NEW GOD OF WAR GAME

God of War will be out on April 20 which means we might not learn too much more before its release. Between now and then don't expect much bar launch trailers and hype of  NEW GOD OF WAR GAME. Good thing we know loads already, though. From a very odd FIFA inspiration for the new combat, fresh weapons, a new upgrade system (the orbs are gone) and how Kratos' son Atreus fits into both the gameplay and the story. Game like Clash of canes

Fast facts

• God of War release date: April 20, 2018
• Format: PS4
• Developer: Sony Santa Monica
• Price: FREE DOWNLOAD CLICK

What's changed in the new God of War game

Kratos is no longer the permanently furious, yelling war machine he once was. He's a dad now. Okay, so he might still have a voice that makes it sound like he eats rocks for breakfast, and you certainly can't deny that the swing of his axe is as deadly as his dual blades, but Kratos has changed. Now he's in a mysterious Norse land, he's calmer and struggling with fatherhood. By his side is Atreus, his young son who's handy with a bow. Despite his age, you can use this young and definitely very squishy son in double team attacks and use him to translate runes and magic inscriptions, as Kratos hasn't really mastered that. He is Greek, after all. But there's far, far more to God of War than a father/son relationship. We've got details on collector's editions, release dates, combat, and everything else you could possibly need.

How has new God Of  War's combat changed? 

 Gone are those iconic chained Blades of Athena, and instead Kratos now has an ax. Combat’s moved to the trigger buttons and lets you juggle hacking blows and fists while throwing and recalling the axe as a projectile. There's a dash of Dark Souls' hefty, evade-and-parry focused battling now. It all gives everything a swift rhythm and flow, and a whole lot of environmental kill opportunities.

God of War's new combat

 One interesting twist is the inspiration behind the new fighting system. Director Cory Barlog likens God of War's new combat too and H2, of all things, FIFA. The theory is that like the sports sim, fighting is more or less the same each time, but “extremely sort of non-deterministic." Like FIFA, he explains, "every game is different, despite every game being the same; there’s this drama that exists in every single match." The idea being that Kratos' axe swinging abilities recreates those moments.