How to Play God of War

Setup

• 1

  Insert the God of War disc in the PlayStation 2 console. Connect the game controller if you haven't already done so.

• 2

  Turn the TV and console on to the game channel.

• 3

  Select the game start function and begin a new game.

Gameplay - Beginning Sections

• 4

  Use the left Analog stick to move Kratos on screen. The game begins with him fending off attacks from a group of creatures. Use the X button to jump, the Square and Triangle buttons to perform light and heavy attacks, respectively, and the Circle button to grab enemies for grapple attacks.

• 5

  Move to the ship hatch in the back left-hand side of the screen. When the R2 command appears on screen, repeatedly press the R2 button to lift the hatch open.

• 6

  Drop into the ship's interior and locate the health chest. Follow the onscreen prompt to open it. Next to the chest, there are some chests that can be broken open; feel free to do so now.

• 7

  Clear the hallway to the right of the chests, performing a few simple slashes with your weapon to do so.

• 8

  Engage the Hydra in battle. This battle will help teach you the blocking command, which you activate by pressing and holding the L1 trigger button.

• 9

  Watch the Hydra's attack pattern once or twice to get a good idea of how to defeat it. Block when it's winding up for an attack, and attack when it's defenses are down just after the attack. Repeat until the game prompts you to grab the Hydra with the Circle button.

• 10

  Follow the on-screen prompts to execute a series of powerful attacks on the Hydra head until it escapes from you.

• 11

  Use the Left Analog Stick to walk carefully across the exposed ship's beams. Tilt the stick just slightly to walk, instead of moving it to the sides of the controller's plastic housing as you do to run.

• 12

  Run through the interior of the ship along the path. You will see a man trapped behind a lattice, who claims he would rather die than be saved by you. You can attack or ignore him. As you climb to the upper deck, the game prompts you to use the Right Analog Stick to evade attacks.

• 13

  Repeat the techniques you have learned in future battles. When new combos, moves or abilities present themselves, follow the in-game directions to learn these techniques for whatever presents itself next.