God of War: Ghost of Sparta

About the Game

Even though Kratos has attained the status of god of war, he continues to be plagued by terrifying visions. One of these visions shows his mother, Callisto, being held captive in Atlantis, which is the dominion of Poseidon, the god of the sea. Kratos embarks on a new quest despite Athena’s recommendation that he disregard it to learn more about his history and, ultimately, free his long-lost brother Deimos from the grasp of Thanatos, the god of death.

The gameplay of the second title for the PSP is very similar to that of its predecessor, with only a few additional game components being included. To complete this mission, Kratos uses his Blades of Athena, which he may now temporarily enhance with a new spell called Thera’s Bane, resulting in more powerful assaults. In addition to that, there are a few new magical items, as well as a new secondary weapon. In addition to its narrative campaign, Ghost of Sparta has a mode called “Temple of Zeus.” This is a location where players can spend orbs obtained through the Battle Arena to purchase various artwork and other perks.

Plot

A series of flashbacks reveals that the oracle had foretold that the downfall of Olympus would come not from the revenge of the Titans, who had been imprisoned after the Great War, but from a mortal — a marked warrior. The Olympians Zeus and Ares believed this warrior to be Deimos, Kratos’ brother, due to his strange birthmarks. Ares interrupted the childhood training of Kratos and Deimos, with Athena present, and abducted Deimos. Kratos attempted to stop Ares but was violently thrown aside and scarred across his right eye by the Olympian god. Athena prevented Ares from killing Kratos, knowing his eventual destiny. Deimos was taken to the Domain of Death, where he was imprisoned and tortured by Thanatos. In honor of his brother, Kratos marked himself with a red tattoo identical to Deimos’ birthmark. Years later, when the game begins, Kratos has taken Ares’ place as the new God of War on Mount Olympus. Still haunted by visions of his mortal past, Kratos decides — against Athena’s advice — to explore his past and travels to the Temple of Poseidon within the city of Atlantis. The sea monster Scylla attacks and destroys Kratos’ ship off the coast of Atlantis, though the Spartan manages to drive the beast away. After several battles throughout the city, Kratos eventually kills Scylla. Upon reaching the temple, Kratos finds his mother, Callisto, who attempts to reveal the identity of his father. However, when Callisto suddenly transforms into a hideous beast, Kratos is forced to fight her. Before dying, Callisto thanks him and begs him to seek out Deimos in Sparta. Before departing, Kratos encounters and frees the imprisoned Titan Thera, causing the eruption of the Methana Volcano and the destruction of Atlantis. During his escape, he once again encounters the mysterious gravedigger, who warns him about the consequences of alienating the gods. Searching for clues about his brother Deimos, Kratos decides to return to his homeland of Sparta. While traveling through the Aronian Pass, he encounters the goddess Erinys, daughter of Thanatos, who has been hunting him since the destruction of Atlantis. After a brutal battle, Kratos kills her and reaches Sparta, where he witnesses a group of Spartans tearing down a statue of Ares in order to replace it with one of Kratos himself. He then pursues a dissenter loyal to Ares into the Spartan Jails, where the man attempts to kill Kratos by releasing the Piraeus Lion. After defeating both enemies, Kratos journeys to the Temple of Ares, where he encounters the spirit of his younger self and learns that he must return to the now sunken Atlantis and locate the Domain of Death. Before leaving, a loyal Spartan gives him his former weapons — the Arms of Sparta — which he wielded during his days as a captain of the Spartan army. Upon returning to the submerged Atlantis, Kratos is met with Poseidon’s fury for destroying his beloved city. Entering the Domain of Death, Kratos frees his imprisoned brother. Furious that Kratos failed to rescue him sooner and declaring that he will never forgive him, Deimos attacks and overpowers Kratos. However, Thanatos — seeking revenge for Erinys’ death — intervenes and takes the protesting Deimos to Suicide Bluffs, the site of Kratos’ attempted suicide. There, Kratos saves Deimos from falling to his death. A grateful Deimos then joins his brother in battling Thanatos with the Arms of Sparta. At this moment, Thanatos realizes that Ares chose the wrong Spartan: it was Kratos who should have been taken, the true “mark” being his red tattoo and the white ashes of his wife and child bound to his skin. Nevertheless, Thanatos kills Deimos, sending Kratos into an uncontrollable rage fueled by grief. Unleashing his true power, Kratos finally destroys Thanatos. Declaring that his brother is finally free, Kratos buries Deimos and leaves the Arms of Sparta as a grave marker, while the gravedigger remarks that Kratos has become “Death… the Destroyer of Worlds.” Athena appears, begging for forgiveness and offering Kratos full godhood for keeping the truth hidden, but Kratos ignores her and returns to Olympus, promising that “the gods will pay for this.” As Kratos walks away, Athena looks at him sorrowfully and whispers unheard, “Forgive me… brother.” In a post-credits scene, the gravedigger places Callisto in a grave beside Deimos, with a third empty grave nearby, and states, “Now… only one remains.” The final scene shows a brooding Kratos seated upon his throne on Mount Olympus, wearing his Olympian armor.

God of War: Ghost of Sparta Trailer