10 Ways God Of War 4 Is Already The Best In Years

9. Ditching The Bladed Chains Revolutionises The Action

As gratifying as it was wielding Kratos’s double-chained blades in previous instalments, I couldn’t help but feel like I was going through the motions come God of War: Ascension’s climax. Those chains became bonds after three core adventures and multiple prequels, and are just one reason why the series’ blood-soaked combat was beginning to feel stale.

With this in mind, it comes as a relief to hear that Kratos has discarded his signature weapon in favour of a magical axe, and Sony Santa Monica has revamped the action from the ground up.

The new God of War features a more sophisticated battle system, seamlessly blending armed combat with hand-to-hand scraps, as seen in the trailer.

Kratos’s primary weapon, the aforementioned mythical axe, can be infused with elemental power and hurled at foes, returning to the Spartan’s hand Jedi-style afterwards - although he’s more than capable of ripping encroaching bad guys a new one with his bare hands in the interim.

Adding further variety to the combat, the demigod’s offspring will also be an active participant on the battlefield, with players able to summon him into the fray via a dedicated ‘son button’.

Although players will merely assume passive control of the boy, his inclusion will place an additional strategic option at our fingertips, adding an extra layer to the core hack and slash gameplay.