan Axe which swings out and can be recalled to his hand, à la Thor’s Mjolnir, with the touch of a button.

The fixed camera perspective has been dropped in favour of an over-theshoulder free camera, and RPG elements have been introduced to mix up the hack-and-slash action.

The relationship between Kratos and Atreus, and how it evolves during their journey is captivating. The old warrior is initially cold towards his son, irked that he has no stomach for combat.

As the story unfolds, you can see Atreus develop. From teary eyed youngster to impressive fighter – his well-placed arrows giving dad a tactical advantage on the battlefield.

The close quarter combat is exhilarating, every blow feels vital. But it is the father-son relationship which is the most impressive. beautiful creatures to save the world, or gain revenge for an injustice. You are selfishly slaughtering the lonely beasts to bring back someone you lost. The landscapes are barren and still – the eerily foggy and understated maps a masterclass in effective minimalism, the subdued pale sun barely lighting the paths you walk. And the colossi themselves are breathtakingly beautiful in their enormity.

Bluepoint Games has done a beautiful job in preserving the original’s identity while the artwork shines on the new generation consoles, and there’s even a 4k version for the PS4 pro. This is a game which still feels incredibly special, a poignant tale about the destructive selfishness of grief and loss.

From the smooth ride of a Ford Focus through the lanes of the Lakes, to the bumpy, off-road, teeth-rattling thrill of taking a Land Rover across the Scottish highlands, every car you climb into gives you a different experience.

Forza 4 has made me fall in love with driving all over again.