God Of War 2 - (2007)

God of War II (2007), the sequel to the original God of War, continues the epic journey of Kratos, the former Spartan warrior turned God of War. The game dives deeper into Greek mythology, exploring betrayal, revenge, and Kratos’ relentless pursuit of power. Here is the complete story of *God of War II*:

1. Kratos as the New God of War :
After defeating Ares in the first game, Kratos has ascended to Mount Olympus and assumed the title of the new God of War. However, despite his new status, Kratos is still haunted by the nightmares of his past, particularly the death of his wife and daughter, whom he had accidentally killed while serving Ares.

Now filled with rage and bitterness, Kratos uses his power as a god to lead the Spartan army on devastating campaigns across Greece. His constant intervention in mortal affairs angers the other gods, particularly Zeus, the king of the Olympian gods, who views Kratos as a threat to the balance of power.

2. Zeus’ Betrayal :
The game begins with Kratos leading the Spartans in an attack on the city of Rhodes. Suddenly, Kratos is weakened when a giant eagle, later revealed to be Zeus in disguise, strips him of much of his godly power. Rhodes’ Colossus, a massive statue, is brought to life to battle Kratos.

In the middle of the fight, Zeus offers Kratos the Blade of Olympus, a powerful weapon used by Zeus himself to defeat the Titans in the Great War. Zeus tells Kratos that the only way to defeat the Colossus is to infuse the Blade with his godly power, which Kratos reluctantly agrees to do. After imbuing the blade, Kratos defeats the Colossus, but at great cost: without his godly power, he is left vulnerable.

As Kratos stumbles away from the battle, Zeus reveals his true intentions. He betrays Kratos, using the Blade of Olympus to kill him. Zeus declares that the cycle of vengeance must end, and by killing Kratos, he seeks to stop any potential threats to his rule. Before dying, Kratos vows revenge against Zeus.

3. The Underworld and the Intervention of the Titans :
Kratos is sent to the Underworld after his death. However, just as he is about to be consumed by the River Styx, he is saved by the Titan Gaia, the mother of the Titans. Gaia explains that Zeus' betrayal is part of a larger conflict between the gods and the Titans. During the Great War, the Olympian gods overthrew the Titans and banished them. Gaia and the other Titans now seek revenge against the Olympians, and they see Kratos as the key to their victory.

Gaia tells Kratos that he can change his fate by seeking out the Sisters of Fate, powerful beings who control the threads of time. By convincing or forcing the Sisters to alter his fate, Kratos can return to the moment of his death, reclaim the Blade of Olympus, and take his revenge on Zeus.

4. The Quest for the Sisters of Fate :
Kratos embarks on a journey across various mythological landscapes, seeking the Island of Creation, where the Sisters of Fate reside. Along the way, he battles countless mythological creatures, gods, and demigods, including Theseus, Perseus, and the Barbarian King, who had a personal vendetta against Kratos from his past life.

Kratos also encounters Prometheus, who is being tortured for giving fire to humanity, and helps him find peace by ending his suffering. Kratos gradually gains new powers and weapons, including the Golden Fleece and the Amulet of the Fates, which allow him to manipulate time to a limited degree.

5. The Loom of Fate :
After a series of trials and battles, Kratos reaches the Temple of the Fates, where he confronts the three Sisters of Fate. The Sisters try to stop Kratos from altering his destiny, as they view themselves as the ultimate arbiters of life and death. Kratos fights all three Sisters and kills them, seizing control of the Loom of Fate, which allows him to manipulate time.

Using the Loom, Kratos travels back to the moment when Zeus killed him in Rhodes. This time, however, Kratos is prepared. He confronts Zeus, who tries to destroy him again. During the battle, Zeus reveals that he betrayed Kratos out of fear that Kratos would eventually kill him, just as Zeus had overthrown his own father, Cronos.

The battle between Kratos and Zeus is fierce, but just as Kratos is about to deliver the killing blow, Athena intervenes. She begs Kratos to stop, explaining that Zeus is trying to maintain order and that killing him would plunge the world into chaos. Despite her pleas, Kratos attempts to kill Zeus, but Athena sacrifices herself by throwing herself in front of Zeus, taking the fatal blow.

As Athena dies, she reveals a shocking truth: Kratos is actually the son of Zeus. She explains that Zeus’ fear of Kratos is rooted in the fear of the "cycle of patricide", in which sons kill their fathers to gain power. Zeus feared Kratos would repeat this cycle and destroy him, as Zeus had destroyed Cronos.

6. The Return of the Titans:
Enraged by this revelation, Kratos vows to destroy Zeus and all of Olympus. He uses the power of the Loom of Fate to travel back in time to the moment of the Great War between the gods and the Titans. There, Kratos convinces the Titans to join him in his war against the gods, promising them revenge against Zeus and the Olympians.

With the Titans now on his side, Kratos leads them in an assault on Olympus. The game ends on a cliffhanger as Kratos, standing atop the Titan Gaia, leads the Titans as they ascend Mount Olympus, ready for the final battle against the gods.

Themes and Conclusion :
God of War II continues to explore the themes of revenge, betrayal, and the cycle of violence. Kratos’ insatiable thirst for vengeance against Zeus drives him to increasingly brutal and desperate measures, including manipulating time itself and aligning with the Titans, who are ancient enemies of the gods.

The story also introduces the concept of fate vs. free will, as Kratos challenges the idea that his destiny is predetermined. He defies the Sisters of Fate and asserts control over his own future, symbolizing his refusal to be a pawn of the gods any longer.

The game ends on a note of rising tension, with the war between the Olympian gods and the Titans about to begin, setting the stage for the epic conclusion in God of War III. Kratos is now more determined than ever to destroy Zeus and the gods of Olympus, no matter the cost.