<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
is	O
an	O
action-adventure	O
hack	B-Application
and	I-Application
slash	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
by	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
Studio	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Sony	O
Computer	O
Entertainment	O
(	O
SCE	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
first	O
released	O
on	O
March	O
12	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
(	O
PS3	B-Operating_System
)	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
seventh	O
installment	O
in	O
the	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
series	O
and	O
a	O
prequel	B-Application
to	O
the	O
entire	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
controls	O
the	O
protagonist	O
,	O
Kratos	O
,	O
the	O
former	O
servant	O
of	O
the	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
Ares	B-Operating_System
,	O
who	O
tricked	O
Kratos	O
into	O
killing	O
his	O
wife	O
and	O
daughter	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
response	O
to	O
this	O
tragedy	O
,	O
Kratos	O
renounced	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
,	O
breaking	O
his	O
blood	O
oath	O
to	O
the	O
god	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Helped	O
by	O
the	O
oath	O
keeper	O
,	O
Orkos	O
,	O
Kratos	O
escapes	O
his	O
imprisonment	O
and	O
confronts	O
the	O
Furies	O
,	O
aiming	O
to	O
free	O
himself	O
of	O
his	O
bond	O
to	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Four	O
magical	B-Application
attacks	O
and	O
a	O
power-enhancing	O
ability	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
as	O
alternative	O
combat	O
options	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
game	O
features	O
puzzles	O
and	O
platforming	O
elements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
also	O
features	O
a	O
redesigned	O
combat	O
system	O
,	O
gameplay	O
mechanics	O
not	O
available	O
in	O
previous	O
installments	O
,	O
and	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Notably	O
,	O
Ascension	O
is	O
the	O
only	O
installment	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
to	O
include	O
multiplayer	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
online-only	B-Application
and	O
features	O
modes	O
for	O
both	O
competitive	O
and	O
cooperative	O
play	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
From	O
October	O
2012	O
to	O
March	O
2013	O
,	O
a	O
social	O
experience	O
was	O
available	O
online	O
in	O
the	O
form	O
of	O
a	O
graphic	O
novel	O
titled	O
Rise	O
of	O
the	O
Warrior	O
,	O
a	O
prequel	B-Application
story	O
that	O
tied	O
into	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
single-player	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
modes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ascension	O
was	O
the	O
last	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
(	O
production-wise	O
;	O
chronologically	O
it	O
was	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
)	O
to	O
be	O
based	O
on	O
Greek	O
mythology	O
and	O
also	O
the	O
last	O
one	O
to	O
feature	O
Terrence	O
C	O
.	O
Carson	O
as	O
the	O
voice	O
of	O
Kratos	O
as	O
the	O
franchise	O
shifted	O
to	O
Norse	O
mythology	O
with	O
2018	O
's	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
and	O
Christopher	O
Judge	O
took	O
over	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
Kratos	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
received	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
from	O
critics	O
,	O
who	O
praised	O
its	O
fundamental	O
gameplay	O
and	O
spectacle	O
as	O
true	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
although	O
the	O
story	O
was	O
deemed	O
to	O
be	O
less	O
compelling	O
than	O
in	O
previous	O
installments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
both	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	O
Ascensions	O
single-player	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
elements	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
primarily	O
a	O
third-person	O
video	O
game	O
viewed	O
from	O
a	O
fixed	O
camera	O
perspective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
enemies	O
are	O
an	O
assortment	O
of	O
creatures	O
,	O
most	O
of	O
whom	O
are	O
drawn	O
from	O
Greek	O
mythology	O
,	O
including	O
cyclopes	O
,	O
cerberuses	O
,	O
empusas	O
,	O
Sirens	O
,	O
Gorgons	B-Device
,	O
satyrs	O
,	O
harpies	O
,	O
and	O
centaurs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
mechanic	O
introduced	O
is	O
that	O
Kratos	O
can	O
tether	B-Application
enemies	O
,	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
grappling	O
;	O
he	O
can	O
hold	O
an	O
enemy	O
in	O
place	O
with	O
one	O
blade	O
while	O
he	O
attacks	O
other	O
enemies	O
with	O
the	O
other	O
blade	O
,	O
and	O
he	O
can	O
throw	O
the	O
tethered	O
enemy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Four	O
magical	B-Application
disciplines	O
are	O
acquired	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
Fire	O
of	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
,	O
the	O
Ice	O
of	O
Poseidon	B-Application
,	O
the	O
Lightning	O
of	O
Zeus	B-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
Soul	O
of	O
Hades	B-Language
,	O
which	O
,	O
depending	O
on	O
the	O
magic	O
equipped	O
,	O
imbues	O
the	O
Blades	O
of	O
Chaos	O
with	O
that	O
elemental	O
property	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
the	O
Soul	O
of	O
Hades	B-Language
imbues	O
the	O
Blades	O
with	O
purple	O
flames	O
and	O
can	O
unleash	O
souls	O
of	O
the	O
Underworld	O
to	O
briefly	O
attack	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Ice	O
of	O
Poseidon	B-Application
also	O
enables	O
Kratos	O
to	O
breathe	O
underwater	O
,	O
a	O
necessary	O
ability	O
as	O
substantial	O
time	O
is	O
spent	O
there	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Rage	O
ability	O
is	O
also	O
affected	O
by	O
the	O
magic	O
equipped	O
,	O
allowing	O
Kratos	O
to	O
use	O
different	O
Rage	O
attacks	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
lightning-based	O
Rage	O
of	O
Zeus	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
is	O
the	O
only	O
installment	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
to	O
offer	O
a	O
multiplayer	O
feature	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
online-only	B-Application
,	O
and	O
up	O
to	O
eight	O
players	O
can	O
take	O
part	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
takes	O
control	O
of	O
the	O
warrior	O
and	O
aligns	O
with	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
four	O
deities	O
:	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
,	O
Hades	B-Language
,	O
Zeus	B-Application
,	O
or	O
Poseidon	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
who	O
ally	O
with	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
are	O
brute	O
force	O
experts	O
with	O
an	O
up-close	O
focus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
who	O
ally	O
with	O
Zeus	B-Application
are	O
magical	B-Application
experts	O
with	O
a	O
focus	O
on	O
space	O
control	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
who	O
ally	O
with	O
Poseidon	B-Application
are	O
supports	O
with	O
a	O
focus	O
on	O
team	O
synergy	O
and	O
self-sustenance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
who	O
ally	O
with	O
Hades	B-Language
are	O
versatile	O
,	O
unlike	O
the	O
other	O
three	O
,	O
featuring	O
other	O
unique	O
mechanics	O
such	O
as	O
lifesteal	O
,	O
stealth	O
,	O
and	O
curses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
five	O
multiplayer	O
modes	O
:	O
Team	O
Favor	O
of	O
the	O
Gods	O
,	O
Match	O
of	O
Champions	O
,	O
Trial	O
of	O
the	O
Gods	O
,	O
Capture	B-Application
the	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Bout	O
of	O
Honor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Capture	B-Application
the	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
,	O
two	O
teams	O
of	O
four	O
players	O
battle	O
to	O
capture	O
the	O
opposing	O
team	O
's	O
flag	O
and	O
return	O
it	O
to	O
their	O
base	O
until	O
a	O
target	O
number	O
of	O
flags	O
have	O
been	O
obtained	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
but	O
two	O
of	O
the	O
fifteen	O
multiplayer	O
maps	O
are	O
based	O
on	O
locations	O
explored	O
throughout	O
the	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
series	O
,	O
with	O
eight	O
of	O
those	O
based	O
on	O
locations	O
explored	O
in	O
Ascension	O
;	O
for	O
example	O
,	O
Desert	O
of	O
Lost	O
Souls	O
is	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
Bog	O
of	O
the	O
Forgotten	O
is	O
from	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Labyrinth	O
of	O
Daedalus	O
,	O
Forum	O
of	O
Hercules	B-Device
,	O
and	O
Chamber	O
of	O
the	O
Flame	O
are	O
from	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
previous	O
games	O
,	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
is	O
set	O
in	O
an	O
alternate	O
version	O
of	O
ancient	O
Greece	O
populated	O
by	O
the	O
Olympian	O
gods	O
,	O
Titans	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
beings	O
from	O
Greek	O
mythology	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
events	O
are	O
set	O
six	O
months	O
after	O
Kratos	O
killed	O
his	O
family	O
,	O
and	O
ten	O
years	O
before	O
the	O
original	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
(	O
2005	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
next	O
game	O
chronologically	O
would	O
be	O
Chains	O
of	O
Olympus	O
(	O
2008	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
takes	O
place	O
some	O
time	O
between	O
Ascension	O
and	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
(	O
2005	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
locations	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
Prison	O
of	O
the	O
Damned	O
and	O
some	O
real-world	O
locations	O
—	O
including	O
the	O
village	O
Kirra	O
,	O
the	O
city	O
Delphi	B-Language
,	O
and	O
the	O
island	O
Delos	O
—	O
are	O
explored	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Delphi	B-Language
is	O
located	O
in	O
the	O
snowy	O
mountains	O
north	O
of	O
Kirra	O
and	O
features	O
the	O
Tower	O
of	O
Delphi	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
activating	O
three	O
massive	O
,	O
mechanical	O
pythons	O
,	O
the	O
Tower	O
allows	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
Temple	O
of	O
Delphi	B-Language
,	O
home	O
of	O
the	O
Oracle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Delos	O
features	O
a	O
Titan-sized	O
statue	O
of	O
Apollo	B-Operating_System
,	O
constructed	O
by	O
the	O
inventor	O
Archimedes	B-Device
to	O
honor	O
the	O
god	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
protagonist	O
is	O
Kratos	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Terrence	O
C	O
.	O
Carson	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
Spartan	O
warrior	O
who	O
broke	O
his	O
blood	O
oath	O
to	O
the	O
god	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
after	O
being	O
tricked	O
into	O
killing	O
his	O
family	O
by	O
his	O
former	O
master	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
characters	O
include	O
the	O
oath	O
keeper	O
Orkos	O
(	O
Troy	O
Baker	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
son	O
of	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
and	O
Alecto	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
disowned	O
by	O
the	O
god	O
as	O
he	O
was	O
not	O
the	O
perfect	O
warrior	O
that	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
sought	O
;	O
Aletheia	B-Language
(	O
Adrienne	O
Barbeau	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
Oracle	O
of	O
Delphi	B-Language
with	O
prophetic	O
sight	O
;	O
the	O
corrupted	O
Prophet	O
Castor	O
(	O
David	O
W	O
.	O
Collins	O
)	O
and	O
his	O
conjoined	O
twin	O
Pollux	O
(	O
Brad	O
Grusnick	O
)	O
,	O
who	O
usurped	O
the	O
oracle	O
,	O
deciding	O
who	O
can	O
consult	O
her	O
;	O
and	O
the	O
Scribe	O
of	O
Hecatonchires	O
(	O
Robin	O
Atkin	O
Downes	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
mortal	O
imprisoned	O
by	O
the	O
Furies	O
who	O
has	O
been	O
keeping	O
records	O
to	O
maintain	O
his	O
sanity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
,	O
Zeus	B-Application
(	O
Corey	O
Burton	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
King	O
of	O
the	O
Olympian	O
Gods	O
,	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
(	O
Steven	O
Blum	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
Poseidon	B-Application
(	O
Gideon	O
Emery	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
God	O
of	O
the	O
Sea	O
,	O
and	O
Hades	B-Language
(	O
Fred	O
Tatasciore	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
God	O
of	O
the	O
Underworld	O
,	O
appear	O
as	O
statues	O
at	O
the	O
Rotunda	O
of	O
Olympus	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
selects	O
one	O
to	O
align	O
to	O
,	O
after	O
which	O
the	O
chosen	O
god	O
will	O
communicate	O
with	O
the	O
player	O
during	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castor	O
and	O
Pollux	O
,	O
the	O
demigod	O
Hercules	B-Device
,	O
the	O
Titan	O
cyclops	O
Polyphemus	O
,	O
the	O
Gorgon	B-Device
Stheno	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
giant	O
scorpion	O
Skorpius	O
also	O
appear	O
in	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
as	O
bosses	O
and/or	O
environmental	O
obstacles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
begins	O
with	O
Kratos	O
,	O
who	O
is	O
imprisoned	O
,	O
chained	O
,	O
and	O
tormented	O
by	O
the	O
Furies	O
for	O
breaking	O
his	O
blood	O
oath	O
to	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Chasing	O
her	O
through	O
the	O
prison	O
,	O
he	O
discovers	O
that	O
the	O
prison	O
itself	O
is	O
Aegaeon	O
the	O
Hecatonchires	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
traitor	O
of	O
the	O
Furies	O
who	O
had	O
broken	O
a	O
blood	O
oath	O
to	O
Zeus	B-Application
;	O
he	O
was	O
turned	O
into	O
the	O
Prison	O
of	O
the	O
Damned	O
as	O
punishment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Confronted	O
by	O
Orkos	O
in	O
the	O
Village	O
of	O
Kirra	O
,	O
Kratos	O
is	O
advised	O
that	O
the	O
visions	O
he	O
has	O
been	O
experiencing	O
are	O
mind	O
tricks	O
created	O
by	O
the	O
Furies	O
,	O
and	O
instructs	O
him	O
to	O
find	O
the	O
Oracle	O
of	O
Delphi	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
arrival	O
at	O
the	O
Temple	O
of	O
Delphi	B-Language
,	O
he	O
overcomes	O
Castor	O
and	O
Pollux	O
,	O
who	O
tried	O
to	O
kill	O
the	O
Oracle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
oath	O
keeper	O
reveals	O
that	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
wanted	O
a	O
perfect	O
warrior	O
to	O
help	O
him	O
overthrow	O
Zeus	B-Application
,	O
so	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
helped	O
Kratos	O
against	O
the	O
barbarians	O
to	O
make	O
him	O
into	O
a	O
perfect	O
warrior	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Orkos	O
became	O
the	O
oath	O
keeper	O
and	O
did	O
not	O
question	O
the	O
Furies	O
until	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
tricked	O
Kratos	O
into	O
killing	O
his	O
own	O
family	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
week	O
later	O
,	O
Kratos	O
arrives	O
at	O
the	O
island	O
of	O
Delos	O
and	O
explores	O
the	O
ruined	O
statue	O
of	O
Apollo	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Orkos	O
gives	O
Kratos	O
his	O
Oath	O
Stone	O
and	O
reveals	O
that	O
he	O
and	O
Aletheia	B-Language
tried	O
to	O
warn	O
Zeus	B-Application
of	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
 '	O
and	O
the	O
Furies	O
 '	O
plan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
completing	O
the	O
Trials	O
of	O
Archimedes	B-Device
,	O
Kratos	O
is	O
ambushed	O
and	O
captured	O
by	O
the	O
Furies	O
,	O
who	O
confiscate	O
all	O
his	O
items	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
encounters	O
the	O
Scribe	O
of	O
Hecatonchires	O
,	O
who	O
reveals	O
that	O
the	O
Furies	O
were	O
originally	O
fair	O
in	O
their	O
punishment	O
,	O
but	O
devolved	O
into	O
ruthless	O
beings	O
because	O
of	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
tries	O
to	O
convince	O
Kratos	O
he	O
can	O
live	O
within	O
this	O
illusion	O
if	O
he	O
rejoins	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
,	O
but	O
he	O
refuses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
praises	O
Kratos	O
 '	O
victory	O
over	O
the	O
Furies	O
,	O
but	O
reveals	O
that	O
Kratos	O
will	O
not	O
be	O
free	O
from	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
 '	O
bond	O
unless	O
he	O
kills	O
Orkos	O
,	O
whom	O
the	O
Furies	O
made	O
Kratos	O
 '	O
oath	O
keeper	O
again	O
before	O
Kratos	O
killed	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
begs	O
Kratos	O
to	O
give	O
him	O
an	O
honorable	O
death	O
,	O
which	O
will	O
free	O
them	O
both	O
from	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2010	O
,	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
's	O
studio	O
director	O
John	O
Hight	O
told	O
video-gaming	O
blog	O
Joystiq	O
that	O
"	O
while	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
will	O
conclude	O
the	O
trilogy	O
,	O
it	O
wo	O
n't	O
spell	B-Application
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
franchise	O
"	O
and	O
said	O
"	O
We	O
're	O
going	O
to	O
be	O
really	O
careful	O
about	O
what	O
we	O
do	O
next.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
April	O
12	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
Sony	O
released	O
a	O
teaser	O
image	O
on	O
its	O
official	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Facebook	B-Application
page	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
followed	O
by	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
announcement	O
on	O
April	O
19	O
,	O
though	O
Amazon	B-Application
leaked	O
the	O
announcement	O
the	O
day	O
before	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
trailer	O
announced	O
Todd	O
Papy	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
worked	O
as	O
a	O
designer	O
on	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
and	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
II	I-Application
and	O
as	O
Design	O
Director	O
on	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
as	O
Game	O
Director	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
David	O
Jaffe	O
confirmed	O
that	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
Game	O
Director	O
Stig	O
Asmussen	O
did	O
not	O
return	O
to	O
direct	O
this	O
game	O
because	O
he	O
was	O
working	O
on	O
another	O
project	O
at	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
announcement	O
trailer	O
was	O
narrated	O
by	O
Linda	O
Hunt	O
;	O
it	O
refers	O
to	O
a	O
time	O
before	O
Kratos	O
became	O
the	O
Ghost	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sparta	I-Application
and	O
was	O
not	O
"	O
bound	O
in	O
blood	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
announcement	O
officially	O
confirmed	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
title	O
would	O
be	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Papy	O
said	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
not	O
titled	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
IV	I-Application
to	O
avoid	O
confusion	O
because	O
it	O
is	O
a	O
prequel	B-Application
,	O
rather	O
than	O
a	O
sequel	O
,	O
to	O
the	O
trilogy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
features	O
a	O
retooled	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
engine	O
,	O
enabling	O
online	O
multiplayer	O
battles	O
for	O
up	O
to	O
eight	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Multiplayer	O
had	O
been	O
discussed	O
for	O
past	O
games	O
,	O
but	O
had	O
never	O
been	O
implemented	O
as	O
previous	O
game	O
directors	O
felt	O
that	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
was	O
a	O
single-player-only	O
experience	O
;	O
in	O
Chains	O
of	O
Olympuss	O
case	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
cut	O
due	O
to	O
time	O
constraints	O
during	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
navigation	O
code	O
had	O
to	O
be	O
changed	O
for	O
online	B-Application
play	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
initially	O
designed	O
for	O
co-op	O
;	O
the	O
team	O
eventually	O
decided	O
this	O
was	O
unsatisfactory	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
changed	O
approach	O
cost	O
significant	O
development	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Local	O
co-op	O
was	O
also	O
explored	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
team	O
decided	O
to	O
keep	O
multiplayer	O
online-only	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
David	O
Jaffe	O
,	O
creator	O
and	O
Game	O
Director	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
spoke	O
with	O
NowGamer	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
first	O
press	O
announcement	O
in	O
late	O
April	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
said	O
that	O
if	O
he	O
had	O
worked	O
on	O
Ascension	O
,	O
he	O
would	O
have	O
incorporated	O
three	O
specific	O
elements	O
:	O
different	O
myths	O
,	O
a	O
co-star	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
look	O
to	O
the	O
Zelda	B-Application
structure	O
as	O
a	O
jumping	O
off	O
point	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
same	O
day	O
,	O
Papy	O
confirmed	O
on	O
PlayStation.Blog	O
that	O
a	O
collector	O
's	O
edition	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
be	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
said	O
Ascension	O
was	O
being	O
developed	O
to	O
feature	O
stereoscopic	B-Algorithm
3D	I-Algorithm
,	O
but	O
it	O
was	O
ultimately	O
cut	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
2012	O
Penny	O
Arcade	O
Expo	O
(	O
PAX	O
)	O
,	O
Game	O
Director	O
Todd	O
Papy	O
,	O
Lead	O
Game	O
Designer	O
Mark	O
Simon	O
,	O
Principal	O
Character	O
Artist	O
Patrick	O
Murphy	O
,	O
and	O
writer	O
of	O
the	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
series	O
Marianne	O
Krawczyk	O
,	O
hosted	O
the	O
first	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
panel	O
,	O
discussing	O
the	O
origins	O
of	O
Ascension	O
,	O
and	O
provided	O
an	O
overview	O
of	O
the	O
evolution	O
of	O
Kratos	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Papy	O
said	O
he	O
had	O
considered	O
using	O
the	O
goddess	O
Artemis	B-Operating_System
as	O
a	O
playable	O
female	O
character	O
,	O
which	O
would	O
have	O
offered	O
the	O
player	O
alternative	O
combat	O
options	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Artemis	B-Operating_System
would	O
have	O
been	O
depicted	O
as	O
half-human	O
and	O
half-feline	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
head	O
and	O
torso	O
of	O
a	O
woman	O
and	O
the	O
legs	O
of	O
a	O
lioness	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Artemis	B-Operating_System
was	O
ultimately	O
cut	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
Papy	O
said	O
he	O
would	O
like	O
to	O
explore	O
the	O
possibility	O
of	O
using	O
other	O
gods	O
in	O
the	O
future	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
developmental	O
transition	O
from	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
to	O
Ascension	O
,	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
graphics	O
engineers	O
,	O
Cedric	O
Perthuis	O
,	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
limits	O
of	O
the	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
engine	O
restricted	O
artist	O
creativity	O
,	O
so	O
they	O
"	O
tried	O
to	O
remove	O
or	O
push	O
those	O
limits	O
as	O
far	O
as	O
possible	O
without	O
losing	O
any	O
performance.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Ascension	O
was	O
not	O
as	O
dramatic	O
an	O
advance	O
in	O
graphics	O
over	O
its	O
predecessor	O
as	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
had	O
been	O
:	O
"	O
From	O
a	O
graphics	O
'	O
technical	O
 '	O
perspective	O
,	O
to	O
a	O
large	O
degree	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
was	O
more	O
refinement	O
on	O
the	O
graphics	O
front	O
"	O
said	O
another	O
graphics	O
engineer	O
,	O
Ben	O
Diamand	O
,	O
who	O
focused	O
on	O
optimization	O
during	O
Ascensions	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Particle	O
effects	O
were	O
also	O
greatly	O
improved	O
from	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	O
"	O
the	O
idea	O
was	O
to	O
give	O
artists	O
more	O
control	O
to	O
achieve	O
better	O
results	O
with	O
less	O
particles	O
"	O
said	O
Perthuis	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Terrence	O
C	O
.	O
Carson	O
,	O
Linda	O
Hunt	O
,	O
Corey	O
Burton	O
,	O
Gideon	O
Emery	O
,	O
Steven	O
Blum	O
,	O
and	O
Kevin	O
Sorbo	O
reprised	O
their	O
roles	O
as	O
Kratos	O
,	O
the	O
narrator	O
,	O
Zeus	B-Application
,	O
Poseidon	B-Application
,	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Hercules	B-Device
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jennifer	O
Hale	O
,	O
who	O
voiced	O
two	O
characters	O
in	O
the	O
previous	B-Application
installment	I-Application
,	O
voiced	O
the	O
Fury	O
Alecto	O
and	O
Kratos	O
 '	O
wife	O
,	O
Lysandra	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
previously	O
voiced	O
by	O
Gwendoline	O
Yeo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Debi	O
Mae	O
West	O
,	O
Adrienne	O
Barbeau	O
,	O
and	O
Crispin	O
Freeman	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
each	O
done	O
voice	O
work	O
on	O
previous	O
installments	O
,	O
voiced	O
the	O
characters	O
Tisiphone	O
,	O
Aletheia	B-Language
,	O
and	O
the	O
King	O
of	O
Sparta	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Series	O
veteran	O
Fred	O
Tatasciore	O
assumed	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
Hades	B-Language
,	O
who	O
was	O
previously	O
voiced	O
by	O
Clancy	O
Brown	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
previous	O
games	O
in	O
which	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
and	O
voice	O
recording	O
were	O
done	O
separately	O
,	O
Ascension	O
used	O
"	O
voice-over	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
"	O
;	O
voice	O
recording	O
and	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
were	O
done	O
at	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
,	O
which	O
allowed	O
the	O
voice	O
actors	O
to	O
act	O
out	O
their	O
characters	O
 '	O
scenes	O
together	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
voice-over	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
was	O
done	O
at	O
House	O
of	O
Moves	O
in	O
Culver	O
City	O
,	O
California	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
beta	O
became	O
available	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Plus	O
subscribers	O
on	O
January	O
8	O
,	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
19	O
,	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
allowed	O
all	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
users	O
in	O
North	O
and	O
South	O
America	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
beta	O
via	O
a	O
redeemable	O
voucher	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
beta	O
,	O
players	O
could	O
choose	O
to	O
align	O
themselves	O
with	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
or	O
Zeus	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
featured	O
the	O
eight-player	O
Desert	O
of	O
Lost	O
Souls	O
map	O
and	O
the	O
four-player	O
Forum	O
of	O
Hercules	B-Device
map	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
beta	O
included	O
the	O
Desert	O
of	O
Lost	O
Souls	O
map	O
in	O
the	O
modes	O
Team	O
Favor	O
of	O
the	O
Gods	O
and	O
Capture	B-Application
the	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
Forum	O
of	O
Hercules	B-Device
map	O
in	O
the	O
mode	O
Favor	O
of	O
the	O
Gods	O
,	O
renamed	O
Match	O
of	O
Champions	O
in	O
final	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
(	O
Original	O
Soundtrack	O
)	O
was	O
composed	O
by	O
Tyler	O
Bates	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
iTunes	B-Operating_System
on	O
March	O
5	O
,	O
2013	O
by	O
SCE	O
and	O
La-La	O
Land	O
Records	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
included	O
as	O
DLC	B-Protocol
in	O
the	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
–	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
and	O
Special	O
Edition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
October	O
15	O
,	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
was	O
made	O
available	O
for	O
free	O
on	O
PSN	B-Device
for	O
a	O
limited	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tyler	O
Bates	O
previously	O
scored	O
the	O
similarly	O
themed	O
film	O
300	O
and	O
game	O
Rise	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Argonauts	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bates	O
said	O
"	O
My	O
goal	O
was	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
sound	O
that	O
supported	O
the	O
timeless	O
dark	O
age	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
while	O
expanding	O
the	O
parameters	O
of	O
the	O
'	O
Sword	O
and	O
Sandals	O
 '	O
genre.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
track	O
,	O
"	O
Warriors	O
 '	O
Truth	O
"	O
,	O
Bates	O
used	O
Gerard	O
Marino	O
's	O
main	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
theme	O
and	O
"	O
twists	O
it	O
for	O
the	O
prequel	B-Application
setting	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
taking	O
the	O
harmonic	O
ascending	O
scale	O
and	O
reverting	O
it	O
to	O
a	O
downwards	O
pattern	O
with	O
a	O
harsh	O
choir/brass	O
combination.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
new	O
features	O
included	O
the	O
Fire	O
of	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
magic	O
and	O
the	O
"	O
Life	O
Cycle	O
"	O
mechanic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
February	O
26	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
a	O
new	O
single-player	O
demo	O
titled	O
the	O
Prison	O
of	O
the	O
Damned	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Store	O
to	O
download	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
on	O
March	O
12	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
in	O
mainland	O
Europe	O
and	O
PAL	O
regions	O
on	O
March	O
13	O
,	O
in	O
Australia	O
and	O
New	O
Zealand	O
on	O
March	O
14	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
the	O
UK	O
and	O
Ireland	O
on	O
March	O
15	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
sales	O
were	O
significantly	O
lower	O
than	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
IIIs	O
first	O
month	O
sales	O
,	O
which	O
were	O
1.1million	O
units	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
October	O
15	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
was	O
released	O
as	O
a	O
digital	O
download	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Store	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
September	O
24	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
became	O
available	O
to	O
play	O
from	O
Sony	O
's	O
game	B-Application
streaming	I-Application
service	O
PlayStation	B-General_Concept
Now	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	O
Ascensions	O
marketing	O
campaign	O
initially	O
focused	O
on	O
its	O
multiplayer	O
feature	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
June	O
4	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
Studio	O
announced	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
–	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
available	O
for	O
a	O
limited	O
time	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
package	O
included	O
a	O
statue	O
of	O
Kratos	O
,	O
a	O
premium	O
SteelBook	O
game	O
case	O
,	O
and	O
exclusive	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
DLC	B-Protocol
)	O
available	O
via	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
(	O
PSN	B-Device
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
exclusive	O
DLC	B-Protocol
included	O
the	O
official	O
game	O
soundtrack	O
,	O
a	O
PS3	B-Operating_System
dynamic	O
XrossMediaBar	B-Device
(	O
XMB	B-Device
)	O
theme	O
,	O
a	O
PSN	B-Device
avatar	O
pack	O
,	O
48	O
hours	O
of	O
double	O
XP	O
for	O
multiplayer	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
Season	O
Pass	O
to	O
unlock	O
all	O
future	O
DLC	B-Protocol
weapons	O
and	O
armor	O
at	O
no	O
extra	O
cost	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
–	O
Special	O
Edition	O
was	O
also	O
announced	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
European	O
territories	O
and	O
was	O
available	O
for	O
the	O
same	O
price	O
as	O
the	O
standard	O
edition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
included	O
the	O
premium	O
SteelBook	O
game	O
case	O
and	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
that	O
was	O
available	O
in	O
the	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
,	O
although	O
not	O
the	O
Season	O
Pass	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
Legacy	O
Bundle	O
,	O
which	O
included	O
Ascension	O
,	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
Saga	O
,	O
a	O
one-month	O
subscription	O
to	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Plus	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
500	O
GB	O
garnet	O
red	O
PS3	B-Operating_System
,	O
was	O
available	O
for	O
a	O
limited	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
,	O
the	O
UK	O
received	O
an	O
exclusive	O
PS3	B-Operating_System
bundle	O
,	O
which	O
included	O
a	O
white	O
500	O
GB	O
PS3	B-Operating_System
,	O
the	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
–	O
Special	O
Edition	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
special	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
DualShock	O
3	O
controller	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
released	O
separately	O
in	O
Australia	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Participating	O
retailers	O
offered	O
the	O
"	O
Mythological	O
Heroes	O
Multiplayer	O
DLC	B-Protocol
Pack	O
"	O
as	O
a	O
bonus	O
for	O
pre-ordering	O
the	O
standard	O
or	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DLC	B-Protocol
pack	O
included	O
the	O
armors	O
of	O
Achilles	O
,	O
Odysseus	O
,	O
Orion	O
,	O
and	O
Perseus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Along	O
with	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
pack	O
,	O
GameStop	O
offered	O
an	O
exclusive	O
pre-order	O
bonus	O
—	O
the	O
armor	O
and	O
spear	O
of	O
King	O
Leonidas	O
,	O
as	O
depicted	O
by	O
Gerard	O
Butler	O
in	O
the	O
2007	O
film	O
300	O
,	O
for	O
use	O
in	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
double-sided	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
poster	O
measuring	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
a	O
limited	O
time	O
,	O
all	O
copies	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
purchased	O
from	O
Best	O
Buy	O
included	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
weapon	O
Mjölnir	O
(	O
the	O
Hammer	O
of	O
Thor	B-Algorithm
)	O
,	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
television	O
series	O
Vikings	O
,	O
as	O
DLC	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
copies	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
included	O
early	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
demo	O
of	O
Naughty	O
Dog	O
's	O
video	O
game	O
The	B-Application
Last	I-Application
of	I-Application
Us	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
all	O
copies	O
included	O
a	O
voucher	O
to	O
download	O
the	O
characters	O
Zeus	B-Application
and	O
Isaac	O
Clarke	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Application
All-Stars	I-Application
Battle	I-Application
Royale	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Only	O
available	O
on	O
GodofWar.com,	O
it	O
was	O
a	O
prequel	B-Application
story	O
that	O
tied	O
into	O
Ascensions	O
single-player	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
modes	O
,	O
and	O
had	O
20	O
chapters	O
that	O
were	O
released	O
from	O
October	O
2012	O
to	O
March	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
first	O
challenge	O
,	O
the	O
teams	O
competed	O
to	O
earn	O
their	O
army	O
a	O
week	O
of	O
exclusive	O
,	O
early	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
beta	O
test	O
that	O
began	O
on	O
December	O
12	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
one-month	O
subscription	O
to	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Plus	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
won	O
by	O
the	O
Spartans	O
;	O
the	O
Trojans	O
received	O
access	O
on	O
December	O
17	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soon	O
after	O
,	O
the	O
warrior	O
called	O
upon	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
to	O
save	O
his	O
people	O
from	O
the	O
poisonous	O
water	O
;	O
the	O
god	O
destroyed	O
the	O
aqueduct	O
and	O
water	O
wheel	O
that	O
supplied	O
water	O
to	O
the	O
village	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Circe	O
granted	O
the	O
soldiers	O
magical	B-Application
weapons	O
to	O
aid	O
them	O
on	O
their	O
journey	O
,	O
and	O
suggested	O
that	O
they	O
see	O
the	O
Oracle	O
of	O
Delphi	B-Language
to	O
discover	O
whether	O
the	O
general	O
had	O
any	O
weaknesses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
this	O
time	O
,	O
the	O
warrior	O
vowed	O
loyalty	O
to	O
Poseidon	B-Application
and	O
to	O
protect	O
his	O
men	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
traveling	O
through	O
Delphi	B-Language
,	O
the	O
warrior	O
obtained	O
the	O
venomous	O
blood	O
of	O
a	O
cerberus	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
he	O
tricked	O
the	O
general	O
into	O
drinking	O
from	O
a	O
cup	O
he	O
had	O
secretly	O
filled	O
with	O
the	O
cerberus	B-Application
's	O
blood	O
,	O
which	O
killed	O
the	O
general	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
DLC	B-Protocol
)	O
included	O
in	O
the	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
,	O
the	O
pre-order	O
bonuses	O
,	O
and	O
DLC	B-Protocol
from	O
Rise	O
of	O
the	O
Warrior	O
,	O
the	O
developers	O
released	O
several	O
multiplayer	O
DLC	B-Protocol
packs	O
after	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
multiplayer	O
maps	O
that	O
were	O
released	O
post-launch	O
were	O
free	O
,	O
and	O
players	O
who	O
obtained	O
the	O
Season	O
Pass	O
from	O
the	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
received	O
all	O
DLC	B-Protocol
weapons	O
and	O
armors	O
at	O
no	O
additional	O
cost	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
DLC	B-Protocol
weapons	O
and	O
armors	O
could	O
be	O
purchased	O
separately	O
or	O
in	O
bundles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
such	O
as	O
XP	O
boosters	O
,	O
were	O
available	O
,	O
but	O
these	O
were	O
not	O
covered	O
by	O
the	O
Season	O
Pass	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
May	O
7	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
set	O
of	O
DLC	B-Protocol
armors	O
and	O
weapons	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
"	O
Armors	O
of	O
Anarchy	O
"	O
and	O
the	O
"	O
Blades	O
of	O
Darkness	O
"	O
,	O
were	O
released	O
for	O
purchase	O
together	O
with	O
the	O
free	O
Chimeran	O
Armor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
other	O
DLC	B-Protocol
packs	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
Primordials	O
Pack	O
"	O
,	O
the	O
"	O
Champions	O
Pack	O
"	O
,	O
the	O
"	O
Marks	O
of	O
the	O
Gods	O
Pack	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
"	O
Legendary	O
Spears	O
Pack	O
"	O
,	O
were	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2013	O
,	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
announced	O
the	O
"	O
Community	O
Cape	O
Design	O
Contest	O
"	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
community	O
could	O
create	O
and	O
submit	O
original	O
cape	O
designs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
winner	O
's	O
design	O
was	O
released	O
as	O
DLC	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
a	O
limited	O
time	O
the	O
following	O
month	O
,	O
Sony	O
allowed	O
players	O
to	O
trial	O
all	O
available	O
DLC	B-Protocol
weapons	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
of	O
the	O
last	O
sets	O
of	O
DLC	B-Protocol
released	O
included	O
co-op	O
weapons	O
,	O
the	O
"	O
Mantles	O
of	O
the	O
Gods	O
Pack	O
"	O
,	O
several	O
gauntlets	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
"	O
Fury	O
Capes	O
Pack	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
October	O
11	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
announced	O
that	O
no	O
further	O
DLC	B-Protocol
maps	O
,	O
weapons	O
,	O
armors	O
,	O
or	O
marks	O
would	O
be	O
produced	O
,	O
but	O
multiplayer	O
gaming	O
would	O
still	O
be	O
supported	O
with	O
patch	O
updates	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
DLC	B-Protocol
items	O
received	O
special	O
pricing	O
options	O
for	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
digital	O
version	O
of	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
celebrate	O
the	O
one	O
year	O
anniversary	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
,	O
from	O
March	O
25	O
through	O
April	O
2	O
,	O
all	O
DLC	B-Protocol
armor	O
and	O
weapons	O
were	O
available	O
to	O
download	O
for	O
free	O
,	O
XP	O
boosters	O
were	O
discounted	O
by	O
50%	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
developers	O
released	O
a	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
Studio	O
cape	O
and	O
a	O
"	O
Marked	O
One	O
"	O
mark	O
,	O
allowing	O
player	O
's	O
warriors	O
to	O
have	O
Kratos	O
 '	O
red	O
tattoo	O
when	O
equipped	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
"	O
Tower	O
of	O
Delphi	B-Language
"	O
and	O
a	O
modified	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
Coliseum	O
of	O
Persia	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
enabled	O
the	O
Trial	O
of	O
the	O
Gods	O
mode	O
on	O
that	O
map	O
,	O
were	O
included	O
in	O
this	O
update	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
last	O
multiplayer	O
map	O
,	O
the	O
eight-player	O
"	O
Furnace	O
of	O
Archimedes	B-Device
"	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
via	O
update	O
1.11	O
on	O
August	O
27	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
"	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Combat	O
and	O
the	O
new	O
gameplay	O
mechanics	O
were	O
well-received	O
,	O
with	O
Dale	O
North	O
of	O
Destructoid	O
saying	O
"	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
has	O
never	O
looked	O
or	O
played	O
better	O
than	O
this	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
Xav	O
de	O
Matos	O
of	O
Joystiq	O
commenting	O
that	O
the	O
combat	O
is	O
simpler	O
than	O
in	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
and	O
rarely	O
required	O
much	O
adjustment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Opinions	O
on	O
difficulty	O
varied	O
;	O
Simmons	O
felt	O
that	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
gameplay	O
was	O
balanced	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
Ascension	O
"	O
is	O
probably	O
the	O
easiest	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
but	O
both	O
he	O
and	O
Hollander	O
Cooper	O
of	O
GamesRadar	O
commented	O
that	O
some	O
areas	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Trials	O
of	O
Archimedes	B-Device
,	O
were	O
too	O
difficult	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Simmons	O
felt	O
that	O
in	O
some	O
sections	O
,	O
the	O
many	O
enemies	O
made	O
dying	O
feel	O
"	O
cheap	O
and	O
frustrating	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
Cooper	O
's	O
opinion	O
,	O
some	O
points	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
"[test]	O
your	O
patience	O
,	O
rather	O
than	O
your	O
skills	O
—	O
including	O
one	O
[	O
the	O
Trials ]	O
that	O
's	O
easily	O
the	O
most	O
difficult	O
section	O
in	O
any	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
game	O
to	O
date	O
,	O
for	O
all	O
the	O
wrong	O
reasons	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
Simmons	O
and	O
Matos	O
criticized	O
the	O
story	O
;	O
Simmons	O
felt	O
that	O
although	O
the	O
narrative	O
is	O
"	O
meticulously	O
delivered	O
"	O
,	O
it	O
"	O
felt	O
a	O
bit	O
incidental	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
said	O
that	O
in	O
comparison	O
to	O
Zeus	B-Application
and	O
Ares	B-Operating_System
,	O
"	O
the	O
Furies	O
do	O
n't	O
quite	O
cut	O
it	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
did	O
praise	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
providing	O
the	O
"	O
distinct	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
flair	O
"	O
known	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cooper	O
praised	O
the	O
enhanced	O
graphics	O
engine	O
as	O
"	O
not	O
only	O
the	O
best	O
the	O
franchise	O
has	O
seen	O
,	O
but	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
impressive	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
"	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
impressed	O
by	O
Kratos	O
 '	O
foes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
North	O
agreed	O
,	O
saying	O
"	O
there	O
's	O
a	O
shine	O
and	O
polish	O
that	O
runs	O
throughout	O
the	O
game	O
that	O
makes	O
it	O
a	O
perfect	O
send-off	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PS3	I-Operating_System
"	O
,	O
noting	O
its	O
improved	O
textures	O
,	O
animations	O
,	O
and	O
lighting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
previous	O
installments	O
,	O
God	B-Application
of	I-Application
War	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ascension	I-Application
won	O
no	O
awards	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
was	O
nominated	O
in	O
several	O
Best	O
of	O
E3	O
2012	O
categories	O
by	O
various	O
media	O
outlets	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
nominations	O
included	O
"	O
Best	O
Action/Adventure	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Multiplayer	O
"	O
from	O
Game	O
Rant	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
PS3	B-Operating_System
Game	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Action/Adventure	O
Game	O
"	O
from	O
G4	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
PlayStation3	B-Operating_System
Game	O
"	O
from	O
Destructoid	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
PS3	B-Operating_System
Game	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Action	O
Game	O
"	O
from	O
IGN	O
.	O
</s>
