Overall, the game is amazing and retains much of the great content from its predecessor, God of War (2018). However, story-wise, it doesn’t pack the same punch as the first installment. While it is intriguing and keeps your attention, I felt that the side quests and favors were lacking. For some reason, this game did not captivate me like the first one did, though I wouldn't go so far as to say it's not a masterpiece. The mechanics are truly spectacular. I was surprised they managed to create new puzzles in such a fun and intriguing way. The puzzles in this game are a solid 10/10; they are creative, innovative, and make a lot of sense. The combat is largely the same as in the first game. However, there are fewer runic attacks available for your weapons, and even less variety. While the new spear weapon is incredible and adds an exciting element to both combat and puzzles—truly a mind-blowing innovation—it would have been nice to have more variety overall. One area that falls short is the absence of truly challenging bosses like the Valkyries from the first game. Although there are draugr holes and some bosses scattered throughout, none match the challenge presented by the Valkyries. This leads to repetitive boss encounters. Since the same runic attacks are used repeatedly, the game feels repetitive without rewards if strayed from the main story. The positive aspect is that there is no shortage of experience points for leveling skills. You can unlock everything over time and choose how to do so. Skills also include fun little challenges, which, when completed, allow you to select additional buffs that can enhance damage, runic effects, luck, strength, or impact. The Muspelheim challenges are another discussion. In the first game, I found them addictive and challenging, requiring a lot of focus. Here, however, they seem to rely heavily on luck regarding enemy spawns and their behavior. For example, one challenge requires you to hit enemies to survive, but if three elves spawn and guard themselves, you can't hit them. This results in deaths due to low health, which is frustrating, especially given the lackluster loot. While I understand that Valhalla is the big focus in this game and it's an impressive setting, the changes to Muspelheim feel like a wasted opportunity. It lacks innovation and offers nothing new; it's essentially the same as before but with more rustiness and poor rewards. Overall, if I were to rate this game, I would probably give it an 8.5, maybe a 9 at most. In my opinion, the first game deserves a 9.5.

T*The Quarry* sets a new standard for visual quality in gaming. I’ve never seen anything quite like it—this game is jaw-droppingly stunning, and impressively, it runs smoothly without the usual issues you’d expect from a graphically intense game. The lighting, character models, and environments look so realistic that it often feels like you’re watching a movie rather than playing a game. The story follows a group of camp counselors who find themselves stranded at Hackett’s Quarry for one last night, and things quickly spiral into chaos. What starts as a typical horror setup turns into a complex narrative filled with supernatural elements, hidden family secrets, and life-or-death decisions. Each choice you make significantly alters the direction of the story, with choices branching out like a web and impacting the fate of each character. It’s almost like an interactive horror series, complete with a fantastic soundtrack. The music is perfectly timed, creating intense moments or quiet dread exactly when needed, enhancing the feeling that you’re watching a high-quality TV show. The game’s choice system is one of its biggest strengths. Each decision carries immense weight and leads to further options, resulting in up to 16 possible outcomes. This approach makes the game incredibly replayable and gives each action significant importance. However, as engaging as the story is, it falters in the last few chapters. Chapters 8, 9, and 10 feel rushed and somewhat nonsensical. The choices in these chapters are frustratingly limited, with characters making absurd, out-of-character decisions that lead to their untimely deaths. The lack of checkpoints makes it even more frustrating when a character you’re invested in dies suddenly due to an irreversible decision. Chapter 10, in particular, is a letdown. It seems like the developers realized they needed to conclude the story and did so hurriedly, cramming what should have been a climactic finale into a rushed, five-minute ending that feels unsatisfying. Overall, *The Quarry* is a gorgeous and gripping game that provides an amazing horror experience and meaningful choices, even if the final chapters don’t quite live up to the buildup. If you can overlook a few poor decisions and a rushed ending, this is still a horror game worth playing.