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God of War

God of War

|United States, Japan|Adventure, Puzzle

8.7 /10

Aww Great!

Super hit!

1.1k ratings
Time to beat
Main + extras
9.2h
Where to get it
Trailers & screenshots
Why play it

God of War is an action-adventure hack-and-slash video game developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). Initially launched for the PlayStation 2, the game stands as the first instalment in the God of War series and the third in chronological order. Loosely inspired by Greek mythology, it unfolds in ancient Greece with vengeance as its central theme. The player takes on the role of Kratos, the protagonist, a Spartan warrior devoted to the Olympian gods. Tasked by the goddess Athena, Kratos is assigned to eliminate Ares, the God of War and Kratos' former mentor. Ares had deceitfully manipulated Kratos into killing his wife and daughter. As Ares attacks Athens fueled by hatred for Athena, Kratos embarks on a quest to locate Pandora's Box, the sole object capable of permanently stopping the vengeful god.

Story and worldbuilding

Kratos is a warrior who serves the Greek gods of Olympus. Flashbacks reveal that he was once a successful captain in the Spartan army and led his men to several victories before being defeated by a barbarian king. Facing death, Kratos called on the God of War, Ares, whom he promised to serve if the god would spare his men and provide the power to destroy their enemies. Ares agreed and bonded the Blades of Chaos, a pair of chained blades forged in the depths of Tartarus, to his new servant. Kratos, equipped with the blades, then decapitated the barbarian king.[23] Kratos waged war at the behest of Ares, eventually leading an attack on a village occupied by worshipers of Athena. Ares had secretly transported Kratos' wife and child to the village; during his frenzied attack on its temple, Kratos accidentally killed them. Although Ares believed this act would free Kratos to become the perfect warrior, the Spartan instead renounced his pledge of servitude to the god. The oracle of the destroyed village cursed Kratos by bonding the ashes of his dead family to his skin, turning it ash-white and earning him the nickname, "Ghost of Sparta". Plagued by nightmares of his horrible deed, Kratos vowed to serve the other gods in hope of ridding himself of the visions.

Game highlights
Rating momentum

Aww Great!: 8.7/10 across 1.1k ratings. Word of mouth is strong — if you like the genre, go for it.

Play style

Leans into Adventure, Puzzle, Hack and Slash, with a main story around 9.2h. Check if that style and time commitment fit you.

Reviews

20 media reviews

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Media

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IGNJonathon Dornbush · 12 Apr, 2018
10/10

God of War's outstanding characters, world, and combat come together to form an unforgettable adventure.

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GameSpotPhil Hornshaw · 12 Jan, 2022
9/10

God of War isn't drastically different on PC when compared to the PS4 version that launched back in 2018, but its little improvements are definitely nice ones, making this a solid PC port overall. There isn't reason enough here to buy a second copy of the game if you've already played, necessarily, but the PC version is a great reason to check out God of War for the first time for anybody who hasn't had a chance to experience it. God of War remains an excellent, gorgeous, affecting action game, and with the port to PC, it gets a handful of nice, if somewhat minor, improvements.

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EurogamerChristian Donlan · 12 Apr, 2018
8/10

Despite eye-catching changes, the heart of this series remains gloriously unaltered.

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PC GamerMorgan Park · 12 Jan, 2022
9/10

The best game on PS4 is now one of the best games on PC.

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PolygonRyan Gilliam · 12 Jan, 2022

Nothing compares to playing a game like God of War for the first time, seeing the way the water rushes out of the Lake of Nine as Jörmungandr, the World Serpent, rises from beneath the waves. But when the giant snake opened his mouth, and his voice bellowed through my headphones, I was even more awestruck by his design - his 4-year-old model and textures look excellent, even with my face just inches away from the monitor. The water dripping off of his mossy beard, the shadows in his nostrils, and his throat wavering while he speaks - it all looks better than ever. It's the same game, but with its already impressive sets and visuals turned up, creating an even more immersive experience.

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GamesRadar+Leon Hurley · 12 Apr, 2018
10/10

One of PlayStation's finest moments, Kratos has been reimagined for a new audience while keeping the best bits of what originally made him great.

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Game InformerJoe Juba · 12 Apr, 2018
9.8/10

An enthralling experience from beginning to end, with a mixture of great narrative moments and engaging encounters. God of War is a well-paced adventure that knows when to let the action simmer and when to make it boil over

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GuardianKeza MacDonald · 12 Apr, 2018
10/10

Kratos returns older and wiser, but exhilaratingly brutal in a story that deftly intertwines family drama and mythological epic

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Washington PostChristopher Byrd · 12 Apr, 2018

A more nuanced Kratos makes the new 'God of War' a mighty success

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VGCJordan Middler · 12 Jan, 2022
10/10

Even if you’ve played God Of War on the PS4, it’s more than worth going back for another trip up the mountain.

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