Is God of War: Ascension Worth Playing? A Deep Dive into Kratos‘ Prequel Journey

As an avid God of War fan who has eagerly played through every title, I‘ve experienced first-hand the incredible highs and unfortunate lows of Kratos‘ trek through ancient myths. God of War: Ascension, released on PS3 in 2013, offers a mixed bag of the exemplary combat and visual splendor the series excels at, paired with a derivative narrative lacking the stakes and drama fans expect. Does this prequel journey into Kratos‘ backstory before his vengeful quest against the Greek gods still manage to be a worthwhile experience for devoted franchise fans? In my thorough analysis of Ascension‘s refinements and shortcomings, I believe it deserves a place in the God of War pantheon – but may leave some players wanting more.

Refining God of War‘s Signature Combat to Near Perfection

While Ascension does not radically change the franchise formula, nearly every God of War fan would agree the buttery-smooth combat has always been the star of the show. On this front, Ascension represents the pinnacle of the series‘ addictive, combo-driven carnage. Kratos‘ Blades of Chaos remain his go-to armaments, but the developers expanded his arsenal with new special attacks like the visually stunning Fire of Ares. Ascension also introduced offensive magic abilities and elemental enhancements that create opportunities for varied combos.

Reviewers universally praised the combat tweaks. Ascension scored a 9.1/10 in the gameplay category from GameInformer, who said the changes "elevate Ascension’s combat to new heights." PlayStation Universe highlighted the "huge number of combos" and "incredibly fluid" animations. IGN called it "as brutal and satisfying as the rest of the series". While the overall package has its flaws, Ascension represents peak Kratos carnage.

A Prequel Story Lacking the Original Trilogy‘s Drama

Unfortunately, Ascension‘s narrative fails to match the high bar set by past God of War storylines. Prequels often face an uphill battle in creating tension when we know where the main characters will end up. Yet God of War III, also a prequel, managed to tell an epic origin tale by showcasing a more human Kratos with relatable bonds.

Ascension attempts to provide background on Kratos‘ oath to Ares that fuels his wrath. But the Fury sisters feel underdeveloped as antagonists, and Kratos comes across as the one-note angry demigod we‘ve grown accustomed to. Critics felt the tale lacked the emotional weight carried by the original trilogy. Ascension faced the difficult task of charting territory already explored in better prequels like God of War: Chains of Olympus. While the set pieces astound and Kratos pummels mythical foes aplenty, the stakes feel secondary. As USGamer said in their review, "It’s still Kratos yelling and tearing someone apart, just because he’s angry."

Still a Must-Play for God of War Completionists

So how does Ascension hold up when looking at the God of War saga as a whole? For me, the incremental combat refinements and chance to revisit a PS3-era Kratos make it well worth playing through for devoted fans eager to experience every chapter of the icon‘s story. Yet I can only recommend it to new players after experiencing the dramatic and potent narratives of games like God of War, God of War II, and God of War III.

Ascension satiates the urge for more God of War-style combat, but does not particularly push the franchise forward. It lacks the set piece wow-moments of other entries in the series. The multiplayer mode, while a respectable effort to try something new, never really clicked or felt essential. In summary, playing Ascension ranks as a medium priority for God of War fans, and a low priority for casual players merely looking to try out the best the franchise has to offer. Below I‘ve summarized the pros and cons to provide an at-a-glance assessment before deciding if the journey into Kratos‘ past is worth taking:

God of War: Ascension – Pros

• The most refined and robust combat in the series
• Enjoyable new magic abilities and combos to master
• Stunning visuals and set pieces
• Major backstory on Kratos‘ origins
• Decent 8-10 hour single player campaign

God of War: Ascension – Cons

• Story lacks emotional weight and high stakes
• Relatively derivative enemies and environments
• Multiplayer mode feels tacked-on
• Iterative rather than innovative

So in closing, I believe God of War fans owe it to themselves to play Ascension if they want the complete Kratos experience. The combo game is at its peak, and seeing the origins of the Ghost of Sparta provides meaningful context. Yet its flaws keep it from reaching the heights of best-in-class entries like God of War II and III. For casual fans or those new to the franchise, play the main trilogy first before deciding if you want more. Ascension satiates a very specific craving for more Kratos action, but may leave some hungry for that signature God of War grandeur.