Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Grew up… in Sparta. Like all the boys in his culture, Kratos was trained to be a Spartan warrior from a young age. One day, the gods Ares and Athena attacked his family’s home and took his brother, though they spared Kratos.
Living… with his wife Lysandra and his daughter Calliope, at least until war and destruction ravaged their Spartan home. Now Kratos wanders the world, oath-bound to serve the gods that have used him as a pawn throughout his life.
Profession… Spartan warrior and demigod. Kratos was a renowned Spartan Captain who defeated many of the gods’ champions over the years. However, the young Captain was not invincible, and one day found himself overmatched in a battle with a barbarian chief. Desperate to overcome his opponent, Kratos called out to the gods for help, pledging his allegiance to Ares in exchange for the strength to win this duel. Ares honored his request, but then drove Kratos into a murderous, blind rampage during which Kratos slaughtered his own family.
Relationship Status… widowed. During his murderous rampage, Kratos was tricked by Ares into murdering his wife and child. As punishment, he now bears the ashes of his family, giving his skin a pale white appearance and earning him the title “Ghost of Sparta.”
Challenge… killing the gods that betrayed him. Kratos has spent the last decade acting as the gods’ personal champion and errand boy; in return, they have promised to rid him of the horrible memories of murdering his own family. But as Kratos draws to the end of his service, he’s finally given a chance to confront the god responsible for his misery – Ares, the God of War. As Kratos begins to try to kill the immortal, he finds himself drawn into conflict with more and more gods. Hell-bent on his revenge, he declares, “If all of Olympus would deny me my vengeance, than all of Olympus will die.”
Personality… cruel, amoral, and violent. Whatever respect Kratos had for the gods before is now lost. He’s vengeful and murderous, willing to kill anyone who stands in his way no matter who they are. Driven by guilt and rage, Kratos is less a man and more an unstoppable avatar of anger and hate. Nothing – not even death – will stop him from seeing the gods broken and cast down from their thrones on Mount Olympus.
Get to Know him in...
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God of War draws its inspiration from ancient Greek mythology and boasts a heavy emphasis on exploration and battle strategy. Broken into three to four acts, the game also has a strong focus on story-telling and boast tons of magic spells and abilities. God of War equips its hero with a pair of sword-like chain weapons that can grab enemies, perform multi-hit combos, and pull off a variety of different aerial attacks. Slight platforming elements and an energy collection system have been incorporated as well, and players are even able to use certain elements of their fallen enemies as a weapon (re: Medusa's head, for instance, can be used to turn enemies to stone after you've defeated her).
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Kratos' greatest challenge! Join Kratos, riding on the back of a gigantic titan, ascending Mount Olympus in a full-on assault. He's after one thing and one thing only—vengeance for years of betrayal and tragedy. The closing chapter of the trilogy is easily one of the greatest gaming spectacles in PlayStation history, perfect for anyone who wants to re-live the action in visceral detail, or for those who may have missed out first time round.
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Vengeance is born in the fires of betrayal in this prequel to the best-selling God of War franchise. Six months have passed since Kratos stood over the bodies of his wife and child, his hands stained with their blood—tricked by Ares into murdering the only people he ever loved. Swearing to avenge them, Kratos broke the blood oath that bound him to Ares, but oaths to Olympus are not so easily broken. Sentenced to an eternity chained within a prison for the living damned, Kratos battles insanity at the hands of the Furies. He will be tested as he seeks freedom, redemption for his sins, and the clarity to avenge his family.
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Kratos is now the God of War, having defeated the Olympian god Ares. Shunned by the other gods and still haunted by nightmares from his past, Kratos decides to join an army of Spartans in an attack on the city of Rhodes. Kratos also ignores a warning from the goddess Athena that his lust for revenge is alienating the other gods.
