Exposing the "Worst" God of War Game

Summary

The video argues that God of War: Ascension is the weakest entry in a series full of excellent games. It is not a bad game in absolute terms, but awkward design choices hold it back. The creator still enjoys it and praises its fast, intense combat, while criticizing systems that make Kratos feel weaker or less satisfying to play.

Story

Set about 10 years before the original God of War, Ascension follows Kratos after he is captured by the Furies. The opening appears to show him defeating one of them, but the story then jumps back three weeks, and she remains present for most of the game.

The plot sends Kratos to the Oracle of Delphi and the Lantern of Delos before he returns to Sparta. The creator finds the story serviceable but oddly structured. Its heightened prequel intensity can make Kratos seem even more extreme than he is in the first game. The story earns a 7/10.

A brief encounter with a chained man who teleports away seems as though it should matter to the plot. However, the character is connected to the multiplayer mode and never appears again in the main story.

Gameplay and criticisms

• Controls: The layout differs from the series norm: Circle is a kick rather than a grab, and the grab is assigned to the right bumper. The ranged grab can be useful, especially for its invulnerability frames, but the altered controls feel unnatural to the creator.
• Pickup weapons: Kratos can pick up weapons such as swords, spears, shields, and slings, but the creator finds them inferior to the Blades of Chaos. The spear, for example, has limited uses. Their tip is to use a pickup weapon for an opening hit, then discard it and return to the Blades.
• Rage Meter: This is the creator’s main complaint. The meter fills as Kratos attacks and drains when he takes damage or stops attacking. Many upgraded combos only work while it is full, making the system feel like a penalty disguised as a reward. Players who struggle to maintain a streak lose access to stronger attacks, while those who are already doing well get even more power. The creator also considers the special Rage attack rarely worth using.
• Elemental powers: These add fire, ice, lightning, or a purple effect to the blades. The creator favors the Fire of Ares, which is available early and has a useful magical ability with a large area of effect and invulnerability frames. The other powers require substantial upgrades before their abilities become available.
• Titan-mode strategy: Red orbs are scarce, so the creator recommends prioritizing blade damage and combos rather than investing heavily in elemental powers. Despite thoroughly collecting chests and upgrade items, they did not fully upgrade the blades until around Chapter 23 of 30.
• Recommended upgrades: The creator particularly recommends the Amulet of Uroboros and the Oath Stone of Orkos. Both provide useful utility and damage with cooldowns, and the Oath Stone can summon an ally to fight alongside Kratos.

Other observations

The Amulet of Uroboros can repair or break objects during exploration, though the creator finds it odd that so many structures seem to require it to reach the right state. They also encountered minor bugs, including invisible obstacles and enemies disappearing off-screen.

According to the video, Ascension has no standard PS4 or PS5 port. Playing through PlayStation Plus requires streaming, which can be affected by internet or server problems.

The video also mocks the multiplayer’s progression system, paid XP boosts and outfits, and its competitive and horde-style modes. The costumes are criticized for lacking variety—and, most importantly to the creator, for not turning Kratos into a fish.

Featured creator/source: 22Luke.