The God of War Returns

Sony’s E3 2016 press conference wowed us last night with gameplay footage of the latest entry in the God of War franchise. The game is a drastic departure from the style and tone of previous entries; its somber mood, new combat mechanics, and aged protagonist look to provide an exciting new direction for the series. With so much to see in the debut footage, we’ve compiled every important detail that you might’ve missed. Click ahead to see what we found.

A Co-Protagonist

There’s a co-protagonist in the new God of War: a young boy undergoing the trials of survival. His mother seems to have passed away recently, which could explain why he inherits her hunting knife early in the trailer. It’s also worth noting that he’s the son of Kratos; yes, the Kratos.

Old Man Kratos

After enduring the tumultuous cycle-of-violence of the original God of War games, it appears Kratos has decided to settle down. He met somebody new, started a family, and has abstained from the rage that got him into trouble countless times before. The former God of War seems to live a simple life with his son now, looking after him and teaching him the ways of survival. According to a post-conference interview with game director Cory Barlog on YouTube Live, it’s confirmed that Kratos is the only playable character.

A Complex Experience System

Similar to its predecessors, the latest God of War features an experience system of some kind. But instead of gaining experience through currency that can be spent on abilities, Kratos seems to acquire experience by performing actions, which enhances a skill or attribute associated with whatever action he performs. For example, Kratos can improve his tracking skills when he hunts. While this is an exciting notion, it’s still unclear how complex the progression system is or how it directly affects his abilities.

It’s worth noting that in the two occasions Kratos gained experience, it was when he helped his son. This could mean that progression might be tied to the growth of Kratos’ son rather than himself.

Anger Management

It’s clear that Kratos still has problems controlling his rage, as you can see from the moment he lectures his son. The top left of the screen shows what we assume to be the game’s rage meter building up alongside the anger he feels. However, there’s a strong indication that Kratos is trying to abstain from his signature rage in this game, loudly exclaiming at first only to calm his voice to lecture his son on what he needs to do.

Trading in the Blades of Chaos for a Magical Axe

Kratos is brandishing a completely new weapon this time around, wielding a magical axe instead of his signature Blades of Chaos. It’s a drastic change, but it’s one that seems to suit him in his old age. The weapon can be thrown at opponents and then called back to Kratos’ hands. In addition, it can be imbued with ice elemental energy to enhance its attack power or deliver a powerful shockwave attack.

The Omega Symbol

The God of War series’ iconic Omega symbol appears on Kratos’ back; as you can see in the image above, it’s the sheath mechanism that holds his axe in place.

Norse Mythology

A few months earlier, a series of rumors indicated that the latest God of War would be based around Norse mythology; it looks like those rumors were accurate. While the new mythology is subtly implied at by Kratos’ Nordic attire, it’s outright confirmed when the troll that appears shouts: “Valhalla,” which is the Norse version of the afterlife.

The Power of the God of War’s Son

It appears Kratos’ son is capable of providing support during battle with his bow and arrow. One instance showed that he could imbue his attacks with electricity to launch a powerful energy projectile. It’s unclear if this was scripted or if it could possibly be one part of a repertoire of moves Kratos’ son can do to support him in battle.

Kratos’ Spartan Rage

Kratos appears to have access to a new rage ability called Spartan Rage. Previous games in the series used the rage ability as a means of giving Kratos enhanced attack power, but whether or not it still serves the same purpose in the new game is unclear. Upon triggering Spartan Rage, it was only used to deliver the final blows against the troll.

No Quick Time Inputs

There were almost no quick-time inputs in combat, which is surprising considering how prominent they were in past games. The only moment where one appears is during the first enemy encounter, where the circle button is highlighted so Kratos can deliver a killing blow.

Open Level Design

The God of War series always had linear level design; however, the latest entry looks like it might be more open than its predecessors. When Kratos made it to an encampment, the words “Dauthamunni Discovered” appear on-screen. This could imply that there’s a larger emphasis on exploration, and that the level design may be more open for you to uncover a variety of locations throughout your adventure. Game director Cory Barlog commented further that the game is open, but not to the degree of being open world.