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Oh, Hey, There's Totally a Leaked God of War: Ascension Trailer [UPDATED]

Hey, thanks Amazon! We might have had to actually wait for Sony to announce this thing if you hadn't leaked this stuff!

UPDATE: Sony went ahead and confirmed the existence of God of War: Ascension this morning via the PlayStation blog. So yes, the game officially exists, and yes, it is a prequel of some fashion. How far back that prequel story will go is yet unknown, though it's safe to assume it'll be some chapter of the story that includes as-yet-unseen vengeance and violent, visceral death. Unless, of course, Sony has really jumped the shark and gone the Star Wars prequel route, with the intent to show Kratos as a really angry little kid. While I will admit I would derive a bit of weird amusement out of seeing Kratos as a stab-happy toddler, that would probably get old pretty quick.

We'll know more come April 30, as the PS Blog entry says more details are expected to be released then. I'm guessing they won't be giving those details to Amazon early again, so odds are you'll actually have to wait this time. Sorry about that.

What you see above is a trailer for God of War: Ascension. "But Alex," you ask, "Sony hasn't announced a game called God of War: Ascension yet!" Oops?

Art may not be final, but art is nonetheless radical.
Art may not be final, but art is nonetheless radical.

Blame Amazon for the early leak. They evidently posted up this teaser, alongside some placeholder box art for the game this evening. Considering we've been hearing no shortage of rumors regarding a forthcoming God of War IV (or, in this case, God of War: Ascension) announcement, one can imagine that Sony was prepping some kind of big reveal for the title...at least it was. Until now. I bet it was going to be really cool, too.

Instead, here is your teaser trailer and box art, ingloriously shoved out the door into the harsh reality of the Internet before its time, forced to fend for itself with no major marketing event nor official press release to properly help usher it into a world it never made. Really tragic, that.

On the other hand, there's a new God of War game coming, which is actually rather awesome. Though I am going to have to replay God of War III at some point. I can barely even remember what happened in that game. What about you guys? Anyone else good and ready for some more heavy metal Greek God slaying?

Alex Navarro on Google+

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ptys

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Edited By ptys

I doubt there'll be an Orbis next year if they're putting this on PS3.

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Tennmuerti

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Edited By Tennmuerti

People care about God of War story enough to make a difference if it's a sequel or prequel?
That's cool i guees.
Myself only ever played the games for the look and feel of the combat and to see Kratos fuck dudes up.

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Tylea002

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Edited By Tylea002

So we don't get the game where Kratos pisses someone else off and we have to kill him instead?

That'd be actually interesting.

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smokepants

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Edited By smokepants

I think God of War 3 may have killed my interest in the property. If only they could get Corey Barlog back to direct.

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ObsideonDarman

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Edited By ObsideonDarman

A prequel?

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moncole

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Edited By moncole

They are killing the series.

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WinterSnowblind

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Edited By WinterSnowblind

This game is in the same situation as Halo 4 for me. The series' are still solid enough and I'm sure these new games will be good.. but did we really need another sequel already? As a launch game for the PS4, it could have been a huge system seller, but just pumping out constant sequels isn't something I want to see.

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BabyChooChoo

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Edited By BabyChooChoo

I don't understand all the hate for Kratos. I mean, I know he's angry all the time, but everyone he comes across eventually screws him over. Every god, demi-god, Titan, and so on eventually thinks "I don't need him anymore" or simply "I think he has to die now" and goes back on whatever they promised him.

Yes, he's angry all the time, but what do people expect? It only makes sense that he's always an asshole.

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moncole

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Edited By moncole

@Tennmuerti said:

People care about God of War story enough to make a difference if it's a sequel or prequel? That's cool i guees. Myself only ever played the games for the look and feel of the combat and to see Kratos fuck dudes up.

There are people who care and call it an amazing story.

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Garrador

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Edited By Garrador

Is it just me or does it seem all these retailer sites try to leak this shit out before the press release? Like EVERYTHING gets leaked on Amazon, GameStop, different European retailer site, or other digital services. Seriously is it so hard to follow directions of "don't put this shit up till day XX"?

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roughplague

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Edited By roughplague

totally fake =V

honestly not that excited, I've always liked GOW, but the story and formula has been sort of worn out, it's been 3 games, the usual sequel theory is that the next entry, i.e. the 4th one will reinvent the franchise.

We've had our Kratos trilogy, give us a new character, a new story, with new interesting gameplay, or structure, tighten up the combat, etc. obviously theres no gameplay in this trailer but I'm pretty sure, at least with the style of the trailer, they're gonna play it safe...again.

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Lurkero

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Edited By Lurkero

I thought we were done with Kratos? Can we get a character that I actually WANT to play as this time? Kratos lost my interest partway through God of War 2.

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Tennmuerti

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Edited By Tennmuerti
@Moncole said:

@Tennmuerti said:

People care about God of War story enough to make a difference if it's a sequel or prequel? That's cool i guees. Myself only ever played the games for the look and feel of the combat and to see Kratos fuck dudes up.

There are people who care and call it an amazing story.

Yep i said as much. (without the amazing part)
Fascinating!
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49th

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Edited By 49th

Awesome! Didn't realise how much I liked God of War but I am excited!

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zenmastah

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Edited By zenmastah

What, no dubstep drops at this trailer?

Surely this is not a official trailer then..

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Sawboss

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Edited By Sawboss

I really wanted them to use this chance and start a whole new story based off another mythology...I love God of War a lot of but i dunno I need another Kratos game.

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Residentrevil2

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Edited By Residentrevil2

I'm not interested, but that doesn't mean an awesome demo wouldn't change my mind. But, this leak is kind of weak...

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AlexW00d

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Edited By AlexW00d

So God of Four is real.

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geekbot

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Edited By geekbot

I sure hope this wasn't going to be Sony's big reveal this year, because more God of War? Boooooo...

Also, didn't one of the PSP games deal with the origin of Kratos? I didn't play them, but I could have sworn they did this plot line before.

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deskp

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Edited By deskp

Well atleast its a proper nice box art and a proper done trailer, not some shakycam images or terrible scans.

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Do_The_Manta_Ray

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Edited By Do_The_Manta_Ray

I think I'm prepared to cough up the money to buy the game simply for the reason they didn't name it "God of War: Resurrection - Revival - Revolution"

This is not the definition of an R-rated game!

I've always had a soft spot for the GoW games. The first one was absolutely brilliant. I even thought the story was superb. The first 40 minutes of GoW 2 promised even more, even better; and then all of a sudden, the question I find myself asking about the third game is "How will it end, how will they trump the last sex-scene?" Maybe that's just male instincts, who knows; but a spin-off, or a prequel could do this series well.

Give them a chance to stop trying to make something BIGGER and maybe just something a bit more personal. That said; I'll buy anything Santa Monica studio has a deus-ex machina in (hand of god. Don't look at me like that). Even Journey made me want to replay GoW 3.

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Tidel

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Edited By Tidel

I'm a big fan of the franchise, but I'm fleetingly disappointed for two reasons: 1, I enjoy the narrative but really, five games with one-note Kratos is enough. Telling us the third 'untold story of' is uninspired. And 2, Vita.

But Sony Santa Monica is a great studio and I'm sure the game will be a good time. I'd just like to see the franchise stretch itself in different ways.

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NTM

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Edited By NTM

This is supposed to be the beginning of Kratos' story, again. Eh, I kind of don't care for prequels after we already know how it ends. I loved the first two God of Wars games, I played Chains of Olympus which was OK, and I wasn't all that excited at the time for God of War 3, but I still knew what I wanted out of the game when it came, and I was left disappointed.

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GunslingerPanda

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Edited By GunslingerPanda

People like God of War?

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MooseyMcMan

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Edited By MooseyMcMan

I was just thinking, what if the last thing in the game is Kratos killing his family, but it's all player controlled, and you don't realize what's happening until after the fact? How crazy would that be? Ending with such a downer like that.

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kpaadet

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Edited By kpaadet

I find it very fascinating that this news article already have 9 pages of people telling me how they dont care about God of War. I'm still curious to see some gameplay though.

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hermes

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Edited By hermes

You know, I could have lived with Kratos ending its career after GoW3. The game felt like another God of War with HD graphics and I lost all sympathy for the character 20 minutes in.

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mrspoon

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Edited By mrspoon

What's your pleasure Mr. Cotton?

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hermes

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Edited By hermes

@Tennmuerti said:

@Moncole said:

@Tennmuerti said:

People care about God of War story enough to make a difference if it's a sequel or prequel? That's cool i guees. Myself only ever played the games for the look and feel of the combat and to see Kratos fuck dudes up.

There are people who care and call it an amazing story.

Yep i said as much. (without the amazing part)Fascinating!

Hey, the first game was nothing short of genius.

They explain it better, though: http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/no-redeeming-value

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SeanFoster

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Edited By SeanFoster

It does look like it will be a prequel... I hope they somehow get the Cestus in there, or a weapon like it. Smashing monsters with that was so satisfying in God of War 3.

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toowalrus

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Edited By toowalrus

@Djratchet said:

Don't know why people are shitting all over this game, even before we see gameplay footage. I for one, am all for more God of War and Kratos.

I think a lot of people aren't down for more God of War with Kratos, that's why they're shitting all over this game. I haven't even gotten around to playing GoW III, and even I feel this way...

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Tryptophan

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Edited By Tryptophan

Before the time when time was time...

Even the greatest of heroes,some who destroy the very fabric of existence...

Must surmount their first and greatest obstacle...

Potty training.

God of War: Precurser: Potty Pandemonium

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RageKage14

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Edited By RageKage14

Kratos stopped being an "anti-hero" and become a full fledged dick just twenty minutes into the first game, when he needlessly lets the ship captain fall to his death when he could have easily pulled him to safety along with the key.

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Crixaliz

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Edited By Crixaliz

Isn't the story being described just the story of God of War 1? and prior to that wasn't he just a Spartan?

I may have this completely wrong since I haven't played God of War, but I watched my brother play through part 2 and 3.

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hermes

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Edited By hermes

@Crixaliz: No. Before God of War 1, he used to be an agent of the gods (killing creatures and solving conflicts, the Kratos' way). He spent 10 years at the service of the gods.

Those things were covered by the PSP games, though... and people don't seem eager to see them again.

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Seraphim84

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Edited By Seraphim84

I thought the PSP games covered his time before GoW1?

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morrelloman

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Edited By morrelloman

I dont know why internet is not blocking this site today. That's great! Also, I will play this at all costs. Woopy!

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MeatSim

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Edited By MeatSim

Marketing plans getting ruined by Retailers who don't care is always fun.

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VargasPrime

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Edited By VargasPrime

I guess it's not surprising that this game is a thing. But after God of War 2, I had kind of given up on the franchise. I enjoy playing badasses as much as anyone, but when the main character is just a remorseless asshole with no sense of real purpose, I can't really get behind that.

At least he had the whole Greek tragedy thing going for him early on. Now he's just on a violence-obsessed power trip. At least from what I can gather. Like I said, I tapped out after part 2.

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vitor

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Edited By vitor

@Abyssfull said:

@Shaanyboi said:

Great. Another game for Kratos to run around, act like an angsty teenager, and just kill everything with no purpose or drive beyond "THEY HAVE BETRAYED ME". How...inspired.

I know, right? It was somewhat refreshing to play as someone who walks around with a comically large chip on his shoulder, but 5 games of that ''ARRRRGHDFHDFDGD KILLLL EVERYYYEONNNNE!!'', it gets tiring. In GoW3, Kratos truly succeeded his own level of assholishness... I mean good God (ugh), what a colossal twat. There's a point when an anti-hero stops being an anti-hero and becomes an all around jerk, and GoW3 steam rolled over that point a dozen times over.

Wow, totally thought I was alone in thinking that. The deaths of the Gods in 3 were so gruesome that I actually felt more uncomfortable than empowered when pulling them off and the way they portrayed Kratos, I mean, I totally thought it was some sort of meta-commentary from the devs as to how unlikable he really was.

Unfortunately that gave the new creative director way more credit than was due. I don't usually judge games on the moral message but man, GoW 3 was detestable.

Need to jam a giant cog in a door? Why not shove one of the infinitely respawning enemies into it?

What's that? You'd rather throw in this poor topless girl who's been screaming in fear while being forced forward by you the whole time? For literally no reason other than to be a dick? And then you're going to award me with a Trophy which reads 'I didn't but I wish I did?' Thereby creating some sort of crass rape joke at the expense of this poor girl you just brutally murdered. Because she's topless and teenagers love tits so therefore they'll totally get turned on by that.

... Ugh. Just. Ugh.

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Dreamfall31

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Edited By Dreamfall31

At this rate there will be nothing to look forward to when E3 comes around!!

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kkotd

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Edited By kkotd

O let's face it, it'll be God of War Move, where Kratos has a dance off with all the other Gods as they sort through the 'Pandora's Box Archives' to relive the good ole memories.

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deactivated-63c9a5152a56a

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Echoing a lot of other comments here, I am entirely sick of Kratos and his bullshit. Whiny coward who destroys the world because of his fucking daddy issues, only taking time out to almost-kinda-rape women and/or murder them so he can open a fucking door.

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Ghostiet

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Edited By Ghostiet
@Vitor said:

Need to jam a giant cog in a door? Why not shove one of the infinitely respawning enemies into it?

What's that? You'd rather throw in this poor topless girl who's been screaming in fear while being forced forward by you the whole time? For literally no reason other than to be a dick? And then you're going to award me with a Trophy which reads 'I didn't but I wish I did?' Thereby creating some sort of crass rape joke at the expense of this poor girl you just brutally murdered. Because she's topless and teenagers love tits so therefore they'll totally get turned on by that.

... Ugh. Just. Ugh.

I believe it was meant to illustrate how Kratos is really a designated hero, only "heroic" because the gods are also assholes on an arguably bigger scale. People kept forgetting that a lot.
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Djratchet

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Edited By Djratchet

@TooWalrus said:

@Djratchet said:

Don't know why people are shitting all over this game, even before we see gameplay footage. I for one, am all for more God of War and Kratos.

I think a lot of people aren't down for more God of War with Kratos, that's why they're shitting all over this game. I haven't even gotten around to playing GoW III, and even I feel this way...

Well, no shit. I still think the game has potential, as long as they make it different enough.

Also, God of War 3 is pretty good. I wouldn't be so dismissive until you play at least some of it.

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skrutop

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Edited By skrutop

That Kratos looks like he's being crucified, and that the game's subtitle is "Ascension", makes me think of this Penny Arcade comic. I doubt that Sony would have the stones to have Kratos lay a beating on Christian figures, but it sure would be interesting.

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Javes

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Edited By Javes

Oh, hey, yo, like, this game, is like, totally, a thing, and it, like, exists. I'm no Alex hater, I actually rather like him, but his headlines are a little too predictable.

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CosmicQueso

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Edited By CosmicQueso

square square square square square square -- QTE -- square square TRIANGLE! square square

Yeah, ready for this.

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TinyGallon

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Edited By TinyGallon

The first God of War was cool, but then they made the same game 4 more times.. I hate to be reductive but that series involved more brainless button mashing than anything else I think I've ever played. The Dante's Inferno reboot for example looks far more interesting. (Whoops! I meant Devil May Cry, but I'll leave the typo.. since honestly all this stuff is the same)

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@Vitor said:

@Abyssfull said:

@Shaanyboi said:

Great. Another game for Kratos to run around, act like an angsty teenager, and just kill everything with no purpose or drive beyond "THEY HAVE BETRAYED ME". How...inspired.

I know, right? It was somewhat refreshing to play as someone who walks around with a comically large chip on his shoulder, but 5 games of that ''ARRRRGHDFHDFDGD KILLLL EVERYYYEONNNNE!!'', it gets tiring. In GoW3, Kratos truly succeeded his own level of assholishness... I mean good God (ugh), what a colossal twat. There's a point when an anti-hero stops being an anti-hero and becomes an all around jerk, and GoW3 steam rolled over that point a dozen times over.

Wow, totally thought I was alone in thinking that. The deaths of the Gods in 3 were so gruesome that I actually felt more uncomfortable than empowered when pulling them off and the way they portrayed Kratos, I mean, I totally thought it was some sort of meta-commentary from the devs as to how unlikable he really was.

Unfortunately that gave the new creative director way more credit than was due. I don't usually judge games on the moral message but man, GoW 3 was detestable.


Greek myths can be pretty nasty, and the Gods and demigods are frequently 'douchebags', I thought it fit nicely. 
Kratos was so consumed by rage and hatred that by the end of his trilogy he just became a charicature of himself, I mean he eventually 
 
 
I don't think they were pushing for him to be a hero at all, he was totally consumed.