STACK #214 August 2022

GAMING FEATURE

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2005 God of War PS2 We first encountered Kratos after he’d served ten years in the service of the Olympian Gods. He’s tasked by Athena to find Pandora’s Box, which is the key to defeating a rampaging Ares. Tricked into killing his family, Kratos exacts revenge and ascends Mount of Olympus as the new God of War. 2007 God of War II PS2 It’s Kratos’ turn to go on the rampage, arcing up against his fellow Gods until Zeus intervenes, but he betrays our antihero. Rescued by Titan Gaia, Kratos is tasked with finding the Sisters of Fate to save him from Zeus. 2008 God of War: Chains of Olympus PSP It’s time for a bit of prequel action, as we catch up with Kratos during his time of service to the Gods. He thwarts a Persian invasion of the Greek city of Attica, then gets busy sorting the abduction of sun God Helios by Morpheus. 2010 God of War III PS3 (PS4 2015) The big guy reignites the Great God ofWar Ragnarök is the eighth main entry in the God ofWar saga. Here’s a quick look back at what’s led up to it on consoles. A LOAD OF KRATOS! In another trip back in time, this one’s set after the first adventure, wherein Kratos sets out to discover his human origins by tracking down his mum, Callisto. A bit of family history later and he’s off to save his brother Deimos from the hands of the God of Death. 2013 God of War: Ascension PS3 The final game of the Greek era, and daughter. He’s imprisoned by three Furies, but upon learning of a plot to overthrow the Gods of Olympus he manages to escape and, well, do what he does best. 2018 God of War PS4 We say hello to the Norse period, as we meet the son of Kratos, Atreus. The pair set out to honour the final wish of their deceased wife/mother, but naturally there are complications, and then the onset of Fimbulwinter, the precursor to Ragnarok… this is set before Chains of Olympus , not long after Kratos killed his wife War, before seeking revenge on the Titans who’ve turned on him, as well as the Gods. He must seek the Flame of Olympus in order to defeat Zeus, while battling across the Underworld. 2010 God of War: Ghost of Sparta PSP

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Words Amy Flower

A fter a reboot of sorts in 2018’s very well-received God of War , Santa Monica Studio have been keeping their cards fairly close to their collective chests as far as what story to expect from its sequel. A recent update gave us a little more detail, however, revealing that Kratos and son Atreus will journey through each of the Nine Norse Realms in this new mythic adventure. With Fimbulwinter in full swing, our heroic pair will be searching for answers, as the impending threat of Ragnarok – a series of events that brings about the end of days – looms ever closer. Kratos and Atreus are faced with choices between their own safety, and that of the greater good. Then there are questions raised in the game’s predecessor that need answering, including the Loki prophecy… Naturally the weaponry skills of Kratos will remain a big part of the gameplay, and he returns armed with such trusty war tools as the Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos

not least of all because of the power of the PlayStation 5 – although what we’ve seen of the PS4 version is certainly impressive as well. We’re promised mythical landscapes that are more stunning than ever, while facing the sorts of fearsome enemy gods and monsters that the series has always been renowned for. PS5 owners will be treated to full utilisation of the DualSense controller’s goodies, including advanced use of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. We’re also in for an aural treat with multidirectional 3D Audio promising to be entertaining, while also providing a strategic advantage. Meanwhile, there’s a cavalcade of accessibility options coming – more than 60 over and above those featured in 2018’s God of War - including a redesigned user interface, rebuilt controller mapping, subtitle and caption improvements, high contrast mode and lots more. Play assists are set to include automated traversal, audio cues and, what will be very handy for some, navigation assist to help point you in the right direction. It's certainly looking like there’s much to look forward to when God of War Ragnarök hits on November 9.

and Guardian Shield. We’re also promised a host of new abilities that will be at the disposal of both Kratos and Atreus, allowing for more customisation and fluidity in combat. God of War was a visual treat, and the ante has been upped in this forthcoming sequel,

• God of War Ragnarök is out Nov 9

26 AUGUST 2022

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