God Of War 1 - (2005)

The original God of War (2005), developed by Santa Monica Studio, introduces players to the world of ancient Greek mythology through the story of Kratos, a Spartan warrior with a tragic past. Here's the complete story of *God of War 1*:

1. Introduction to Kratos :

The game begins with Kratos standing at the edge of a cliff, preparing to commit suicide by throwing himself into the Aegean Sea. The narrative then shifts to a series of flashbacks that explain how Kratos reached this point.

Kratos was once a mighty Spartan warrior who led his army in many successful battles. However, during one particularly brutal battle against a barbarian horde, Kratos found himself on the verge of death. In desperation, he called upon Ares, the god of war, and offered his life in exchange for the power to defeat his enemies. Ares granted Kratos this power, giving him the Blades of Chaos, a pair of chained weapons that became fused to his arms.

2. The Curse of Ares :

With Ares’ power, Kratos became an unstoppable force on the battlefield. However, in serving the god of war, Kratos became increasingly bloodthirsty and savage, committing countless atrocities. One day, Ares tricked Kratos into attacking a village that had a temple dedicated to Athena. In his blind rage, Kratos slaughtered everyone in the temple, including his own wife and daughter.

Realizing what he had done, Kratos was filled with guilt and horror. The village oracle cursed him, binding the ashes of his wife and child to his skin, turning his body pale and marking him as the "Ghost of Sparta." Kratos was haunted by visions of his family and vowed to take revenge on Ares for manipulating him into their deaths.

3. The Quest for Pandora’s Box :

Kratos sought out the help of the gods of Olympus, hoping that by serving them, they would help him break free from his nightmares. After ten years of servitude, the goddess Athena calls upon Kratos to stop Ares, who has launched an assault on the city of Athens.

Ares had gone rogue, using his power to try and destroy Athens in defiance of the other gods. Athena tells Kratos that the only way to defeat Ares is to find and open Pandora’s Box, an ancient and powerful artifact that can give any mortal the power to kill a god.

Kratos agrees, motivated by his desire for revenge against Ares. His journey takes him across dangerous landscapes, including the Desert of Lost Souls, the Temple of Pandora, and the treacherous Cliffs of Madness.

4. The Journey Through the Temple of Pandora :

The majority of the game follows Kratos as he travels to the Temple of Pandora, which is located on the back of the Titan Cronos, who was cursed by Zeus to wander the desert. Inside the temple, Kratos faces numerous deadly traps, powerful enemies, and complex puzzles designed to protect Pandora's Box.

Kratos also encounters visions of his past, confronting his memories of his family and his role in their deaths. These psychological and emotional trials parallel his physical challenges as he moves deeper into the temple.

After battling his way through the various guardians and trials, Kratos finally retrieves Pandora’s Box. However, as soon as he does, Ares, aware of Kratos’ quest, hurls a massive pillar from Athens all the way to the temple, impaling Kratos and killing him.

5. Escape from the Underworld :

Even in death, Kratos refuses to give up. His soul is sent to the Underworld, but he manages to escape with the help of the mysterious Grave Digger and fights his way back to the land of the living. Upon his return, he recovers Pandora’s Box and heads to Athens for his final confrontation with Ares.

6. The Final Battle with Ares :

The climactic battle between Kratos and Ares is intense and emotionally charged. After opening Pandora’s Box, Kratos grows in size and gains the power of a god, allowing him to face Ares on equal footing. The two engage in a fierce fight, with Ares using psychological manipulation to weaken Kratos by bringing up his past, including his family’s death.

In the final moments of the battle, Ares strips Kratos of his godly powers and chains him in an illusion where he must protect his wife and daughter from enemies. Kratos manages to break free from the illusion and regains control of his own fate. Using a large blade from Ares’ own arsenal, Kratos finally kills the god of war, avenging his family.

7. The Offer of Godhood :

With Ares dead, Athens is saved, and Kratos has completed his mission for the gods. However, despite his victory, Kratos still cannot escape his nightmares or the guilt of killing his family. He pleads with Athena to relieve him of his torment, but she tells him that while he has been forgiven for his sins, the gods cannot rid him of his memories.

Feeling betrayed and hopeless, Kratos returns to the cliff from the opening scene, intending to end his life. He throws himself off the cliff into the sea, hoping to finally escape his pain.

8. The Birth of the New God of War :

However, the gods intervene and save Kratos from death. Athena appears before him and offers him a new purpose: with Ares gone, there is now an empty throne on Olympus. For his service and for defeating Ares, Kratos is offered the position of the new God of War.

Kratos reluctantly accepts, ascending to Olympus as the new god of war. However, he remains haunted by his past and the memories of his family, setting the stage for his continued quest for redemption in future installments of the series.

Conclusion :

God of War is a story of vengeance, tragedy, and redemption. Kratos’ journey in the first game is fueled by his desire to rid himself of the guilt and nightmares caused by his past sins. In his quest for revenge against Ares, Kratos becomes entangled in the affairs of the gods and ultimately assumes the very title of the god he sought to destroy. Despite his new status as a god, Kratos’ story remains one of personal torment, and the game sets the foundation for his further adventures in the God of War series.