What is "god of war?

God of War is a highly acclaimed action-adventure video game franchise created by David Jaffe at Sony's Santa Monica Studio. The series is loosely based on Greek mythology, and later, Norse mythology.

  • Premise: The early games center on Kratos, a Spartan warrior tricked into killing his family by Ares, the Greek God of War. His quest for revenge against the gods of Olympus forms the core narrative. Later games transition to Norse mythology, where Kratos, now a father to Atreus, navigates the realms of Norse gods and monsters while grappling with his past.

  • Characters: Key characters include Kratos, the protagonist; Atreus, Kratos's son; and a plethora of Greek and Norse gods and monsters such as Zeus, Odin, Thor, and Baldur.

  • Gameplay: The gameplay is characterized by fast-paced combat, intricate puzzles, and exploration. The earlier games feature a fixed camera perspective, while the later Norse saga games (God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök) adopt an over-the-shoulder, third-person perspective.

  • Setting: The setting varies from the vibrant world of ancient Greece in the original series to the diverse realms of Norse mythology, including Midgard, Alfheim, and Helheim, in the more recent installments.

  • Themes: The franchise explores themes of revenge, redemption, fatherhood, and the cyclical nature of violence. The Norse games, in particular, focus on the complexities of parent-child relationships and the burdens of the past.