It's been a few months since Sony closed 2022 out with God of War Ragnarok, the sequel and conclusion to the story arc started in God of War 2018. Ragnarok was a worthy follow-up and was so stuffed with things to do that some are probably still working through the base game, let alone the postgame. With new developments and side content around every corner, this may be the most densely packed first-party Sony title to date, and it just got even more content. God of War Ragnarok now has a New Game Plus, allowing players to bring their weapons, equipment, and upgrades back to the beginning of the game, and there are a number of other bonuses as well.
The intent of this major update was to give players new ways to enjoy the game, and in that respect it likely succeeded. New armor sets offer ways to make the game harder or easier, and various new Enchantments will do the same thing. The Niflheim Sparring Arena was also fleshed out in NG+, giving players all the options for combat scenarios they could ask for. Invested fans should find even more enjoyment in their ensuing hours with God of War Ragnarok, but some particular changes to optional bosses and higher difficulties have turned some heads. God of War's New Game Plus is built to be a brand-new experience, and that has some action-RPG fans thinking about how much its tweaks would add to the repeat playthroughs of FromSoftware's library.
How God of War Ragnarok Makes New Game Plus Feel New
God of War Ragnarok's New Game Plus mode is no simple stat increase. While the level cap for both Kratos and his enemies is now higher, there are other changes as well. In particular, bonus content has been made even more difficult, but also more rewarding. Optional bosses like the Berserker Souls and the Valkyrie Queen Gna will sport some new tricks on New Game Plus, as well as the optional mini-bosses The Hateful and Ormstunga. This comes with the Berserker Souls dropping new stat-boosting Enchantments, and all bosses dropping late-game loot. Remixing the optional bosses is a surprise, but a welcome one.
Across FromSoftware's modern works, a dedicated New Game Plus function is always present. However, it typically doesn't do much. The main effect is raising all enemies stats so that any mistakes made remain punishing. Across the Souls line of titles, the only New Game Plus that really changed up the experience was that of Dark Souls 2, which is often cited as one of the game's strongest points. Even if it only adds more enemies to the first NG+ instance and piles on star increases for the rest, it still serves to surprise and challenge returning players like God of War Ragnarok does.
Why FromSoftware Should Expand Its New Game Plus Changes
Therein lies the best qualities of a good New Game Plus, and why FromSoftware should consider making more changes to its content like Ragnarok. Just tackling the same fights again with endgame equipment and higher stats has a limited appeal compared to new challenges entirely. New rewards can sweeten the deal, but overcoming what is functionally a new boss can feel like a reward unto itself. Mixing up the tactics used by highlight bosses could make for an enjoyable and distinct playthrough. Fortunately, FromSoftware has some experience with this already.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice's free update included the Gauntlets of Strength, which included new versions of specific major battles with altered timing and a couple new attacks. Dark Souls 3 also offered an optional rematch with its first boss Gundyr in a secret area, altering with his attack timing significantly. Seeing as how Elden Ring already has plenty of optional content and common boss types separated by slight variations, it's not hard to imagine these principles being applied to its New Game Plus. If nothing else, harder re-fights for late-game Remembrance bosses like Mohg, Malenia, and Fortissax would be a welcome addition in the Shadows of the Erdtree DLC or some other update.
Other NG+ Changes FromSoftware Could Borrow From Ragnarok
A couple other New Game Plus additions only apply to God of War Ragnarok's highest two difficulties, Give Me No Mercy and Give Me God of War. The first involves all bosses and mini bosses gaining Runic Armor, forcing players to carefully manage their Runic Attacks to deal effective damage. FromSoftware titles can't exactly copy this, as even with Elden Ring's Ashes of War, expecting every player to hit an enemy with an attack requiring MP is too much. However, mandating parries or posture breaks before allowing normal damage would significantly alter how players approach fights. New damage type strengths and weaknesses, as well as status effect build-ups, could also refresh old bosses.
Speaking of refreshing old content, Ragnarok's New Game Plus expands the ability for any enemy to enter a stronger Elite form mid-battle into the No Mercy difficulty. This calls to mind the semi-random demon transformations in God Hand and the enemy Devil Trigger mechanic in Devil May Cry's Dante Must Die modes. Something like this would be a great surprise in a FromSoftware title, and even if it's not a new battle phase or random transformation, it could be Dark Souls 2's approach to toughening up encounters with new enemies or other tricks.
Dark Souls 3's The Convergence mod provides a potential template for this, with Greater Foes appearing with altered designs and movesets to offer optional challenges for better rewards. Plenty of small changes and additions like that could go into FromSoftware's New Game Plus efforts to make them more memorable. Taking lessons from God of War Ragnarok's considerable work here should steer FromSoftware in the right direction.
God of War Ragnarok is available now on PS4 and PS5.