God of War Ascension

*Note: Multiplayer mode is not included in my review

*Photo below is a screenshot

God of War Ascension is the prequel to the God of War series (see God of War Trilogy and God of War Origins Collection). The events in the game take place after Kratos vowed to make Ares pay for the god of war's schemes. Because Kratos had broken his oath to serve Ares, the Furies pursued and imprisoned him. If you're familiar with Greek mythology, you may recall that the Furies or Erinyes are female goddesses of vengeance who punish those who have broken their oaths, human or immortal. The Furies are the sisters Alecto, Megaera and Tisiphone. 

The opening video at the start of the single player mode retells the fate of one Titan who had suffered at the hands of the sisters. Aegaeon the Hecatonchires broke his oath with Zeus and suffered greatly for it. It is this fate that Kratos must try to avoid. Imprisoned and tortured, Kratos somehow finds a way to free himself from the chains. This sequence of events is set at the present. There is a shift later in the game when Kratos recalls events prior to that imprisonment.

Several new characters are introduced in Ascension. I've already mentioned the Furies. Kratos will also meet Orkos the oath-keeper whose motives are still unclear, the Oracle of Delphi, the scribe of Hecatonchires, and the twins Castor and Pollux. Some characters from previous games will also reappear.

Kratos chained and imprisoned by the Furies

Kratos' main weapon is pretty much similar to the previous games. He still has his Blades of Chaos. The combo attacks are almost similar as well. What's new however is he can pick up five different weapons which he can use to throw or hit enemies. He can now use one of the Blades of Chaos to grapple an enemy and keep him in place at a certain distance while using a second weapon to hit him. If he does not have a secondary weapon, Kratos can use his arms and legs to attack.

Throughout the game Kratos will acquire three relics. One can be used to manipulate time to heal or decay objects and structures. Another relic creates a duplicate of Kratos. This can be used to get past obstacles that needs two people to complete. The last relic is used to dispel illusions created by the Furies.

One of the changes I like is Kratos' magic. Kratos will acquire a total of four types of magic, each featuring a different element. These are the Fire of Ares, the Ice of Poseidon, the Lightning of Zeus, and the Soul of Hades. Even if the magic meter runs out, Kratos can still use the elements through the Blades of Chaos. The combo attacks  have different effects depending on which magic is equipped in the Blades. Meanwhile, the Rage of the Gods meter will fill up by successfully hitting enemies. It also changes with the magic equipped.

Learning which element is effective against certain monsters is a helpful tactic. There was one level (Trials of Archimedes) just before the final boss where the player's grasp of the attack and magic will be tested. Who said this God of War installment is just another easy game?

Part of God of War's attraction is its stunning graphics and music. Ascension has been consistent in those areas. And one way to enjoy the scenery mid-combat is through quick time events. There are a lot of those even against slightly weaker bosses.

What I enjoyed most however are the puzzles, especially environment puzzles, throughout the game. I've seen comments about previous games that God of War is just all about hack-and-slash. But the difficulty level rose up a bit because of the more challenging puzzles.

Another notable feature is the Chapter Select in the Menu. Players can now replay particular chapters in the single player story mode.

As for the story and Kratos' character, Ascension has been consistent in its portrayal of the tragic anti-hero. Beneath all that anger and fury, Kratos is just a man hurt. Hurt so badly because the gods took away the only people that ever mattered to him---family.

I was apprehensive how Ascension's story will turn out. I thought they'll just make up a story for the sake of creating another game. Kratos has already conquered the Gorgons and the Fates in the previous games and so the only trio sisters left that are possibly worthy opponents are the Furies, right? I don't know about other fans who disagree but I think it only makes sense that Kratos do something about his oath to Ares first before he can go on and punish the god of war. So, yeah, the story of this prequel makes sense and fits the whole story of Kratos' quest for vengeance.

Rating: 9 out of 10