I'll have to disagree. It's a good game, and it is clearly a shift for the series in various ways, but it's not as huge as other games. Tonally it's a big shift. It's actually mature. Not "Rated M for Mature". And that's great. But the core gameplay loop is nearly identical. Combat focusing on relatively simple combos, while traveling down essentially linear paths with a few hidden offshoots to find chests containing collectibles for powerups. Break up the combat with a puzzle or set piece or boss battle. Then on to the next area. Yes, this game has some side quests that the other games didn't have, and you can explore around a little due to the central lake. But once you get out of your boat the areas follow the same GoW structure.
There's differences, of course. I won't deny them. But this isn't on the same level as other games like BotW or a 2D to 3D transition.
And I certainly wouldn't call it bold. It's very much in line with what's popular right now. Even the TLoU/Logan styled story.
I really enjoyed it. I think it's great, and I'm gonna have fun finishing up the side quests. But I think the OP is pretty big hyperbole.
This sums up my thoughts pretty dang well. This is a really good game - I'm about 10+ hours in, and am thoroughly enjoying myself; and that's as someone who didn't care for the original games at all. Story is good, the father + son relationship genuine, the graphics beautiful, and the combat truly satisfying. Again, it's a good game.
But I think this general amazement at its "reinvention" is terribly overblown. This game is 2014-2018 gameplay tropes distilled to its most potent. Chests scattered around the world, a "intimate story" with a quippy buddy, linear climbing galore (the worst thing to happen to gameplay in a while - I just really hate QTE climbing across a set path), cinematic set-pieces that are grand in scale with vehicular traversal for casual conversation, and a skill-tree that probably doesn't need to be there. Oh, and a partially open world that's really just a linear path with some optional branches alongside shortcuts by dropping an elevator/ladder/chain/etc with the occasional 2-3 minute brain teaser to cross the path.
Again, the combat and characters REALLY elevate the title, and I like it a good deal more than some other games like it. But those claiming it doesn't borrow heavily from other cinematic 3rd person action games like The Last of Us are absolutely lying to themselves. It's a great re-invention, but it's the safest re-invention they could have taken. It's a great game, but it's not some milestone in the medium, I don't think.