God of War: Ascension

About God of War: Ascension

God of War: Ascension serves as a prequel to the main saga released by SCE Santa Monica Studio on March 12, 2013. This action title launched exclusively on PlayStation 3 and marks the seventh entry in the franchise. The story follows Kratos after he breaks his blood oath with Ares. Once a loyal servant who killed his family by mistake, he now faces imprisonment by the Furies for his betrayal. Players guide him through a brutal quest to sever the divine bond that shackles his soul. It stands as a darker origin tale before the events of the original trilogy began. The game delivers high-octane violence and mythological storytelling on Sony's seventh-generation console.

Gameplay

Combat remains the focus with Kratos wielding the Blades of Chaos alongside the new World Weapon system. You can grab environmental objects like chandeliers or pillars to use as makeshift arms during fights. The magic system lets you equip four disciplines including Ice of Poseidon for underwater breathing and Lightning of Zeus for shock attacks. Rage builds automatically as you strike enemies and releases a torrent of damage until you stop attacking or take a hit. New relics allow you to manipulate time, summon a shadow clone, or break illusions cast by guardians. The single-player campaign focuses on these mechanics while the multiplayer mode lets you choose one of four gods. You level up warriors in online matches using modes like Team Favor of the Gods and Capture the Flag to unlock gear and abilities.

What Players Think

The PlayPile community gave God of War: Ascension a solid 75 out of 100 based on 255 IGDB ratings. Reviewers generally feel the game captures the series spirit despite mixed feelings about its multiplayer focus. Average playtime sits around 12 hours for main story completion, though finishing all achievements pushes that number higher. Community moods lean toward "gritty" and "intense" during combat sequences but dip to "frustrated" when grappling with time manipulation puzzles. Some users note the achievement completion rate hovers near 40 percent due to difficult multiplayer challenges. Review snippets often mention the World Weapon system as a highlight while criticizing the repetitive nature of certain boss encounters. The data shows fans appreciate the narrative depth even if technical performance varies across platforms.

PlayPile's Take

This title works best for players who want to see Kratos early in his rage-filled journey before he becomes the Ghost of Sparta. The price point on the used market makes it an accessible entry for newcomers to the series. You get 15 achievements to chase, many tied to multiplayer performance which can be a barrier for casual players. The story delivers strong emotional weight regarding his betrayal of Ares and the Furies hunting him down. I recommend this only if you own a PS3 and enjoy hack-and-slash combat with heavy mythological themes. Avoid it if you prefer modern graphics or dislike online matchmaking requirements slowing down your progress. The single-player campaign stands on its own but feels dated compared to later entries in the franchise.

Storyline

In a war between the astronomically large deities known as the Primordials, the madness and rage of the war took form, becoming the three guardians of honor, the Furies, who were tasked with exacting retribution onto any oath-breaker or betrayer. The first victim of the Furies was the Hecatonchires, Aegaeon, who had broken a blood oath to Zeus himself. The Furies set about their task, and, believing death to be too kind for one who had broken an oath to a God, transformed Aegaeon's humongous body into a stone prison for all who would dare follow his example in the future.