Remember God of War Ragnarök? Sure you do. It was one of 2022’s best games and won just about every Game of the Year award it could, though the top spot still ended up going to FromSoftware’s Elden Ring. It had everything it needed to sweep second place, but still, fans felt it was missing something: a New Game+ mode. Ragnarök’s latest update is a substantial one, not merely adding a run-of-the-mill NG+, but throwing in new armour, enchantments and even a glorious-looking black-and-white mode.
Hints are still around
New Game Plus is available in God of War Ragnarök now.
Don new armor, wield the Draupnir Spear from the start, expanded level cap, and much more: https://t.co/gOhnmqs2Ve pic.twitter.com/NHS7LUMcdj
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) April 5, 2023
If you aren’t caught up, the idea of a NG+ is designed to keep veterans of certain games coming back for more. It resets story progression to zero, makes enemies tougher and carries over weapon and stat progression to give early areas of the game some flavour. Ragnarök’s NG+ does all that (and more).
The first thing you’ll notice is the expanded list of armour sets, with the Zeus and Ares armour sets making a return from 2018’s God of War NG+. Kratos’ cloak from the opening scene is finally usable on the Armour of the Black Bear (which is automatically equipped at the beginning of NG+). Each adds challenges and perks – unless we’re talking about the new Spartan armour – which has no perks, stats and a power level of one.
Level caps for both enemies and Kratos have received a boost, making it so that level nine equipment (that includes swords and shields) can become “Plus” versions that’ll bring an extra level of progression to max out. Any equipment that passes into the “Plus” realm will unlock a ‘Gilded Coin’ to spend on the mode’s new Enchantments.
Read More: God of War Ragnarök review – Old gods, (some) new tricks
Speaking of new Enchantments, you’ll now have to ability to apply stats and perks usually reserved for armour sets to a player’s Amulet, taking out the need to wear armour sets that don’t align with your views, visually. Defeating Berserker Souls will also unlock new Enchantments that’ll massively boost certain stats. Finally, there’s the introduction of Burdens – a new set of Enchantments that can equip negative Perks. Yes, you read that right. The example Santa Monica Studios throws out is the ‘Burden of Evasion’ which adds a frost status effect to Kratos every time he rolls.
Along with the rework of certain optional endgame bosses, the expansion of the sparring arena and the black-and-white cinema mode that’s unlocked after beating the game in any mode, this is a NG+ that’s worthy of any Ragnarök fan. It’s free, and available to download right now. Perfect for the Easter long weekend. If you’re curious about every piece of armour, equipment and Enchantment added, check out the PlayStation Blog.
