Characters of God of War
Appearance
The following is a list of significant characters in the God of War series.
Main characters in series
- Kratos (voiced by TC Carson): Kratos is the protagonist of the God of War series. First appearing in God of War, the character is a power-hungry Spartan who to save his life is eventually forced to serve the Olympian god Ares. During one murderous rampage, Kratos accidentally kills his wife and child. Renouncing Ares and becoming a tormented soul, Kratos serves the gods until eventually betrayed by Zeus. A convuluted series of attempts to free himself from the influence of the gods (and eventually the Titans) and exact revenge follow, with the series becoming darker in tone with each new game.
- Athena (voiced by Carole Ruggier in God of War and God of War II, Erin Torpey in God of War: Chains of Olympus and God of War III): The goddess of wisdom and Kratos' mentor and ally. First appearing in God of War, Athena charges Kratos with the murder of Ares (as Zeus has forbidden divine involvement) and is instrumental in allowing Kratos to become the new God of War. Athena is still sympathetic towards Kratos even after he renounces the gods and is betrayed by Zeus. Although dying trying to protect Zeus from Kratos, Athena is resurrected and elevated to a new level of understanding. Athena becomes Kratos' ally once more, and guides him to Pandora's Box, which will allow Kratos to kill Zeus and end Olympus.
- Gaia (voiced by Linda Hunt in God of War and God of War II, Susan Blakeslee in God of War III): First appearing in God of War II, the mother of the Titans, Gaia was banished with her fellow Titans at the conclusion of the Great War. Gaia saves Kratos from the Underworld after a disastrous encounter with Zeus, and directs the Spartan to find the Sisters of Fate in order to change his fate. Gaia is eventually plucked from time with the other Titans by a successful Kratos. Wounded by Zeus after an abortive attack on Olympus, Gaia eventually returns to confront Zeus and Kratos in a final battle. Kratos, however, kills Gaia by destroying her heart.
- Zeus (voiced by Paul Eiding in God of War, Corey Burton in God of War II and God of War III): The King of the Olympian Gods. Zeus initially aids Kratos against Ares, but eventually Zeus tricks Kratos into draining his godly powers into the Blade of Olympus, stating it is necessary so as to deal with a new threat (actually created by Zeus). Kratos, stripped of his power, is mortally wounded while human, and killed by Zeus. With the help of the Titan Gaia, Kratos uses the power of the Sisters of Fate to return to the moment Zeus betrayed him and after extensive combat defeats the King of Gods. Zeus is saved by Athena, who sacrifices herself to preserve Olympus. Before dying, Athena reveals that Kratos is in fact Zeus' son, and that he fears a perpetuation of the son-killing-father cycle (as he himself imprisoned his father Cronos). This is confirmed when Kratos discovers that Zeus was infected with fear when Kratos opened Pandora's Box and used its' power to kill Ares. After an enlightening encounter with Pandora, Kratos finally kills Zeus.
Olympian gods
- Aphrodite (voiced by Carole Ruggier in God of War, April Stewart in God of War III): The Goddess of Love. Aids Kratos by empowering the head of the slain Medusa, and later offers advice regarding the architect Daedelus and directs Kratos to her estranged husband, Hephaestus. It is possible for the player to engage in a "sex mini-game" with Aphrodite.
- Ares (voiced by Steven Blum in God of War, Fred Tatasciore in God of War III): The former God of War. In a moment of desperation, Kratos calls to the God of War, and pledges his life in servitude if Ares will spare him from his foes and provide the power to destroy them. Ares hears Kratos' prayer and bonds the weapons the Blades of Chaos to his new servant. A victorious Kratos eventually renounces his servitude to Ares when the god tricks Kratos into accidentally killing his own wife and child. When Ares wages war on the city of Athens, Kratos is tasked by Athena with finding Pandora's Box, an artifact capable of destroying Ares. Ultimately successful, Kratos ascends to Olympus and replaces Ares as the new God of War.
- Artemis (voiced by Claudia Black): The Goddess of the hunt. In God of War, Artemis aids Kratos by giving him the Blade of Artemis as a secondary weapon.
- Athena: See "Main Characters" section.
- Eos (voiced by Erin Torpey): The Goddess of Dawn and the sister of Helios. First appearing in God of War: Chains of Olympus, Eos advises Kratos of the machinations of Morpheus, the god of darkness, who has taken advantage of her brother's disappearance.
- Hades (voiced by Nolan North in God of War, Clancy Brown in God of War III): The God of the Underworld. Although initially aiding Kratos by bestowing on him the magical gift the "Army of Hades", he becomes a bitter foe. The combined murders of Hades' wife Persephone, niece Athena and brother Poseidon drive him to near madness and a confrontation with Kratos. The outcomes ends with Hades being killed, which in turn frees the spirits of the Underworld.
- Helios (voiced by Dwight Schultz in God of War: Chains of Olympus, Crispin Freeman in God of War III): The God of the Sun. In God of War: Chains of Olympus, Helios is initially kidnapped by the Titan Atlas on behalf of the goddess Persephone, who intends to use his power to destroy the pillar that supports the world, and end it and Olympus. The plan is thwarted by Kratos and Helios is rescued. Left for dead by the Titan Perses when Kratos brings them to Olympus, Helios remains loyal to Zeus and attempts to trick Kratos at the cost of his life.
- Hephaestus (voiced by Rip Torn): The God's Blacksmith, the creator of Pandora and Pandora's Box. Hephaestus concealed the truth about his artificial "daughter" from Zeus instead advising that the Box should be stored in an impregnable temple on the back of Cronos instead of the Flames of Olympus. Kratos, however, overcame the monsters and traps in the temple and eventually opened the Box. This act released three evils - anger, fear and hate - that had been previously contained into the world. Infected by fear, Zeus beat and deformed Hephaestus as punishment before being sent to the Underworld. Kratos locates Hephaestus in his quest to find the Flame of Olympus and eventually Pandora: the key to opening Pandora's Box. Hephaestus betrays Kratos by sending him into what is hoped to be fatal confrontation with the Titan Cronos for the Omphalos Stone. Kratos, however, returns triumphant and kills Hephaestus, taking the god's latest creation - the "Nemesis Whip" - as a weapon.
- Hera (voiced by Adrienne Barbeau): The Queen of the Gods and Zeus' jaded wife. Uses the Greek demigod Hercules in a vain attempt to kill Kratos. Eventually killed by Kratos for mocking Pandora, to whom Kratos has become attached.
- Hermes (voiced by Greg Ellis): The Messenger of the Gods. First appearing in God of War III, Hermes is one of several gods that attempt to oppose Kratos. Caught off guard, Hermes is butchered by Kratos, who confiscates the "Boots of Hermes" for his personal use.
- Morpheus: The God of Dreams and the silent ally of the goddess Persephone. After Helios is taken from the sky by Atlas, Morpheus forces both gods and mortals to slumber. Although not seen, Morpheus is thwarted when Kratos kills Persephone, imprisons the Titan Atlas, and returns Helios to the sky.
- Persephone (voiced by Marina Gordon in God of War: Chains of Olympus): The Queen of the Underworld. Bitter about being abandoned to the Underworld by her fellow gods, Persephone enters into an alliance with Morpheus and then frees and uses the Titan Atlas to capture the god Helios. Intending to use Helios' power to destroy the pillar that supports the world (and therefore Olympus), Persephone is eventually killed by Kratos.
- Poseidon (voiced by Fred Tatasciore in God of War, Gideon Emery in God of War III): Another god who initially aids Kratos in God of War, bestowing on him the magical ability "Poseidon's Rage". Killed by Kratos during the initial assault on Olympus.
- Zeus: See "Main Characters" section.
The Titans
- Atlas (voiced by Fred Tatasciore in God of War: Chains of Olympus, Michael Clarke Duncan in God of War II): A four-armed Titan imprisoned in Tartarus after the Great War. Atlas is eventually freed by the goddess Persephone and used to capture the god Helios. Before Kratos kills Persephone, he chains Atlas to the weakened pillar that supports the world, doomed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders forever. Atlas mocks Kratos and his choice to defend the gods, stating he will one day regret the decision. Kratos eventually returns to Atlas, who aids the Spartan learning of Kratos' mission to kill Zeus.
- Cronos (voiced by Lloyd Sherr in God of War II, George Ball in God of War III): Cronos learnt of a prophecy that foretold one of his children would become greater than him. In an attempt to cheat fate, Cronos devoured his own children and imprisoned them in his stomach. Due to the trickery by Cronos' wife Rhea, the young child Zeus was spared the fate of his siblings, and secretly grew to manhood. Zeus freed his siblings and defeated Cronos and the Titans in the Great War. As punishment, Cronos was chained and forced to crawl through the Desert of Lost Souls carrying Pandora's Temple on his back.
Kratos also learns that at some point Cronus vainly attempted to change his fate by offering a gift (the gigantic stone "Steeds of Time") to The Sisters of Fate. When Kratos eventually penetrated the Temple and retrieved the Box, Cronos was cast into Tartarus. When Kratos travelled to Tarterus in search of the Omphalos Stone, he was attacked by a vengeful Cronos who blamed Kratos for Gaia's death. Cronos was eventually killed by Kratos.
- Epimetheus (God of War III): A Titan of living rock who appears in the assault on Olympus.
- Gaia: See "Main Characters" section.
- Oceanus (God of War III): A Titan of water and lightning who appears in the assault on Olympus.
- Perses (God of War III): The fiery Titan of Destruction that appears in the assault of Olympus. Although Perses mortally wounds Helios, the Titan is eventually killed when he turns on Kratos.
- Prometheus (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer in God of War II): Punished by Zeus for giving mankind fire. Made mortal and attacked by an eagle that rips out his liver (that regrows instantly) everyday. Prometheus begs Kratos to release him from his torment. Kratos does so and receives the power of the Titans, "Rage of the Titans", from Prometheus' ashes.
- Rhea (flashback in God of War II): The wife of Cronos. When Cronos devours their children in an attempt to cheat the prophecy that one of his children will become greater than him, Rhea tricks her husband and has the young Zeus hidden away and protected.
- Typhon (voiced by Fred Tatasciore in God of War II): A Titan Beast imprisoned within a mountain after the Great War. Gaia directs Kratos to Typhon for aid, although when the Titan refuses, Kratos blinds Typhon and steals a magical bow.
Heroes
- Theseus (voiced by Paul Eiding in God of War II): A servant of the Sisters of Fate,and the first of several Greek heroes that Kratos encounters on his journey to the Temple of the Fates. Killed in a challenge with Kratos.
- Perseus (voiced by Harry Hamlin in God of War II): The second Greek hero Kratos encounters in his quest to find the Sisters of Fate. Also seeking the Sisters in the hope of reviving his true love, Perseus believes Kratos' appearance is a test and attacks the Spartan, but is killed in combat.
- Icarus (voiced by Bob Joles in God of War II): The son of Daedelus and now insane. Icarus attacks Kratos and when stripped of his wings (which Kratos confiscates for his own use) falls to his death into Tartarus.
- Hercules (voiced by Kevin Sorbo in God of War III): A demigod and half-brother to Kratos. Hercules seeks to claim the throne of "God of War" after performing a thirteenth unofficial and final labour: the murder of Kratos. Killed in combat by Kratos, who claims Hercules' "Nemean Cestus" as his own.
Minor characters
- Boat Captain (voiced by Keith Ferguson in God of War I and II, Josh Keaton in God of War III): A humourous addition, the Boat Captain encounters Kratos in both God of War and God of War II and is mentioned in God of War III. Meetings with the uncaring Kratos are always to his detriment - even in the afterlife.
- Medusa (in God of War): Queen of the Gorgons, and killed in battle by Kratos. The goddess Aphrodite empowers the severed head, allowing Kratos to use it as a weapon.
- The Grave Digger (voiced by Paul Eiding): A mysterious figure who counsels Kratos in God of War, and eventually rescues Kratos from the Underworld.
- Oracle of Athens (voiced by Susan Blakeslee): In God of War, she directs Kratos to find Pandora's Box: the key to defeating Ares.
- The Village Oracle (voiced by Susan Blakeslee): A female soothsayer who appears in God of War, and attempts to warn away Kratos - still in the service of Ares - when he arrives at a village dedicated to Athena. Curses Kratos once he is tricked into killing his wife and child by Ares, proclaiming that "from this day forward, the mark of your terrible deed will be visible to all" as the ashes of Kratos' burnt family merge with his skin. This turns Kratos' skin ash-white and earns him the title "Ghost of Sparta".
- Lysandra and Calliope (voiced by Gwendoline Yeo and Debi Derryberry): Kratos' wife and daughter respectively. Accidentally slain by Kratos on account of trickery by Ares. The murders were instrumental in Kratos becoming the "Ghost of Sparta" and renouncing his servitude to Ares. Kratos is briefly reunited with Calliope in the underworld in the Fields of Elysium, but is forced to abandon her to save the world. With the aid of Pandora, Kratos finally forgives himself for his crime.
- Persian King (voiced by Fred Tatasciore): Leader of the Persian forces that invade the Greek city of Attica in God of War: Chains of Olympus. Killed in battle by Kratos.
- Charon (voiced by Dwight Schultz): The ferryman of the river Styx in the Underworld that appears in God of War: Chains of Olympus. Guides lost souls to their final destination. Although almost killing Kratos in a first encounter, Kratos returns and destroys Charon.
- Barbarian King (voiced by Bob Joles in God of War II, Fred Tatasciore in God of War III): The ruler of a horder of barbarians that threatened to overwhelm the Spartan army. Almost killed Kratos in combat but was undone at the critical moment: Kratos offered up his life to Ares and was returned to battle equipped with the Blades of Chaos, with the Spartan using the blades to decaptitate the King. The Barbarian King eventually fought his way out of the Underworld, and intent on revenge found and confronted Kratos on the Island of Creation. Kratos, however, killed the King once again.
- Euryale (voiced by Jennifer Martin in God of War II): a Gorgon, and a servant of the The Sisters of Fate. Seeks revenge against Kratos for his murder of her sister, Medusa.
- The Last Spartan (voiced by Josh Keaton): A loyal follower of Kratos that appears in God of War II. Witnesses the destruction of Sparta at the hands of a vengeful Zeus. Thinking Kratos dead, the Spartan attempts to find the Sisters of Fate to change the fate of Sparta. Accidentally killed by Kratos, but reveals the extent of Zeus' treachery before dying.
- The Sisters of Fate: A trio of beings who control the fate of all mortals, gods and Titans. All are eventually killed by Kratos, who seizes their power.
- Lakhesis (voiced by Leigh-Allyn Baker): One of the Sisters of Fate and determined to deny Kratos his revenge.
- Atropos (voiced by Debi Mae West in God of War II, Marina Gordon in God of War III): The second Sister of Fate.
- Clotho (voiced by Susan Silo in God of War II, Marina Gordon in God of War III): The final Sister of Fate and gigantic keeper of the loom that decides the final fate of all.
- Peirithous (voiced by Simon Templeman in God of War III): a prisoner of the Underworld and possesses the Bow of Apollo. Killed by Kratos, his bow confiscated for Kratos' use.
- Judges of the Underworld King Rhadamanthus, King Aeacus, and King Minos (voiced by Mark Moseley in God of War III): the judges of the dead. The trio hold the Chain of Balance connecting Olympus to the Underworld.
- Daedalus (voiced by Malcolm McDowell): A brilliant architect, Daedalus constructs the labyrinth in which Pandora is imprisoned after Zeus discovers her existance in God of War III. Zeus also promised to reunite Daedelus with his son Icarus as a reward, but never revealed that Icarus was in fact already dead. Daedelus is killed when Kratos unites the labyrinth.
- Pandora (voiced by Natalie Lander): an animated creation of Hephaestus who becomes like a daughter to him. Imprisoned by Zeus once he is infected by the fear released from Pandora's Box in God of War III. Learning Pandora is the key to pacifying the Flame of Olympus that surrounds Pandora's Box, Kratos rescues her. Reluctantly allows Pandora to sacrifice herself to open the Box and mourns her passing, as Pandora reminded him of his deceased child Calliope. Pandora reappears in Kratos' psyche and helps him find forgiveness for his past acts, thereby allowing him to finally overcome and kill Zeus.