Next month, God of War returns as the series moves from Greek mythology to Norse mythology, but with Kratos still in the lead role. This time out, he’s accompanied by his son, and he’s got a whole new litany of moves while still retaining the brutality fans have come to expect from the series. PlayStation has released a new 15-minute gameplay video that shows how the developers have pretty much hit it out of the park with the new installment. It looks like the true follow-up to God of War III.

The big take away from this video is that while there are significant differences, both in terms of gameplay and setting, this is unmistakably God of War, and I expect that the combat should be pretty rewarding, especially when you pair it with the kind of leveling up and new skills we’ve come to expect. The video also shows progression like upgrading your axe and more.

The other major takeaway here is that the kid is not annoying. I was worried that God of War had morphed into a series of escort missions (where you basically have to protect your AI companion and get them from A to B), but it turns out the kid, Atreus, is pretty useful. He can shoot arrows at your enemies, read Norse text, and serve as more of a helper than someone who constantly needs your protection lest he die horribly.

Check out the God of War gameplay walkthrough below. God of War will be available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro on April 20th.

Here’s the official synopsis for God of War:

His vengeance against the Gods of Olympus years behind him, Kratos now lives as a man in the realm of Norse Gods and monsters. It is in this harsh, unforgiving world that he must fight to survive…And teach his son to do the same. This startling reimagining of God of War deconstructs the core elements that defined the series—satisfying combat; breathtaking scale; and a powerful narrative—and fuses them anew.

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