God of War Video Game Series

Part One, God of War, developed and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, appeared on the PlayStation 2 in 2005. The direct sequel, God of War II, was released two years later on the same platform. In 2008, a prequel was released for the PlayStation Portable console, God of War: Chains of Olympus, developed by Ready At Dawn Studios. In 2009 Bluepoint Games released the set God of War Collection, featuring remasters of the first two full-fledged games for the PlayStation 3. The same collection was released for the PlayStation Vita in 2014. In 2010, the second PSP game by Ready At Dawn Studios premiered -. God of War: Spirit of Sparta. That same year, the full-fledged third part arrived on PS3, God of War III, representing the culmination of the previous storylines. In 2011, two earlier titles from the PSP console were released on the PS3 as part of the set God of War: Origins Collection. In 2013, a prequel was released on the PlayStation 3 called God of War: Ascension, which offered a multiplayer mode for the first time in the series' history. In 2015, a refreshed version of part three was released on PlayStation 4, God of War III Remastered. In 2018, a game with the same name as the original from 2005 arrived on PS4. The new God of War became a reboot of sorts of the series, introducing changes in the nature of the gameplay and moving the series to a new reality (Greek mythology was replaced by Norse). The new formula was developed in God of War: Ragnarok, a sequel released four years later. A few months before its release, the series was released for the first time outside of Sony's platform, as the 2018 installment was released on PC.

The series God of War is considered one of the strongest brands in Sony Computer Entertainment's publishing portfolio. According to estimates, by the end of 2021, more than 30 million games of the series had been sold worldwide. The adventures of Kratos have also inspired comic book cartoonists and writers.

The main attraction of the series are spectacular battles. Whole armies of soldiers and mythical beasts stand in the protagonist's way. In addition to the usual attacks, which can be combined in so-called combos, Kratos also has at his disposal bloody finishers, allowing to finish off the opponent in a brutal way. Spartan tears out the eyes of Cyclops, wings of Valkyries, and literally tears weaker warriors to pieces. Quite a challenge are duels with gigantic creatures, often reaching the size of several apartment blocks. The animated Rhodian Colossus is by no means the biggest opponent Kratos faces.

In the installments devoted to Greek mythology, the main weapons of the protagonist are two blades attached to his hands by chains, in the "Nordic" parts the Leviathan axe takes the lead. Kratos can throw his weapons a considerable distance, create deadly whirlwinds glaring at all nearby enemies and use a mass of other moves. The hero's arsenal also includes other white weapons, as well as magic tricks (throwing lightning bolts, shooting with a magic bow, turning enemies into stone, striking with a shield).

Part one revolves around the god of war Ares. The patron saint of warriors and former champion of Kratos has attacked Athens, flooding the region with hordes of undead soldiers and mythical beasts. The goddess Athena asks the protagonist to kill Ares, the reward for which is to be forgiveness of his sins. The main theme of the game is the search for the legendary Pandora's Box - the only weapon that allows a mortal to exterminate a god. During the search, the protagonist has the opportunity to visit astonishing locations, such as a temple built on the back of the giant titan Kronos.

Parts two and three tell the story of Kratos' crusade against the gods of Olympus. Appointed the new god of war, Kratos spends his time supporting the Spartan army on a devastating march across Greece. His behavior incurs the wrath of the gods, who betray him and send him to the world of the dead. He is rescued from his predicament by the titaness Gaia, whose race was defeated years ago by the gods of Olympus. Kratos sets out to exact revenge on Zeus and his henchmen. In the course of his vendetta, the protagonist faces numerous Greek deities, as well as well-known heroes of myths, such as Hercules.

God of War: Ascension is essentially a prequel to the series. After uttering obedience to his master Ares, Kratos becomes the target of the Furies - three demonic sisters dedicated to pursuing traitors and perjurers. Imprisoned and tortured, Kratos must defeat the Furies and uncover the secrets of the past hidden from him. Breaking with the tradition of the series, in addition to the storyline of the plot Ascension also offered a multiplayer mode.

The second prequel, taking place after Ascension, and before God of War (2005), is the first of the games released for the PSP portable console - God of War: Chains of Olympus. The production tells the story of Kratos' adventures in the service of the gods of Olympus. Here we have the opportunity to face the Persian basilisk and visit the area of the column supporting the world.

The second game on the PSP, God of War: Ghost of Sparta, takes place between God of War (2005), a God of War II. Despite taking his position as a god of war, Kratos is still plagued by nightmares. One of the visions prompts the hero to make an armed journey to the mythical city of Atlantis. In the course of the new journey, our protagonist has the opportunity to learn the fate of his long-lost brother.

God of War of 2018 represents a kind of reboot of the series. Greek mythology has been replaced by Norse, and the gameplay has gained a lot more RPG elements. The game focuses on the adventures of an older and more serious Kratos, who, after the dramatic events in part three, set out for the far north. In the snowy forests of the land of the Vikings, the Spartan found a new love, established a home and lived to see his son Atreus. In his new adventures, Atreus travels by his side, offering useful information and supporting him in battle. The complicated relationship between father and son is one of the pillars of the story told in the game.

God of War: Ragnarok continues the formula of its predecessor, developing the elements introduced in it. The story of the title is based on the mythical battle between gods and giants, representing the end of God of War: Ragnarok. The action of the game takes place several years after the events of the previous part: Atreus begins to mature, which has a not insignificant impact on the events presented.