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GameplayEdit

Further information: Common gameplay elements in the God of War series

God of War III is a third-person, single-playervideo game. As with previous installments, the player controls the character Kratos from a fixed-camera perspective in combo-based combat, platforming, and puzzle games.[4]The enemies are an assortment of creatures drawn from Greek mythology, includingcentaurs, harpies, chimeras, cyclopes, satyrs,minotaurs, Sirens, cerberuses, and Gorgons. The player must also climb walls and ladders, jump across chasms, and swing on ropes to proceed through the game. The puzzles included vary in difficulty: some self-contained puzzles only require objects to be placed in a specific position, while some require timing and precision, such as a puzzle with mechanics similar to Guitar Hero.[5] In addition to finding Gorgon Eyes and PhoenixFeathers of the previous games, Minotaur Horns are a new item to be found. Where the eyes and feathers increase the player’s heathand magic meters, the horns increase the items meter, which allows further use of secondary weapons, called “Items”.[6]

CombatEdit

Kratos (left) battles boss character Hercules(right). This is an example of a QTE sequence found in all God of War games; moving the rightanalog stick as shown by the orange arrow will allow him to continue his attack.

Kratos’ main weapon is the Blades of Exile, replacing the Blades of Athena used in previous installments and the opening moments of this game. The weapon is a pair of blades that are attached to chains wrapped around the character’s wrists and forearms, which can be swung in a number of maneuvers. During the game, Kratos acquires new weapons—the Claws of Hades, theNemean Cestus, and the Nemesis Whip—with other combat options. The Nemean Cestus, a pair of gauntlets, and the Nemesis Whip, which is similar to the Blades of Exile, are required to advance in parts of the game; for example, the Nemean Cestus is needed to break through objects composed of onyx.[5]

Unlike in previous games, magical abilities are learned with the acquisition of a new weapon, giving each weapon its own magic attack; for example, the Army of Sparta may only be used with the Blades of Exile. Magic gives Kratos a variety of ways to attack and kill enemies, such as the Claws of Hades’ Soul Summon ability, which conjures souls to attack enemies. Other magic includes the Nemean Cestus’ Nemean Roar and the Nemesis Whip’s Nemesis Rage. In addition to four primary weapons, three secondary ones, known as Items, are acquired:[5] the Bow ofApollo, the Head of Helios, and the Boots ofHermes. All three are required to advance in certain stages of the game; for example, the Head of Helios can be used as a lantern in dark areas and to reveal hidden doorways.[7]

The relics Poseidon‘s Trident, the Golden Fleece, and Icarus‘ Wings acquired in previous games are retained and used to overcome environmental obstacles, with the Golden Fleece also used to deflect enemy attacks. Kratos acquires a new relic, Hades’ Soul, which allows him to safely swim in the River Styx. The Blade of Olympus, a primary weapon in God of War II, is used in this game with the special ability Rage of Sparta for temporary invulnerability and increased attack damage.[5]

New additions to the gameplay include the combat grapple, a ranged-grab maneuver which, depending on the weapon, can pull Kratos towards foes or force them away—necessary at certain points in the game, with Kratos riding harpies across chasms—and a simple grab-with-bare-hands allowing him to use a weak foe as a battering ram. Kratos can now rapidly switch among the four primary weapons in battle, continuing the same attack combination. Other extra features include the addition of ten Godly Possessions, often hidden near defeated foes and providing additional abilities (e.g., unlimited magic) during bonus play.[6] The challenge mode in this game is called the Challenge of Olympus (seven trials) and is unlocked after the game’s completion. This mode requires players to complete a series of specific tasks—for example, killing all enemies without using weapons before time runs out. The player may unlock additional rewards, such as bonus costumes for Kratos, behind-the-scenes videos, and concept art of the characters and environments, by completing the game’s difficulty levels and the challenge mode. A new mode, the Combat Arena, allows players to set difficulty levels and choose opponents to hone playing skills.[8]