It's funny how in the lore, Baldr was completely cool with no longer being able to feel damage or anything. So I like how God of War writers were like "That should drive someone crazy"
I think in the field of psychology, feeling pain is a form of relief. This is why people unfortunately cut themselves when they're depressed, so they can feel something physical that takes the mental pain away. Imagine Baldur feeling mental distress and wanting to take his anger out by feeling physical stress (weight training, combat, etc), but can't feel any pain at all. I'd imagine it'd make you go crazy if you don't have some sort of outlet to distract you from the mental burdens.
My first gow game was ghost of Sparta and I was instantly blown away by the game . I instantly become a fan of gow . Before even watching this video I can confirm I am still mad about new changes to the gameplay , non relevant puzzles and stupid ,boring platforming .
This game is a watered down God of War, it watered down the edge, violence, the gameplay, the story, and the character of Kratos. Keep in mind its still a great game, but it is inferior to the other games in virtually every way besides graphics. The reason this games combat is so startling is because its not a character action game like all the previous games, it's essentially a slightly more in depth take on Souls like combat, which even with the added depth it is no where near as deep combat wise as any of the other God of Wars. I hate how people call the God of War games "button mashers" or "hack and slashers" when they are neither. Its only a button masher to casuals who don't properly learn combos and strategy, and a hack and slash game would be something like Diablo 3. The whole point of of character action games is to give you the means to do all sorts of crazy combo strings and look bad ass while doing it. This game gives you that feeling but in a very, very dumbed down and casual way. This game is much closer to a button masher than any of the previous God of War games. I am ultra disappointed in this game even though I genuinely love it to pieces. I am really hyped to play Ragnarok even though I'm sure it will play it extremely safe and be essentially the same game all over again and get just as much of the bullshit claiming "its a perfect game and so much better mature and deep than those old angry shallow as a puddle God of War games!" Smh
I was a new dad when I first played and it caused the story to resonate with me *even more* Edit: I would argue that you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't at least beat Sigrun, the Valkyrie Queen at least once. Super challenging, but one of the best bosses I've ever fought.
@@leogoga9415 without the niflheim armor you can barely even take of 50% of her health before dying (unless maby you're playing on easy) and in muspelheim you have to complete either 10 or 12 boring challenges before you can fight the valkyrie
I had a similar experience as you did. I decided to re-play the entire God Of War series in 2018 as preparation for the new game, so by the time I got to GOW 2018, I was more than ready for a change in gameplay. Had I not done that however, I'm sure the change would have been much harder for me to accept. I can only imagine what it must have been like for fans of the originals to wait 5 years on a new addition, only to get a game that plays nothing like its predecessors. Like you, I also didn't finish up the side quests. After beating the story, I think I explored for about three hours before deciding to move on to another game.
That's definitely the move when going into GOW 2018, you need to understand why Santa Monica would want to shift gears because it is jarring going in on pure nostalgia and just doesn't feel right. Replaying the game now without nostalgia goggles for the series, I had a much better time and a smoother transition into the new changes.
I really hope God of War Ragnarok will have a deeper and less restrictive combat than this game. Anyways, keep up the good work dude! Been watching you for a year now.
Ragnarok needs to flesh out that combat system, a jump button would be appreciated too 😂 Thank you so much mate, glad you enjoyed the video and to many more years!
Interesting, I found the opposite, compared to the old games the combat system is pretty complex with a lot of depth if you invest in learning how to use stance switches, move cancels, weapon swaps, juggles and learning to use sidestep instead of roll. I had a lot of fun learning how the use each of the 6 movesets and blend them together.
So strange only thing I can still remember from this game is the valkyrie fights . But can remember all bosses from the other god of war games and haven't played them in years
I loved the ice beam for valkyries, but i always used hel's touch whenever i wasn't fighting them. Hel's touch was very quick, low cooldown, and had good stun
It turned into a poor man's Souls game. GoW was a legit Hack and slash rival to Bayonetta and Devil may Cry. With GoW 3 probably my favorite in the franchise. Writing for the reboot is also disgustingly overrated. GoW was always deep. Kratos was always a multi layered character. Far from the one dimensional brute these casuals lied him to be.
This game is my favourite game in general I remember being so hyped for it when i was in my late teenage years i had casualy followed the story of the old Gow games by watching cutscene compilations on youtube and just fell in love with the story and characters I remember April of 2018 going to gamestop to pick it up with my dad and just playing it through the whole way over the weekend and just falling in love with it im 20 now in 2021 and i was lucky enough to be able to get ahold of a Ps5 so one of the games i decided to replay was of course Gow 2018 and experiencing it in 4k and flawles 60fps in the performance mode was godlike no pun intended. I hontestley cant wait for Gow Ragnarok also im from Sweden one of the countries where Norse mythology comes from and it was really cool to see myths i grew up with as a child get given the Gow treatment. Thats my history with this game, anyways keep up the good content
I'm really excited now to see where Ragnarok goes with this because there is a wealth of potential here. Love to hear the gaming stories mate and trust I totally get it, this may not be my personal favourite game or even my favourite GOW but it is still a great game and I understand why it is held in such high praise. Thank you for watching mate! 🙏
I consider the game to be a good game on its own and a terrible God of War game. I know I'm biased because I practically worshipped the earlier games (especially God of War 2), but I was sorely disappointed to see the series going in this direction. I can't help but imagine what the game would've been like if Santa Monica had pulled a DMC5 with God of War 2018 instead (as in preserving the roots of the series while taking the gameplay to even greater heights)
I think DMC 5 is a great example of giving the series room to breath and then maintaining the roots really damn well. I definitely can see where you're coming from mate
When my friend let me play on his ps4 in 2018 i didnt like the game cuz how slow the combat felt. But when i eventually got my own ps4 in 2020 and bought God of War 2018, i loved everything about it.
@@mk-gd2pg Let him like what he wants to like. If he likes this game and you don't simply say nice that you found enjoyment out of a game that I don't enjoy.
All the original God of War titles, Kratos destroying the Greek Pantheon using nothing but a pant. God of War : Dad of Boiii.... "Hold a minute, I need to craft this armor, we are going to fight Connor McGregor, Boiii"
It is odd isn't it 😂 I mean I could try to rationalize it through Kratos not wanting to give away his God abilities and seeming like an average Norse Joe but I feel like I'm reaching at that point 😂
GoW 2018 enhanced the prequels even more because its story has weight, but even more so for those who really knew Kratos. I didn't hate 2018 at all but hated anyone who said that Kratos is finally a good character. Then you find out it's those who never played the other games that say that. For me, this was a great sequel.
@@mk-gd2pg I've played all of them. I platinum all of them even Ragnarok. Best game franchise ever existed. Nothing beats it. Other runner ups would be Batman and Spider-Man. Call it whatever you like, it's won more awards than any other so seethe.
I'm glad someone else agrees with the problems I had in the game. The open world seemed like pointless filler and the level system was just cheap imo. I pretty much beat the main story and called it quits. I did love the story though. Great retrospective series you have here mate, can't wait to see what's next.
Bro the hate for this game is insane this is like the 10th video iv seen where someone's like yup its trash why do people say its overrated from what iv seen everyone fucking hates this game😂
Wish they stripped out some of the exploration. It was just too much! And the leveling system which forces you to come back to areas later limiting choice. I think Ragnarok did this even worse. So much rowing and sledding and just meandering.
I've been waiting for this to drop for awhile! Appreciate you keeping us up to speed woth the updates throughout. As always appreciate your hard work, sir. Haven't made it through the video yet but starting as we speak.
I'm going to assume it is just because the PS5 is still so hard to get a hold of and Sony has continued its production of the PS4 to keep people in their ecosystem
I loved God of war 1, 2 and 3 but the new gow 2018 just wasn't the same, it had much more padding, less enemy and boss variety. It was an okay game but the old games used to be like watching an entertaining movie with different scenes and rail sections, now it's less like a movie and more like a grindy mmo
It was ass, how anyone could play this without banging their head on a wall or watching paint dry is beyond me 🤣 especially after the incredible previous games, notably 2 & 3. Imagine they built on those games and used todays technology to make the ultimate GOW, instead we got a walking simulated half baked rpg
@@bigpoppapump430 I think you should revisit God of war 4, the story is truly beautiful and emotional. And if you let it, the time it takes with the story and characters get you more and more attached to the world
@@bazzvid64 I’ve tried ma guy, can’t do it. I had the same issue with RDR2 but eventually got over the slow start and that game was truly incredible imo but GOW just isn’t anywhere near that, I feel the gameplay is appalling for a combat game and I can’t see anything in the story, kratos is lame to me now and I don’t care about his g@y lookin son, I hate how they act like kratos never showed emotions before and it’s only in the new game he has a personality which just ain’t true but as long as you enjoyed it homie that’s all that matters, probs games I love that you couldn’t get find anything in
I love the combat. But that leveling system made no sense. So lvl one Kratos can fight baldr solo with no armor and basic attacks and still win. But lord forbid he lvl 1 Kratos fights a lvl 4 Draugr. That's instant death
Thanks man, luckily for me I never watched or read a bunch of reviews after I played the game so I never saw all those ignorant takes about the previous games. GoW 2018 is greatly enhanced by the previous games which is by design by Sony Santa Monica, which makes sense cause they respect and know the history of the character since they created the character and also understand him.
OMG! bro you are on the t my guy. I feel the same way because people crap on the originals and it drive me to hate it even more. My love for God of war is what drove me back to 2018 and kratos as a character that he's has always been interesting and his story's were awesome unlike those comments they try to push. It's a shame and these people never actually invest in the story either because they hate the "button mash" style or something. Giving it a like before vid ends!... Also I want to love this game I really do but it's the people's like ign, youtubers, and ect. that is what holds me back and I hate it.
I know exactly how you feel mate, it's almost as though you want to hate this game out of spite for the people disrespecting the series. I'm glad I finally gave the game another chance for myself though and regardless of what anyone else says, I really enjoyed God of War 4 but it's because of what has been established in the prior games that makes this one so great.
@@MayorHairBear indeed it is, heck I platinum all including 2018 so I do agree with what you said in your video. Damn shame everyone can't just appreciate what make it a good game other than crap on em.
I’ve been doing a replay of every single god of war game and watches these as I finish each one. Just wanna say thank you for making a great series of videos, they make for an excellent companion piece to the games
Just watched your whole retrospective series in one day. I love how you pointed out why the story works *because* of the Greek saga, not *in spite* of it. If you don't know Kratos' past you just think he's a grumpy, emotionally distant guy who struggles to be a good dad, basically another Joel Miller. If you know about the previous games you realize just how much being that grumpy, emotionally distant guy is an *improvement* from what he was in Greece. And the times where he tries to warn Atreus about letting the power get to his head or warning Baldur against vengeance I feel touch on a lot on how Ragnarok will use his character. Because there's a big difference between someone saying "You don't want to go down that path" and someone saying "You don't want to go down that path. I'd know, I've done it myself, and I did not like where it took me."
I cannot wait for Elden Ring! I would love to cover Bloodborne and DS3 before Elden Ring comes out but my OCD says I need to do a retrospective of DS2 before that and... well that's a tougher task to get hyped about but it will be done hopefully before Elden Ring. Thanks mate, appreciate you watching 🙏
The original trilogy and the side entries all had very in-depth story, if people actually cared to find out. So many people who were hating on the OG games never even played them that was so frustrating. How can you judge a series where you have not played a single game before 2018 And I do believe part of the blame also goes to Sony because the moment they saw how well 2018 was doing did themselves downplayed😊 the success of the original games
I used to hate God Of War 4, despite never playing any of the games, I mostly hated it cause it felt like it was rewriting the series that fans loved and also had the broken troll fight from Dark Souls 3 over and over and over again, but as I am finally playing the games, your reviews have opened my eyes to this game being good, not as good as the prior games but still good in the story
The fact that I played this game on release and have never replayed it since and have no intention on ever replaying it again kinda sums it up for me, especially when I’ve replayed all other entries in the series multiple times and have just replayed Every classic game just recently. Similarly I’ve just played Ragnarok and will likely never go back and play it a second time, these new games are good, but they just left me feeling empty. The gameplay I feel is soulless and the bosses are extremely forgettable, couldn’t name a single one that I actually enjoyed
I think the biggest problem with the new games is that lack of replayability. I can easily go back and replay the originals because I don't need to commit 20 to 30 hours each time. Nice short, fun and highly replayable. The new games whilst I enjoy just lack that detail, bigger or in this case longer is not always better
@@MayorHairBear The game is only about 10-12 hours if you skip the cutscenes + you know what you're doing. And if you're replaying 2018 and Ragnarok you will get through it pretty fast.
That's the same thing with God of War 1 2 3 and ascension😂 u play story games once or once every 5 years like I'm gunna replay the ratchet n clank games and I haven't played the ps2 ones in 10 plus years
@@jmamijr I used to play and replay the Ratchet and Clank games endlessly back on PS2 and then again on PS3 (when the had remaster came out), I must have played every title from the R&C1 up to Crack in Time at least 10 times.
@@drfabulous2804 yea you play anything as a kid lol If God of war ascension was made on ps2 u would have replayed it but it dropped during a time cod online was popular and gta hype and the fact this game had zero promo meant they were just dropping this for the fans that wanna know more bout kratos... This game online was a joke and a attempt to see if ppl were interested and should they proceed that way I remember walking into gamestop with my dad and we were both shock to see it just sitting on the shelf for 20 bucks My dad thought it was a psp port and we were shocked that this was a full on game lol... I was happy with it out of the 4 greek games its at the back but its still an amazing game and it looks so good I remember beings shocked at the graphics being even better then God of war 3
I wonder if they're gonna do Egyptian GoW after Ragnarok. The director of GoW2 wanted GoW3 to include gods from Greek, Norse & Egyptian mythologies but that ambitious plan never came to fruition.
I want a prequel focused on how Kratos was dragged to Norway by Faye. It could show how kratos came to this new pantheon and also show his relationship with Faye. I think there's a lot of potential for a prequel like that
In God of War 2018's defense, there is a pretty big difference between beating a game's story and getting to 100%. Takes a certain mindset, and as a completionest in my experience most games don't do side content very well. Even if they have an exciting gameplay loop the side content quickly boils down to grinding, fetch quests, and very tedious tasks. Only can really think of a few games that didn't outstay there welcome. I think it's a game design thing, were developers are forced to make hundreds of side tasks by publisher's so they advertise there games as having "dozens of hours of content". Obviously that's not an across the board thing but it would explain how so many games end up with filler side content.
I used to think immortality was cool. But stories involving immortal characters like Old man Logan, or the Hulk or in this case, Baldur, made me realize it would most likely mean suffering longer than anyone can imagine. Both Banner and Baldur suffer cuz they arent allowed to die for decades upon decades. With Banner, Hulk forces Banner to live so the Hulk can live. With Baldur, Freya curses baldur cuz she couldnt bare to see her "little baby boy" die.
I played GOW4 first and while I like it's combat and storytelling I feel it needs more of the speed and brutality of the older games as well as way more enemy variety and bosses, GOW4 felt like it was setting up Ragnarok more than anything else.
@@mk-gd2pg Thank you for this invaluabe information, since you've given me many reasons to "play a real God of war game" and have made clear what is a "real God of war game" I will surely now be better off in life. Thank you for telling me about this in such an inspiring way! I hope others can learn from you master! 🙏
just completed all 7 videos you have about GoW series, really nice content, still don't understand you have just under 10K subs, i hope you will get attention you deserver when Ragnarok release :)
I can't really like the modern GOW at all. It introduced RPG mechanics, slower dumbed down combat and puzzles made for the mentally deficient. Your hate is completely reasonable. To me this is just like doom 3, looks impressive but ultimately a shallow blockbuster experience.
I had the same opinion as you about this game when it first came out. Plus I felt like the story tried selling itself as some epic journey like the last of us, but in the end turned out to be relatively straight forward and small in scope, even smaller than any of the original 3 games. when it ended I thought I was still entering the last act, so yeah, story was a bit underwhelming and it did not earn that cliffhanger in my opinion. I also thought they didn't make good use of norse mythology when it comes to the enemies and bosses, there's so much you can do with that setting but you mostly just fight those trolls a bunch of times, fight a dragon and that guy who can't feel pain. again a bit underwhelming compared to the other games in the series. I did however enjoy the gameplay and change in direction overall, just thought it could've been better, and definitely wasn't as good as gow3. I haven't gotten around to replaying it though so it's likely I will also look at it more positively if I were to come back now. I still respected it a lot, but it wasn't this mindblowing experience everyone was making it out to be
I'd personally recommend a second playthrough if it has been a while, but I'd also recommend going through the whole series again as well to fully maximize the experience because I think that's what helped me 😂 But I totally get where you're coming from mate, it definitely isn't the peak, that goes to GOW 3 for sure
@@MayorHairBear yeah I haven't played the originals in a while too, I'll have to give it another go then, thanks for these videos btw, I always feel so nostalgic about the original gow trilogy
totally dig your videos but “objectively” the ice beam isn’t the best runic ability, you actually output more damage in a shorter amount of time to more enemies with the blessing of the frost ability than any other. Your attack speed, damage and stun increase while using runic attack to the point where you can stun lock valkyries
Loved this game not sure why some didn't care for it, and I played all the originals back in the day. I was high school when I played the first one. By 2018 I was a father and I chose to play the game with my son sitting in with me. After I gave him the backstory and all he sat with me and we went through the whole game. It was one of the best experiences we have had together! I have always enjoyed Kratos story always felt like it was more then just mad dude wants revenge. There was always this hope that he could find peace. And in many ways that exactly what 2018 brings while adding to the foundation layed but what came before. That said all the father son moments were extremely relatable and multiple time I found myself discussing such things eith my son after we did a session of play. A unique experience that no other game has been able to muster. I grant that much of this is no doubt related to me being a father, perhaps if I was a single guy and younger it wouldn't hit me the same way.
A game doesn’t get game of the year for nothing. I disagree in tying it with the rest of the games. It is not at all. This game is a masterpiece and stands on it’s own merits
my problem with kratos's change is that it didnt show him change into what he is now..every gow game plays like a continuation of the last. but gow18 skips over kratos' emotional change or even how and why hes in midgard now..the last we see him is crawling over to try and kill himself as his wound from the blade of olympus heals but then its suddenly years later in a new land with an emotionally different kratos with no explanation why or how this is who kratos can be. but i dont feel like it was directed well
Consider a level design section in future, since this is where the game had some of its best work. Its the only the game in the series that also uses the mechanics to tell its narrative to this effect. Liked the video overall, just thought that the games focus on pacing, varied levels and atmospheric mechanics didn't get noted.
I can definitely incorporate the level design into future retrospectives when applicable, I'll give it a go with Darksiders. Glad you enjoyed the video mate!
@@MayorHairBear that would be awesome since darksiders is largely a riff on zelda, so its interesting how they adapted the design from the one of the pioneers.
This is it, I've waited ALL DAY LONG for the opportunity to sit down and just watch this well made retrospective. (my absolute favorite topic) I've organized my entire day around the time I could finally watch it and now... Let's start the show. P. S. (only in my humble opinion, mind you) If people want to say this is the greatest game ever made, that's all good. But maybe play the actual greatest game of all time, Red Dead Redemption 2.
I'll admit that I haven't played the game yet. But that third person person perspective only really works for shooters. I don't get why they'd do it for a melee based game. Plus the lack of combos bums me out. The customisable aspects seem cool though. The lack of platforming and generic puzzles also bums me out. I feel they could have had more of a middle ground with the old games gameplay wise. And I'm not a massive fan of open world games and grinding. I'll probably still dig it somewhat
Yeah the camera is an odd one, definitely feels more suited to Gears or Uncharted but for the most part it works well enough. Definitely think Ragnarok should pull it back and beef up the combos. There is some cool changes and additions here in God of War 4's gameplay but I do think they could have bridged the gap between games a little better but overall the game is still a lot of fun!
Tbh.... I didn't like any of the God of War until this one. I only like the series cause of this game. I always thought Kratos was just cruel rage monster and the series was brutal just to be edgy. The older ones just feel like.... Yell yell be brutal for no reason and yell some more. I never gave this one a chance until recently for that reason and I'm glad I did. I could do without the others.
I'm a massive fan of the series and imma be real GOW 2018 was fantastic I reckon. For a game that was I believed rushed it turned out amazing. My only problem is the runic attacks and being only allowed to have 2 at a time for each weapon I wanna be able to pop of my combos left and right please Ragnarock don't restrict me. But even if the runic attacks are still the same in Ragnarock I wouldn't mind it's just a but annoying. The One thing that annoys the fuck outta me tho is no fucking quick time events I wanna be pressing the buttons as Kratos is doing his shit I wanna feel like I'm the one smashing them up
@@MayorHairBear after I play, I'll be back for your input, I'm pretty sure santa monica studios is one of the top 2 best in the world. Long live santa monica studios, and that brainy badass Cory Barlog
Most fair and objective retrospective I've ever seen of this game. Most reviewers either overly praise the game without addressing a single flaw or they completely trash and condemn the game. I'm glad you chose to do niether.
What I love about the combat is it’s risk award and deep combat system sure may not be as good as 3 but on its own it’s great for what it set out to do but I respect your opinion and that is just my opinion as well we both have different tastes
the graphics were insanely good for the platform, the story was better than 99% of modern movies and tv show, lot of character developement, great rpg mechanics mixed with an incredibly bad ass and deep action game mixed with metroidvania levels, ... ehhhhh, bare minimum it was the game of the decade, and arguably among the top 5 best games ever.
I really wish when you went into Spartan Rage that you'd get the classic Kratos battle yells and grunts. Maybe a classic "I AM THE GOD OF WAR" during a boss battle. Idk I just loved the original voice actor so much
Sorry but I think is not believable. Kratos can't have a new family and hide his past from them, is impossible. The ashes of his wife and daughter cover his whole body forever. You'd think at some point his new wife and kid would say something about it, but apparently in this world that must be normal. His journey to this new land is not explained, how he was able to recompose himself and start a new life and find a new love is not explained. The director didn't want to make a God of war game, is obvious he wanted to make a last of us style of game so he took a famous well established franchise to boost sales and turned it into his own thing with a god of war twist. This game is 30% cutscenes, 30% slow walking with not that impressive dialogue and plot, 20% slow climbing, 20% slow sluggish combat against the same 6 enemies the entire game. The whole idea of Kratos going around killing other gods from other mythologies is nothing new and innovative. Fans have been talking about it since the third game happened, the same exact idea. I have heard "one day we will probably okay as Kratos killing Thor or Odin" a million times. Santa Monica just took this idea and made it into an interacting movie that's not even that great to begin with.
Kinda want the combat in Ragnarok to really take more influence from Doom Eternal. No more levels of enemies. The early enemies at the beginning should still be threatening by the end game, but because of the way they are incorporated with all the different enemy types. We need more enemies to fight at once and more variety overall and within each fight.
I still wonder what kind of woman could love/tame Kratos....his Greek wife and his Norse wife seem like completely different women (from what little we know) that he supposedly feels very strongly for enough to go on whacky adventures in their honor.....wish there was legitimate interaction with them before he gets all ragey in greece or all mopey in norway
12:02 Beautifully said. Kratos finally calling Atreus “son” is even more heartwarming if know the contextual history of man/god saying it. As this game teaches, history cannot be ignored or brushed aside and responsibility for one’s past paves the way towards genuine growth. Really love this retrospective series as well as the darksider videos and looking forward to eventually hearing your thoughts on Ragnarok!
Yeah the combat definitely has its share of flaws and it's something I hope to see corrected in GOW Ragnarok though with such high praise for this game maybe Santa Monica doesn't care. Definitely overrated, not because I think it's bad but just too many dub it the best of all time.
The God of war 2018 was good, but not great. There are not enough enemy types or bosses in this game. Repetition in counters and puzzles makes them boring in the end. Still liked the game and definitely going to replay it on PC one day.
Can't say I thtought the story was that good honestly. I thought the concept was ok, but it was stretched WAAAAAY too thin for the length of the game. Also no mention of Calliope was odd.
This game would be great if it didn't have such a bad camera and bad enemy design. It was a chore for me to complete it. Such a downgrade compared to the past games in those aspects.
New subscriber here and I got to say, these retrospectives are fantastic. I'm actually More of a newcomer to the GOW series. The 2018 game was actually my first GOW game. Personally the other games just never appealed to me (at the time). I thought the mythology was cool, but I just never liked kratos as a character (here me out) watching your retrospectives gave me some much needed insight. Specifically your GOW 2 one. Personally with the exception of the first game I just never got behind kratos as a character. I feel like the real justification and sense of motive he has after the first game isn't really there. 2 does give kratos a bit of a softer side, but ultimately you you can still boil his character down to angry god man out for vengeance. The way he's written in four just makes him more understandable come to find out Corey Barlog (the writer for God of war 2) was the creative director on the new game so can safely say good job. Since then however I have come to really enjoy the rest of series and can't wait to play Ragnarok.
