God of War III is an action-adventure game released in 2010. It was developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game first came out for the PlayStation 3 on March 16, 2010. It is the fifth game in the God of War series, the eighth in order, and follows the 2007 game God of War II. It is the first main game in the series made without David Jaffe, the series creator. The story is inspired by Greek mythology and takes place in ancient Greece. The game focuses on revenge. The player controls Kratos, a former god who was betrayed by Zeus, the king of the Olympian gods, who Kratos later learns is his father. Kratos starts a war against the gods, climbs Mount Olympus, and is later abandoned by Gaia, a Titan. With the help of Athena’s spirit, Kratos fights monsters, gods, and Titans to find Pandora. He needs Pandora to open Pandora’s Box, defeat Zeus, and end the rule of the Olympian gods.
The game plays similarly to earlier God of War games. Players use combo-based combat with the main weapon, the Blades of Exile, and other weapons found during the game. Quick time events require players to act in timed sequences to defeat strong enemies and bosses. Players can use up to four magical attacks and a power-enhancing ability. The game includes puzzles and platforming challenges. Compared to earlier games, God of War III has an updated magic system, more enemies, new camera angles, and downloadable content.
God of War III received high praise from critics for its graphics, gameplay, and scale, though some had mixed opinions about the story. It won awards such as "Most Anticipated Game of 2010" and "Best PS3 Game" at the 2009 and 2010 Spike Video Game Awards. It also received the "Artistic Achievement" award at the 2011 BAFTA Video Game Awards and the "Outstanding Achievement in Animation" award at the 2011 Interactive Achievement Awards. It is one of the best-selling games in the God of War series and the ninth best-selling PlayStation 3 game of all time. It sold over 5 million copies worldwide by June 2012 and was included in the God of War Saga released for PlayStation 3 on August 28, 2012.
God of War III has been named one of the greatest video games ever made. A remastered version, titled God of War III Remastered, was released for PlayStation 4 on July 14, 2015. As of June 2023, the remastered version sold about 4 million copies. After two prequels were released, a sequel titled God of War was launched on April 20, 2018. This game takes place decades after God of War III and shifts the story to Norse mythology. In 2026, a remake was announced during a State of Play presentation on February 13 by TC Carson, who plays Kratos in the trilogy. The remake is part of the God of War Remake Trilogy, which includes remakes of the original God of War and God of War II. At the time of the announcement, the game was in early development for the PlayStation 5.
Gameplay
God of War III is an action-adventure game that includes fighting and combat elements. It is a third-person single-player video game. Like earlier versions, players control Kratos from a fixed-camera view, engaging in combat, climbing, jumping, and solving puzzles. Enemies include creatures from Greek mythology, such as centaurs, harpies, chimeras, cyclopes, satyrs, minotaurs, Sirens, cerberuses, and Gorgons. Players must climb walls and ladders, jump across gaps, and swing on ropes to move through the game. Puzzles vary in difficulty: some require placing objects in specific spots, while others need precise timing, such as a puzzle similar to the game Guitar Hero. New items to collect include Minotaur Horns, which increase the items meter, allowing the use of secondary weapons called "Items." Previously collected items, such as Gorgon Eyes and Phoenix Feathers, increase health and magic meters.
Kratos' main weapon is the Blades of Exile, replacing the Blades of Athena used in earlier games. The weapon consists of two blades attached to chains around Kratos' wrists and forearms, which can be swung in various ways. As the game progresses, Kratos gains new weapons, including the Claws of Hades, the Nemean Cestus, and the Nemesis Whip. The Nemean Cestus, a pair of gauntlets, and the Nemesis Whip, similar to the Blades of Exile, were crafted by Hephaestus but were turned against him by Kratos. These weapons are needed to progress in certain parts of the game, such as using the Nemean Cestus to break through onyx objects.
Unlike previous games, magical abilities are learned when new weapons are acquired, with each weapon having its own unique magic attack. For example, the Army of Sparta can only be used with the Blades of Exile. Magic attacks include the Claws of Hades' Soul Summon ability, which calls souls to attack enemies, the Nemean Cestus' Nemean Roar, and the Nemesis Whip's Nemesis Rage. Three secondary weapons, known as Items, are also acquired: the Bow of Apollo, the Head of Helios, and the Boots of Hermes. These items are required to complete specific parts of the game, such as using the Head of Helios as a lantern in dark areas or to find hidden doors.
Relics from previous games, such as Poseidon's Trident, the Golden Fleece, and Icarus' Wings, are retained and used to overcome obstacles. The Golden Fleece can block enemy attacks, and Hades' Soul allows Kratos to swim in the River Styx. The Blade of Olympus, a primary weapon from God of War II, is used in this game with the special ability Rage of Sparta, which provides temporary invulnerability and increased attack power.
New gameplay features include a combat grapple, a ranged-grab move that pulls Kratos toward enemies or pushes them away, which is needed in certain parts of the game, such as riding harpies across gaps. Kratos can now quickly switch between four primary weapons during combat, continuing the same attack sequence. Additional features include ten Godly Possessions, often hidden near defeated enemies, which provide abilities like unlimited magic during bonus play. A challenge mode called the Challenge of Olympus (seven trials) is unlocked after completing the game. This mode requires players to complete specific tasks, such as defeating all enemies without weapons within a time limit. Completing difficulty levels and the challenge mode unlocks rewards, such as bonus costumes for Kratos, behind-the-scenes videos, and concept art. A new mode, the Combat Arena, allows players to set difficulty levels and choose opponents to practice skills.
Synopsis
God of War III is set in a different version of ancient Greece, where Olympian gods, Titans, heroes, and other characters from Greek mythology live. The game takes place between God of War II (2007) and God of War (2018). It includes several locations on Mount Olympus, such as the Tomb of Ares, the ancient city of Olympia, the Path of Eos, the Labyrinth, parts of the Palace of the Gods (like the Forum and Hera’s Gardens), and the Underworld and Tartarus.
The Tomb of Ares, where the former God of War’s remains are kept, and the city of Olympia are located on the sides of Mount Olympus. Just beyond Olympia is the Path of Eos, a hidden cavern near the base of Olympus. The Palace of the Gods is where the Olympians live. It includes the Forum (a small coliseum), Hera’s Gardens, and the chambers of Aphrodite and Poseidon. The Labyrinth is a large puzzle in the sky built by Daedalus to trap Pandora. It is home to Skorpius and its offspring. The Underworld, ruled by Hades and divided by the River Styx, is the realm of the dead. Hades’ palace holds the remains of Persephone, whom Kratos killed in Chains of Olympus. The Underworld also has statues of the three Judges of the Underworld, who hold the Chain of Balance connecting the Underworld to Olympus. Tartarus is a prison for the dead, where the Titan Cronos was banished after Kratos retrieved Pandora’s Box from Pandora’s Temple in God of War (2005).
Kratos (voiced by Terrence C. Carson), the game’s main character, is a Spartan demigod warrior who became the God of War after killing Ares. He seeks revenge on Zeus for betraying him. Other characters include Greek gods like Athena (Erin Torpey), the Goddess of Wisdom, Kratos’ mentor, and ally; Zeus (Corey Burton), King of the Gods, Kratos’ father, and the main antagonist; Poseidon (Gideon Emery), God of the Sea; Hades (Clancy Brown), God of the Underworld; Hephaestus (Rip Torn), the Smith God; Hermes (Greg Ellis), Messenger of the Gods and God of Speed and Commerce; Helios (Crispin Freeman), the Sun God; Hera (Adrienne Barbeau), Queen of the Gods who controls plant life; and Aphrodite (April Stewart), Goddess of Love and Sexuality. Titans featured include Gaia (Susan Blakeslee), Cronos (George Ball), Epimetheus, Oceanus, and Perses. Other characters are Hercules (Kevin Sorbo), a demigod and Kratos’ half-brother; Daedalus (Malcolm McDowell), Icarus’ father; and Pandora (Natalie Lander), Hephaestus’ artificial daughter. Minor characters include the three Judges of the Underworld: King Minos (Mark Moseley), King Rhadamanthus, and King Aeacus; Peirithous (Simon Templeman), an Underworld prisoner in love with Persephone; and Kratos’ wife and daughter: Lysandra (Gwendoline Yeo) and Calliope (Debi Derryberry), who appear in a scene where Kratos journeys through his own mind.
Kratos, Gaia, and the Titans attack Mount Olympus to destroy the Olympian gods. Poseidon attacks them but is killed by Kratos, causing the oceans to flood Greece. At Olympus’ peak, they try to attack Zeus, but he pushes them off the mountain with lightning. Gaia refuses to save Kratos, calling him a pawn for the Titans’ revenge.
Kratos falls into the River Styx, where he loses the Blade of Olympus. The souls of the Underworld weaken him and damage the Blades of Athena. Athena’s spirit appears to Kratos, telling him she sacrificed herself to save Zeus and that he must extinguish the Flame of Olympus to kill Zeus. After finding the three Judges of the Underworld and the Chain of Balance, Kratos briefly meets Pandora, whom he mistakes for his daughter, Calliope. He then retrieves the Blade of Olympus from Hephaestus, kills Hades, and frees the souls of the Underworld. Athena reminds Kratos of his quest, and he leaves the Underworld. At Olympia, he finds Gaia begging for help but cuts off her arm as punishment for her betrayal, causing her to fall to her apparent death.
Kratos continues his journey, killing enemies like the Titan Perses and the Sun God Helios, plunging Greece into darkness. He confronts Hermes, who hides Pandora’s Box inside the Flame of Olympus. Kratos kills Hermes, releasing a plague on Greece. At the Forum, he speaks with the drunk Hera, who refuses to help and sends Hercules to stop him. Kratos kills Hercules after a duel. He then meets Aphrodite, who is uninterested in his war, and goes to Hephaestus through Hyperion’s Gate. Hephaestus sends Kratos to Tartarus to retrieve the Omphalos Stone, claiming he will forge a new weapon for Kratos. Kratos kills Cronos for the stone and returns to Hephaestus, who tries to kill him but dies from his own anvil. Before dying, Hephaestus admits he wanted to protect his daughter Pandora, who was imprisoned in the Labyrinth after Kratos opened her box. Kratos then kills Hera for insulting Pandora, ending all Greek plant life, and goes to the Labyrinth.
Daedalus, the imprisoned architect, dies after learning of his son Icarus’ death. Kratos unites the Labyrinth and rescues Pandora. He neutralizes the Judges and breaks the Chain of Balance, raising the Labyrinth. Pandora tries to enter the Flame of Olympus, but Zeus intervenes and fights Kratos. Pandora sacrifices herself despite Kratos’ reluctance. Kratos finds Pandora’s Box empty and attacks Zeus, but Gaia joins the fight and tries to kill them both. They escape through a wound in Gaia’s body and continue their battle inside her chest. Kratos kills Zeus by impaling him against Gaia’s heart with the Blade of Olympus, killing both Gaia and Zeus. Believing Zeus is dead, Kratos leaves but is attacked by Zeus’ spirit, who takes his weapons and powers. Kratos is saved by a vision of Pandora and, with the help of the spirits of Calliope and his wife Lysandra, forgives himself and regains hope. He forces Zeus’ spirit back into his body and kills him.
Kratos sees Greece in chaos. Athena reappears, claiming Kratos took
Development
In a 2007 interview with GameTrailers, David Jaffe, the creator and game director of God of War, explained his original plan for the series, which was different from the ending of God of War III. The final ending was based on the vision of game director Stig Asmussen. Jaffe said his idea was that "God of War explains, or ultimately will explain, why there are no more Greek myths." He described a situation where gods and Titans would fight each other, causing great chaos on Earth. Other groups of gods might have joined the battle after Kratos killed Zeus and the other Greek gods, leading people to stop believing in gods. Jaffe believed this was the only way a god could truly die.
God of War III was first mentioned by Cory Barlog, the game director of God of War II, during a launch event for that game. Barlog said the game would have 1080p HD resolution (later changed to 720p in the final version) and support Sixaxis tilt and vibration functions. This caused confusion because the Sixaxis controller did not support rumble, which was introduced later with the DualShock 3. At the 2009 Game Developers Conference, the creative team said the Sixaxis tilt feature was removed because they could not find a good way to use it in the game.
After eight months of development, Barlog left the studio to pursue other opportunities, and Stig Asmussen became the new game director. Asmussen had previously worked as a lead environment artist and art director on God of War and God of War II. In an interview with IGN, Asmussen said Barlog had a major influence on the game, and they continued to exchange ideas even after he left. He also mentioned that David Jaffe visited the studio and provided feedback on some high-level aspects of the game. Early in development, Barlog expressed interest in a cooperative mode if it could be done in a unique way. However, by November 2009, Asmussen told GamePro that multiplayer was not suitable for God of War III because the game focused on telling a story and delivering a specific experience. By December 2009, the game was in its final stages of development.
In December 2008, Sony announced that God of War III would be the last game in the series. However, in January 2010, John Hight told Joystiq that while God of War III would end the trilogy, the franchise might continue in the future. Asmussen mentioned the possibility of downloadable content, such as new challenge modes, to keep the series alive. In March 2009, Sony asked PlayStation 3 owners for their opinions on a collector’s edition. Later, an Ultimate Edition was released for North America, and a limited Ultimate Trilogy Edition was announced for Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. A Trilogy Edition was also planned for Japan, where the game received an adults-only rating from the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO).
Asmussen said one of the biggest challenges in making God of War III for the PlayStation 3 was the "complexity of everything." Tasks like designing Helios’ decapitation took a year because the level of detail required involved many departments. The PlayStation 3’s hardware allowed more flexibility in creating characters and environments. Kratos’ character model in the PlayStation 2 games used about 5,000 polygons, while the PlayStation 3 model used about 20,000. Art director Ken Feldman noted that increased texture detail also contributed to Kratos’ realistic appearance. The developers used a new technique called blended normal mapping to improve the model’s realism and expand animation options, such as muscle movement and facial expressions. Main characters were animated by hand because animators produced better results than basic motion capture. However, voice actors’ facial movements were recorded using Image Metrics’ performance capture system. For animations like hair, the team used a system called Dynamic Simulation, which let the PlayStation 3 calculate how hair should move mathematically.
The engine for God of War III was based on the one used in the first two games. Senior producer Steve Caterson said the team updated God of War II’s engine for the PlayStation 3 and could quickly test the game. Kratos could perform all his previous actions on the PlayStation 3, allowing developers to focus on creating new content. As the game was developed, the team replaced PlayStation 2 components with PlayStation 3 components, including the renderer, particle system, and collision system. Feldman said the core engine for God of War III was new, even though it reused parts of God of War II’s engine. Between the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) and the game’s release, morphological anti-aliasing (MLAA) was added, which improved edges and saved processing power. Graphics engineer Ben Diamand said MLAA became a popular method for removing jagged edges and allowed the team to enhance other game features. He also noted improvements in depth-of-field, motion blur, crepuscular "god" rays, and refraction.
Asmussen estimated the game would take 10 to 20 hours to complete, depending on the player’s skill. John Hight, the studio director, said the game was longer than the previous titles after testing. The finished script was about 120 pages long, and the number of enemies onscreen increased from 15 in earlier games to a maximum of 50. The game used Turtle by Illuminate Labs for lighting. Christer Ericson, head of development, confirmed that God of War III had seamless loading with no loading screens or hard disk drive installation. Bruno Velazquez, an animator, said the first two games used computer-generated imagery (CGI) for cutscenes, but God of War III used its in-game engine for all cutscenes. A game trailer was shown on Spike’s GameTrailers TV on February 11, 2010, and Asmussen confirmed all footage was gameplay. New camera angles were added, allowing players to control Kratos during some battles while the camera moved away. A first-person camera view was used for the final parts of the Poseidon and Zeus boss fights. The game used 35 gigabytes (GB) of Blu-ray Disc space. The budget for God of War III was not disclosed.
Release
At E3 2009, a demo of God of War III was shown. In the demo, Kratos fights on the cliffs of Mount Olympus against Olympian soldiers, a centaur, a chimera, and a cyclops. He kills Helios, faces Perses, rides harpies, and uses weapons like the Blades of Athena, the Nemean Cestus, and the Bow of Apollo. On October 28, 2009, SCE Europe sent activation codes to PlayStation Network members to download the demo. On October 30, GameStop gave voucher codes to customers who pre-ordered the game. Early copies of the God of War Collection also included a voucher to download the demo. The Blu-ray version of District 9 included the God of War III demo and a "making of" video. The demo was released to Qore subscribers on February 4, 2010. On February 25, 2010, Sony released the demo for download on the PlayStation Store in Europe and North America. Before the game’s release, Eurogamer compared the graphics in the demo to the final game, noting better lighting and motion blur in the final version.
God of War III was released on March 16, 2010, in North America; March 18 in Australia; March 19 in Europe; and March 25 in Japan. It sold nearly 400,000 more copies than its predecessor in its first week. According to NPD Group, the game sold about 1.1 million copies in the United States by the end of March 2010, making it the top-selling game that month. Its opening-month sales were 32% higher than those of God of War II. By June 2012, the game had sold almost 5.2 million copies worldwide—2.8 million in North America, 2 million in PAL regions, and 417,866 in Japan and Asia. The game is part of PlayStation 3’s Greatest Hits lineup. On August 28, 2012, God of War III, the God of War Collection, and the God of War: Origins Collection were released in North America as the God of War Saga, part of Sony’s PlayStation Collections line.
Before its release, God of War III had a large marketing campaign. In early 2008, a teaser for the game appeared as an image (the original PlayStation 3 logo surrounded by the Greek omega) on the back of the instruction manual for God of War: Chains of Olympus. A teaser trailer was shown at Sony’s 2008 E3 press conference. Another trailer was shown at the 2008 Spike Video Game Awards, and an official trailer was released in February 2009. A new trailer was shown when the game launched on March 16, 2010.
In October 2009, Santa Monica Studio announced the God of War III Ultimate Edition, available for pre-order in North America. The package included a replica Pandora’s Box, a limited-edition art book, and downloadable content (DLC) such as the "Challenge of Exile" mode, Kratos’ "Dominus" costume, a documentary, a soundtrack, and an EP. A limited Ultimate Trilogy Edition was released in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, including the Ultimate Edition, the God of War Collection, four Kratos costumes, and postcards. A God of War III PS3 bundle with a 250 GB PS3 and a copy of the game was sold in Europe. A media kit with special packaging was given to journalists in PAL regions, and some were given as prizes on PlayStation Europe’s website. In Japan, the game was sold in two versions: a standalone copy and a God of War Trilogy Edition, which included the God of War Collection, an art book, and a Kratos skin.
Some retailers added premium costumes for pre-orders, such as the Apollo, Forgotten Warrior, and Phantom of Chaos skins. GameStop also included a signed poster and an entry into a sweepstakes. 7-Eleven offered a poster and a special Slurpee cup with codes for downloadable content, including a behind-the-scenes video, wallpapers, and an in-game skin.
In December 2009, Santa Monica accepted video submissions from players to find the ultimate God of War fan. The top 18 videos were included in the closing credits of a documentary, and winners received a signed God of War III Ultimate Edition. Sony and Spike TV held a contest for fans over 21 to play the game before its release. A winner received a custom-made PS3. A week before the game’s release, developers shared Kratos’ backstory on the God of War website.
On March 20, 2010, a NASCAR car driven by Joey Logano had a God of War III and GameStop-themed design. In April, Machinima.com released five "Art of the Game" videos on the PlayStation Store. A God of War III action figure line was made by DC Unlimited. To celebrate the game entering Sony’s Greatest Hits library, Santa Monica held a sweepstakes for original monster designs, with prizes including signed art books.
The game has 36 trophies for achievements, such as "Releasing the Floodgates" for killing Poseidon. Players who earned the platinum trophy were linked to a website that later became the official site for God of War: Ghost of Sparta, the next game in the series. Early copies of Ghost of Sparta included a voucher to download Kratos’ brother, Deimos, as a costume for God of War III.
On November 2, 2010, the Dominus costume and "Challenge of Exile" mode were released as a free bundle for PlayStation Plus subscribers. Other pre-order costumes and promotional DLC, like the Morpheus Armor, were also made available on the PlayStation Store.
God of War III Remastered is a remade version of the game for the PlayStation 4. It was released in North America on July 14, 2015, and later in Australia, Europe, and the UK. The remastered version runs at 10
Reception
God of War III received "universal acclaim" according to Metacritic, a website that collects game reviews. Adam Sessler of X-Play said the game "finishes the trilogy on an exceptionally high note" and "blends all of its best attributes into a stellar experience." IGN's Chris Roper said the game "practically redefines" scale in video games, noting that the Titans in the game are "larger than entire levels in other games." Mike Jackson of Official PlayStation Magazine UK called it the biggest God of War game yet. He said that if it was the series' last game, "God of War III gives PlayStation's toughest hero the send-off he deserves."
Matt Leone of 1UP said the gameplay has "variety," with "something new around every corner." He said each weapon "adds a lot of depth to the combat system." Christian Donlan of Eurogamer said the "combat system, level flow, and pacing of bosses and puzzles remains largely untouched. But everything's bigger, grander, and more elaborate." He praised the weapons' accessibility, saying it is easy to quickly switch between them. Tom McShea of GameSpot said the combat and scale "have been pushed further than ever before," creating an experience that is "explosively fun" and hard to forget. He said the "brutality of combat is one of the most satisfying aspects of God of War III." Joe Juba of Game Informer called the game "visceral" and "brutal," and Kratos "the undisputed king of the genre." Mike Jackson, however, said the core gameplay's familiarity "makes it feel less than the very, very best," and Chris Roper said two of the three additional weapons are similar to the main blades; they "have unique powers and slightly different moves, but by and large they're more of the same."
The game's plot received mixed reviews. GameTrailers said the storyline makes Greek mythology more interesting. GameFront's Phil Hornshaw said the protagonist is "overly cruel," and the game assumes players enjoy the misery and violence as much as Kratos does. Christian Donlan said the story is "as simple as it can get." Tom McShea said the story "becomes powerful and moving in unexpected ways, peaking in a thrilling conclusion that successfully touches on many different emotions and provides closure for this epic tale." Joe Juba, on the other hand, said the plot "doesn't have any standout revelations or developments."
Mike Jackson called God of War III's graphics as good as (if not better than) those in Killzone 2 and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Joe Juba said the "cinematic camera work [is] even more impressive than Naughty Dog's feats with Uncharted 2." Chris Roper said, "God of War III presents some of the most impressive visuals that I've ever seen in a game. Kratos in particular looks phenomenal, and is perhaps the single most impressive-looking character ever in video games." According to GameTrailers, "the levels are expertly designed" and the game's scale is the most outstanding visual achievement.
Upon release, God of War III sold over 1 million copies in the United States by the end of March 2010. The game sold 43,181 copies in Japan according to Media Create's weekly sales chart. By June 2012, God of War III had sold 5.1 million copies worldwide.
God of War III was awarded the "Most Anticipated Game of 2010" at the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards. At the 2010 Spike Video Game Awards, it was awarded "Best PS3 Game" and "Best Graphics," and Kratos received the "Biggest Badass" award. It was also a nominee for "Game of the Year," "Best Action Adventure Game," "Best Original Score," and "Character of the Year" (Kratos). Other individual awards include "Best Action/Adventure Game" (GameTrailers), "Best Action Game" (GameSpy), "Best PS3 Game" (Game Revolution), and "Best PS3 Exclusive" (Shacknews). At the 2011 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Video Game Awards, God of War III received the "Artistic Achievement" award and was a nominee for the "Action" and "Gameplay" awards.
At the 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (now known as the D.I.C.E. Awards), the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awarded God of War III with "Outstanding Achievement in Animation." It also received nominations for "Game of the Year," "Action Game of the Year," "Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction," "Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering," and "Outstanding Character Performance" for Terrence C. Carson's vocal portrayal of Kratos.
Though the original release of God of War III was met with critical acclaim, God of War III Remastered only garnered "generally favorable reviews," according to Metacritic. Reviewers found it odd that Sony decided to remaster God of War III for PlayStation 4, as its story picks up immediately from the ending of God of War II, which may confuse newcomers who have never played the previous games. Praise was given to the smoother textures and improved frame rate, though because the original already had impressive graphics, the changes were not major, and reviewers said these changes were not a strong enough argument to rebuy the game for US$40.