Set roughly 10 years before the original God of War , Ascension follows Kratos as he tries to break his blood oath with Ares. The Furies—ancient enforcers of oath-breakers—hunt him down. It’s a clever setup. Instead of revenge against Zeus, the drive here is freedom from guilt . Kratos isn’t yet the Ghost of Sparta we know; he’s haunted, chained, and desperate.
In 2013, Ascension was criticized for franchise fatigue. Coming off God of War III ’s epic finale, a prequel felt like a step back. Reviewers called it “more of the same, but less refined.”
7.5/10 – Not essential, but criminally underrated. Hashtags (if for social media): #GodOfWarAscension #Kratos #PS3Classics #GodOfWar #HiddenGem #ActionGameRetro god.of war ascension
The execution? Messy. The story lacks the tight mythology of God of War II or the emotional punch of 2018 . But it adds depth: you see Kratos’ hallucinations of his family, his failures, and his slow unraveling. It’s the first time the series asked, “What if the monster was also a victim?”
When you think of God of War , you think of Kratos at his most furious—tearing through Olympus without an ounce of restraint. So when Ascension dropped in 2013 as a prequel to the entire series, fans were intrigued. Would it show us a different kind of Spartan? Or just more of the same rage, but with younger graphics? Set roughly 10 years before the original God
But here’s the catch: the game is tough . Some enemy encounters feel unfairly balanced, and the removal of health/ mana chests in certain sections forces trial-and-error gameplay. Still, the set pieces are pure Sony Santa Monica—the , the giant snake-bridge , and the final battle against Aegaeon (a Hecatonchires) are unforgettable.
Ascension doubled down on the combat. You now have a “Rage Meter” that, when filled, lets you use a powerful magic attack. The Blades of Chaos feel fluid, and the new elemental system (fire, ice, lightning, etc.) encourages swapping styles mid-fight. Instead of revenge against Zeus, the drive here
But in 2024+? It’s aged into a fascinating time capsule. After the soft reboot of God of War (2018) and Ragnarök , Ascension now feels like the end of old-school Kratos. It’s bloated, brutal, and beautiful in its excess. If you want to see Kratos at his most vulnerable before he met Faye, this is it.
Here’s a post you can use for a blog, social media, or gaming forum. It’s written in an engaging, analytical style—adjust the tone as needed. God of War: Ascension – The Prequel That Tried to Humanize the Monster