God of War

God of War is an award-winning, critically acclaimed and bestselling action-adventure video game series loosely based on Greek mythology. Debuting in 2005, the series consisting of six games across multiple platforms with a seventh currently in development has become a flagship title for the PlayStation brand. The main trilogy – God of War I, II, and III – was developed by Sony's Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 video game consoles. Ready at Dawn developed the PlayStation Portable installments – Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta – which were also published by Sony Computer Entertainment. Capcom published both PS2 installments and Chains of Olympus in Japan. The mobile phone Java ME installment – Betrayal – was developed by Javaground and published by Sony Pictures Digital. As of 2012, Santa Monica is developing a new title – Ascension – for the PS3. The series has also expanded into a franchise to include other media, such as a comic book series – God of War (2010–11) – and two novels – God of War (2010) and God of War II (2013). A film has been in development since 2005.
In addition to the individual games, two collections featuring remastered versions of both PS2 installments – God of War Collection – and both PSP installments – God of War: Origins Collection – have been released on the PS3 by Bluepoint Games and Ready at Dawn, respectively. Another collection – God of War Saga – released on August 28, 2012 for the PS3 features God of War I, II, III, Chains of Olympus, and Ghost of Sparta. With the exception of the mobile phone game, God of War: Betrayal, every installment in the series has been released on the PlayStation 3 and each main installment was released in the month of March. Merchandise promoting the series has been produced, including artwork, clothing, and toys. As of June 2012, the series has sold more than 21 million copies worldwide.
The central character of the series is Kratos, a Spartan warrior tricked into killing his wife and child by his former master, the God of War Ares. Kratos eventually kills Ares at the behest of the goddess Athena and takes his place as the new God of War, but is still haunted by the nightmares of his past. Kratos is eventually betrayed by Zeus, the King of the Olympian Gods. Revealed to be a demigod and the son of Zeus, Kratos now seeks revenge against the gods for their machinations. A series of attempts to free himself from the influence of the gods and the Titans and to exact revenge follow. Each game chapter forms part of a saga with vengeance as a central theme, and each game in the series is darker than its predecessor.

Gameplay:

The series consists of six single-player games, which typically feature a third-person, fixed cinematic camera. The player controls the character Kratos in a combination of combat, platforming, and puzzle game elements to achieve goals and complete the story. A first-person camera is featured in God of War III during two boss battles, and God of War: Betrayal features a 2D side-scrolling view.
Kratos' main weapons throughout the series are a pair of double-chained blades; other weapons, such as the Blade of Artemis in God of War, are acquired during the games. Magic is also used, and four abilities, such as Poseidon's Rage, Medusa's Gaze, Zeus' Fury, and Army of Hades in God of War, are usually acquired. In God of War III, instead of separate abilities there are four primary weapons, each with its own magic offensive. It also featured "Items" – additional secondary weapons with limited usage, such as the Bow of Apollo. With each new game, most weapons and magic are lost via a plot device, and a new arsenal of weapons and abilities are acquired during gameplay.
Relics, which the player can use in successive games, such as Poseidon's Trident which is obtained in God of War and is kept throughout the series, are also acquired. Kratos often has a special ability, which provides temporary invulnerability and increased attack damage. This ability has become an ongoing feature of gameplay throughout the series – Rage of the Gods in God of War, Rage of the Titans in God of War II, Rage of Sparta in God of War III, and Thera's Bane in God of War: Ghost of Sparta. This ability can be recharged by building hits on foes in combat, and gaining game-specific orbs. Thera's Bane, however, is recharged automatically.
Gorgon Eyes and Phoenix Feathers increase the maximum amount of health and magic respectively and are found throughout the game in uncolored chests. Minotaur Horns, which increase the Items and Fire meter's maximum length, are available in God of War III and Ghost of Sparta, respectively. The Items meter allows the use of secondary weapons, called Items, and the Fire meter allows the use of Thera's Bane. The meters are increased in increments and reach their maximum once a certain number of Eyes, Feathers, and Horns are found. Other chests contain green, blue or red orbs. Green orbs replenish health, blue orbs replenish magic, and red orbs provide experience for upgrading weapons and magic for new and more powerful attacks, and replenish the Rage meter in God of War. Chests with changing colors, which allow players to choose which meter to replenish, have also been available. Red orbs can also be collected by killing foes and destroying certain inanimate objects. Bosses and more powerful opponents release a combination of colored orbs when killed via the quick-time feature.
The series offers combo-based combat, and includes a quick time event (QTE) feature, which is initiated when the player has weakened a foe stronger than himself. It allows limited control of Kratos during the QTE cinematic sequence; success ends the battle while failure usually results in damage. God of War: Ascension will change the quick time event feature, replacing some of the button prompts with a prompt-less free-form system. A grab maneuver can be used on minor foes.
Each installment offers a challenge mode, which yields extra red orbs, secret costumes, and behind-the-scenes videos. Bonus content can be unlocked by defeating the game's difficulty levels. Battle arenas, which allow players to set difficulty levels and choose their own opponents, are included in each installment except God of War and God of War: Chains of Olympus. A quick-time sex mini-game is also included in each installment except Betrayal.
God of War: Ascension will introduce online and offline multiplayer gaming to the series. Up to eight players will be able to to play in two teams of four and will battle for control of a map in order to earn rewards from the gods. Players must sell their champion's soul to either Zeus, Hades, Ares, or Poseidon, which will allow players to try different weapons, armor sets, and powers inspired by the god of their choice, and extras can be unlocked.

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God of War was first released in North America on March 22, 2005 for the PlayStation 2. After ten years in the service of the Olympian gods, Spartan soldier Kratos is tasked by Athena to find Pandora's Box; the key to defeating Ares, the God of War. A series of flashbacks reveals that Kratos was once the servant of Ares, who saved the Spartan and his army from annihilation in battle, tricked him into killing his family, and forced his metamorphosis into the "Ghost of Sparta". Kratos eventually finds Pandora's Box, and after finally killing Ares, ascends to Mount Olympus to become the new God of War.
God of War II was first released in North America on March 13, 2007 for the PlayStation 2. Betrayed by Zeus, Kratos is saved by the Titan Gaia, who tells him he must now find the Sisters of Fate, who can change his fate and prevent his death at the hands of Zeus. Kratos is ultimately successful, Athena sacrifices herself to save Zeus and preserve Olympus, and tells Kratos that he is the son of Zeus. Kratos then joins forces with Gaia and the Titans to attack Olympus.
God of War: Betrayal was released on June 20, 2007 for mobile phones. It is the only game in the series to be released as a 2D side-scroller and released on a non-Sony platform. The game's narrative takes place between the events of God of War: Ghost of Sparta and God of War II. Kratos is framed for murder, and rampages across Greece seeking the true assassin. Kratos succumbs to bloodlust and kills Ceryx, the son of the god Hermes – an act that alienates him from his fellow gods.
God of War: Chains of Olympus was first released in North America on March 4, 2008 for the PlayStation Portable, and a limited edition PSP bundle pack was released in June 2008. Its narrative takes place during Kratos' ten years of service to the gods. Kratos halts a Persian invasion of the Greek city of Attica, and learns that the world has been plunged into darkness by the god Morpheus. Kratos investigates the abduction of the sun god Helios, and prevents the Machiavellian plan of the goddess Persephone to use the Titan Atlas to destroy the world.
God of War III was first released in North America on March 16, 2010 for the PlayStation 3; an "Ultimate Edition" with exclusive content was available for pre-order. Reigniting the Great War, Kratos is soon abandoned by the Titans. Kratos, helped by the spirit of the revived Athena, seeks the Flame of Olympus. Kratos engages the gods and his former allies the Titans in an epic series of battles across the Underworld and Olympus. He discovers that Pandora herself is the key to pacifying the Flame and allowing him to open Pandora's Box. Kratos defeats the gods and opposing Titans. After killing Zeus, Kratos refuses to help Athena assume the role of new patron of mankind and disappears, his final fate unknown.
God of War: Ghost of Sparta was first released in North America on November 2, 2010 for the PlayStation Portable with a limited edition PSP bundle and an exclusive pre-order offer released simultaneously. Set between the events of God of War and God of War: Betrayal, Kratos, the God of War, is still haunted by visions of his mortal past and embarks on a quest to discover his origins by finding his mother, Callisto. He learns that his brother Deimos was taken by the gods and imprisoned by the God of Death, Thanatos, and decides to find and save his sibling. Although successful, Thanatos engages the brothers in combat, and kills Deimos. Kratos then kills Thanatos and returns to Olympus, now enraged at the gods.
God of War: Ascension is scheduled to be released in North America on March 12, 2013 for the PlayStation 3 with a "Collector's Edition" available for pre-order with exclusive content. The game will be a prequel to the entire God of War series. Set six months after Kratos killed his wife and child, he tries to defeat the three Furies in order to break his bonds to Ares. God of War: Ascension will be the first game in the series to feature multiplayer modes (four-vs-four) and the first installment developed with Stereoscopic 3D.

Game	GameRankings	Metacritic
God of War	93.62%	94/100
God of War II	92.71%	93/100
God of War: Betrayal	76.67%	N/A
God of War: Chains of Olympus	91.06%	91/100
God of War Collection	90.51%	91/100
God of War III	92.54%	92/100
God of War: Ghost of Sparta	87.21%	86/100
God of War: Origins Collection	86.62%	84/100
God of War Saga	N/A	N/A