8 Iconic Moments From Each Era Of Games

God of War 2018 was a masterful reinvention of the acclaimed action franchise that stayed true to its penchant for brutal violence while offering up deeper gameplay and a more nuanced presentation of protagonist Kratos.

But it delivered one of all-time great slivers of gaming fan service when, later on, Kratos returns to his homestead and retrieves his signature weapons, The Blades of Chaos, which have been curiously absent up to this point.

Kratos wields the Leviathan Axe for most of the game, but when he needs to visit Helheim to save his son Atreus, he also requires a weapon with a more fiery kick - quite literally.

The moment where Kratos retrieves the Blades from a hiding place and Bear McCreary's sublimely haunting score kicks in, it's pure "this is why I play video games" magic.

Naturally, you're swiftly presented with an opportunity to try the Blades out on some mooks, all while popping the aptly named trophy, "Hello, Old Friend."

Though fan service can often feel desperate and pandering, this was a perfectly executed nod back towards the franchise's past that felt entirely earned and was placed at just the right moment in the game.