How far did you get: One completion
When any series decides to go back and make a prequel, it's usually a sign that you ought to be concerned. Very rarely have I ever played a prequel that was on par with the mainline games. I've rarely seen a good prequel in films, for that matter. While God of War: Ascension does feel a bit stunted, I'm not sure it's fair to categorize in this way. It's still a good game in it's own right.
The game takes place before the first God of War, following a blinded Kratos on his search for the truth. It's a really basic story and really doesn't add anything to the lore. The "amnesiac hero tries to find himself" story trope has been done to death, and isn't done differently here. The cast of enemies aren't particularly interesting, either. I don't remember any of their names, and the large monsters they summoned were cool to see, but forgettable.
Combat and visuals is where this game shines. It's slightly disappointing that you spend most of the game attacking with magic enhanced versions of the same weapon, but you do pick up other weapons that can be used temporarily that are pretty useful. Once you level up your magic abilities, you can do some pretty devastating attacks that not only do a lot of damage, but look pretty amazing too. It doesn't really play any differently than the other God of War games, but that's not really bad a thing. The series is known for having very fluid and fun combat, and this game upholds that.
God of War: Ascension is stunning to look at. It doesn't amaze quite the way God of War 3 did, but this can be attributed to having played God of War 3 already. This game looks a lot like God of War 3, and that's a compliment. The kills are gory as ever, and I actually like some of them in this game better than I do in God of War 3. Split heads, guts pouring out of cut open enemies, and mangled body parts make for a disgusting and fun time.
The puzzles in this game were actually really well done. Throughout the game, you receive items that can be used to help you figure out these puzzles, and some of them were quite clever. An amulet you receive can make the backdrops heal or decay, and another item will allow you to create a clone man to hold some things in place. I got frustrated a few times, but that's a sign of a good puzzle.
Though God of War: Ascension could have used some better writing, it's still an epic looking and fun God or War game. If you're into the series, there's no reason you should pass it up, but if you're new to it than I'd recommend starting with the the God of War collection or God or War 3, as they are slightly better than this game.
Rating: 75/100.
