God of War: Ascension

God of War: Ascension is the seventh game in the God of War franchise, a series wherein players embark upon a brutal tale of vengeance and rage. Players once again hop into the shoes of the anti-hero Kratos, an ex-soldier in the army of Ares, who accidentally murders his wife and daughter in a haze of fury. Ascension takes the story all the way back to the beginning, giving players insight into Kratos' life shortly after the death of his family. Full of anger and ready to unleash a smackdown of massive proportions, Kratos swears to tear through all manner of mythological beasts in order to take down Ares himself. In addition to the expected single-player experience, Ascension also contains some fun multiplayer elements, making it one of the more well-rounded entries in the God of War franchise.

Main Game Features

• Hard-hitting hack and slash combat
• Violent story set in the world of Greek mythology
• Single-player story mode and competitive multiplayer modes

Story

Although it's the seventh game in the series, God of War: Ascension marks the earliest moments in Kratos' story, taking place 10 years before the events of the original game. At the start of Ascension, Kratos reels from the death of his wife and child, an accident he holds Ares responsible for. Kratos renounces his oath to Ares, forgoing the warrior's life for an eternity of sorrow. Unfortunately, Ares has other plans, throwing Kratos in jail to be tormented and tortured by the righteous Furies that watch over the prison. Eager to break free and force Ares to atone for his misgivings, Kratos escapes the hellish confinement and begins his long journey of destruction. As the game progresses, the story also jumps further back in time to various flashbacks, revealing the source of his strength and abilities.

Gameplay

God of War: Ascension plays very similarly to other God of War games, although it contains its fair share of new features and mechanics. In the single-player campaign, you control Kratos from a third-person perspective, slashing and slaying enemies with a variety of weapons. In addition to Kratos' signature “Blades of Chaos”, players can equip five other unique weapons in the new World Weapon system. This includes a sling, javelin, sword, shield, and club. Besides bashing in foes faces' with new shiny tools of death, you can also blaze through enemies using a handful of magical spells. Each spell corresponds to a god and bestows great power to Kratos, including the Zeus' lightning, Poseidon's ice, and more. There are also a handful of environmental puzzles to solve, as well as collectibles to find, keeping the experience refreshing and varied.

The biggest addition that Ascension brings to the God of War franchise is the inclusion of competitive multiplayer. Up to eight players can battle to the death in exciting online competitions, battling for control of the game's map while fending off opponents. There are four kinds of warriors to play as in multiplayer, with each one pledging their allegiance to a different god. Each warrior offers a different play-style and unique kit of abilities, ranging from powerful magic to incredible offensive strength. There are five modes to enjoy, including classic Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag. With 15 different maps to battle on, you'll have a blast leveling up your warrior and unlocking new weapons and abilities.

Conclusion

While God of War: Ascension can feel a bit repetitive at times, this comes with the fact of being the seventh game in a series, a problem that Ascension can't avoid.

However, the game manages to produce another exciting and action-packed journey, sending players on a wild ride through the world of Greek mythology. New combat mechanics and the addition of online multiplayer helps round out the experience, providing additional hours of violent and bloody fun. Whether you're a fan of the cinematic storytelling or the brutal gameplay that the God of War franchise is known for, Ascension has enough of both to satisfy and satiate.

Pros

• Satisfying and bloody combat
• Interesting story that strengthens Kratos' character
• Awesome boss fights and set-piece moments

Cons

• Multiplayer offerings are slightly lackluster
• Gameplay can become repetitive