<P> A major change is that Kratos no longer uses his signature double - chained blades, the Blades of Chaos, as his default weapon . Instead, he uses a magical battle axe, called the Leviathan Axe, which is infused with ice elemental magic . The axe can be thrown at enemies and magically summoned back to his hand (similar to Thor's hammer Mjölnir). Larger enemies have precision targets and throwing the axe at those targets stuns the enemy . The weapon can also be thrown at environmental objects to trigger a damaging explosion and it can freeze objects and some enemies in place for puzzle solving until the axe is summoned back to Kratos' hand . The axe has standard light and heavy attacks, and over time, it can be upgraded with runes to allow for special runic attacks, with one slot being for a light runic attack and the other for heavy . This provides players with a variety of options to cater to their own play style . For example, one of the light runic attacks allows Kratos to charge the axe and let out a burst of energy and one of the heavy runic attacks allows Kratos to summon a swirling ice storm . Another new weapon that Kratos utilizes is the Guardian Shield . When not in use, it folds up and appears like a vambrace on Kratos' left forearm . When summoned, the shield can be used offensively and defensively, similar to the Golden Fleece in previous games . Kratos also utilizes hand - to - hand combat, a feature originally introduced in Ascension . The Blades of Chaos are acquired late into the game via a plot device and perform similarly as they did in previous installments, but can also be upgraded with light and heavy runic attacks . </P> <P> Similar to previous games, there is a "Rage" ability called Spartan Rage . Like the previous versions, the Rage ability has a meter that gradually fills during combat . With this ability, Kratos uses powerful bare - handed attacks, as opposed to weapons, to greatly damage enemies . The game also features elements similar to role - playing video games (RPGs). There are crafting resources for the player to find that allow them to create new or upgrade existing armor with better perks . Players also accumulate a currency called Hacksilver, a key component in crafting and purchasing new items . Experience points (XP) are used for learning new combat skills . Throughout the game world, players find chests containing random items, such as Hacksilver and enchantments for improving armor and weapons, as well as two special items, Iðunn's Apples and Horns of Blood Mead, which increase the maximum length of the health and rage meters, respectively . Quick time events have changed from previous games . Enemies display two meters above their heads, one for health and the other for stun . Filling up the stun meter helps to defeat more difficult enemies . When the stun meter is full, a grab - prompt will appear . Depending on the enemy, Kratos may rip it in half or grab them and throw them into other enemies, among other possible outcomes . </P> <P> Although the game is played entirely as Kratos, there are times when the player may choose to passively control Kratos' son, Atreus . One button is dedicated to Atreus and its use depends on the context . For example, if the player needs assistance, they can look at an enemy, press the button, and Atreus will use his Talon Bow to shoot arrows at the enemy . The arrows have little effect on an enemy's health, but do increase the stun meter . Over the course of the game, Atreus helps in combat, traversal, exploration, and puzzle - solving . When facing a large number of enemies, he distracts the weaker ones as Kratos fights the stronger ones . If too many enemies gang up on Atreus, he is knocked out for the remainder of that combat . Just like Kratos, Atreus acquires new skills, armor, special arrows, such as lightning arrows, as well as runic attacks for his Talon Bow, but it only has one slot instead of two . Atreus' runic attacks summon different spectral animals with different abilities . For example, one summons a wolf that attacks enemies, while another summons the squirrel Ratatoskr that will dig up orbs to replenish Kratos' health or rage meters . </P> <P> While the first seven games were loosely based on Greek mythology, this installment takes the series to Norse mythology, but predates the Vikings . Six of the nine realms of Norse mythology can be explored . The majority of the game takes place in the realm of Midgard, inhabited by humans and other creatures and is the same realm that the Greek world had existed in . As more creatures began appearing, many humans fled . Other realms visited as part of the story include Alfheim, the mystical home of the light and dark elves, Helheim, the icy land of the dead, and Jötunheim, the mountainous land of the giants . Other explorable realms include Niflheim, a realm of poisonous fog with a maze - like structure of rewards, and the fire realm Muspelheim, featuring the six Trials of Muspelheim; completing each trial grants rewards and advances Kratos and Atreus closer to the top of a large volcano . Access to the other three realms--Asgard, home of the Æsir gods, Vanaheim, home of the Vanir gods, and Svartalfheim, home of the dwarves--have been blocked by the ruler of Asgard and the Æsir gods, Odin . At the center of the realms is the mythical tree Yggdrasil, which connects each realm together . Although each realm is a different world, they simultaneously exist in the same space . Travel to and from realms can be done by the use of the Bifröst from a root of Yggdrasil contained within a temple located at the center of the Lake of the Nine . The temple was created by the now dead Týr, a peaceful God of War who had traveled to other lands and learned about their mythologies; Odin had him killed as he believed Týr was secretly aiding the giants and would try to overthrow him . </P>

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