Kratos' second outing on the PS3 is finally with us this week, in God of War: Ascension. I think it's fair to say that enthusiasm has been a little more muted for this game than most other God of War games, if only because we're all too aware of the issues that frequently plague prequels. While Ascension definitely suffers through trying to scale things back while at the same time delivering an experience that matches the previous games, it's still another immensely entertaining brawler even if it doesn't feel quite as refined as the previous titles. Yes, there are times that Ascension feels like a game made by a developer trying to ape what has come before, but long-time fans will largely enjoy the latest effort, albeit with reservations...
5 Reasons It's Awesome...
5. It's More Violent Than Ever
It's certainly not hyperbolic to suggest that the latest God of War is without question the most obscenely violent one yet, and as we all know, that's really saying something. Every kill feels that little bit more extreme, whether you're tearing our eyeballs or ripping an enemy's head off; even the occasional dead baddie will have their oozing brain on display for your viewing pleasure. Things are taken to a whole new, disturbing level in Ascension, with much already being made about the game's violence against women (though, to be fair, the Furies are just as formidable an enemy as any male counterpart, so the point is rather moot - the game isn't inherently misogynistic). There's one scene in the game that is sure to evoke plenty of divisive reactions online, as you take a female enemy and stomp her face to pieces before impaling her. The fact that this activates a trophy entitled "Bros Before Hoes" has already caused plenty of online complaints, resulting in Sony deciding to remove the trophy with a patch. Needless to say, as it should be, the violence in this game is unsettlingly brutal but also thoroughly entertaining.