God of War: Ascension is an action-adventure game developed by SCE Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. Released in 2013 for the PlayStation 3, the game serves as a prequel to the original God of War. The story revolves around Kratos, the Ghost of Sparta, as he attempts to break free from his servitude to Ares, the Greek god of war. The gameplay involves hack-and-slash combat, puzzle-solving, and exploration, setting the stage for Kratos' iconic journey.