God of War Series - Recurring Characters

Recurring Characters

• Kratos: The protagonist of the God of War series. Kratos is a power-hungry Spartan who, to save his life, is forced to serve the Olympian god Ares. During a murderous rampage, Kratos accidentally kills his wife and child. He renounces Ares, becomes a tormented soul, serves the gods for ten years, becomes the God of War and is revealed to be a demigod and the son of Zeus, who betrays him. A series of convoluted attempts to free himself from the influence of the gods and the Titans and exact vengeance follows, culminating in a confrontation with Zeus. Kratos is voiced by Terrence C. Carson, with Antony Del Rio voicing the character as a child in God of War: Ghost of Sparta.

• Athena: The Goddess of Wisdom and Kratos' mentor and ally. Athena tasks Kratos with finding Helios as in the absence of light, the god Morpheus has caused the remaining gods to fall into a deep slumber. She later charges Kratos with the murder of Ares and is instrumental in allowing Kratos to become the new God of War. Athena is still sympathetic towards Kratos even after she begs him to stop his second quest for the Ambrosia of Asclepius, lies about his brother Deimos, and after Kratos renounced the gods. Athena sacrifices herself to protect Zeus from Kratos, and is resurrected. With ulterior motives, she becomes Kratos' ally again and guides him to the Flame of Olympus surrounding Pandora's Box, which will allow Kratos to kill Zeus and end the reign of Mount Olympus. The character is voiced by Carole Ruggier in God of War and God of War II and Erin Torpey in God of War: Chains of Olympus, God of War III, and God of War: Ghost of Sparta.

• Gaia: The mother of the Titans and embodiment of Earth. Gaia was banished with her fellow Titans at the conclusion of the Great War. She saves Kratos from the Underworld after a disastrous encounter with Zeus, and directs him to find The Sisters of Fate in order to change his fate. Kratos is successful, and plucks Gaia and the Titans from the moment in time before their defeat in the Great War to launch an abortive attack on Olympus. Wounded in the attempt, Gaia abandons Kratos, who eventually finds her injured. Kratos cripples Gaia, but she returns to interrupt a final battle between Kratos and Zeus. The pair enter Gaia, and Kratos destroys her heart, killing the Titan. The character is voiced by Linda Hunt in God of War II and Susan Blakeslee in God of War III.

• Zeus: The King of the Olympian Gods and the main antagonist of God of War II and God of War III. Zeus and Ares believed the destruction of Olympus was to come by the hands of Kratos' brother Deimos, so they had Deimos imprisoned and tortured by Thanatos. Many years later, Zeus aids Kratos against Ares, bestowing him with the magic "Zeus' Fury." Infected with fear, Zeus tricks Kratos into draining his godly powers into the Blade of Olympus, stating it is necessary in order to deal with a new threat. Kratos, stripped of his power, is mortally wounded and killed by Zeus. With the help of Gaia, Kratos uses the power of the Sisters of Fate to return to the moment Zeus betrayed him and after extensive combat, he defeats the King of Gods. Zeus is saved by Athena, who sacrifices herself to preserve Olympus. Before she dies, Gaia tells Kratos that he is Zeus' son, and that Zeus fears a perpetuation of the cycle of patricide. After an enlightening encounter with Pandora, Kratos finally kills Zeus. The character is voiced by Paul Eiding in God of War, Corey Burton in God of War II and God of War III, and Fred Tatasciore in God of War: Ghost of Sparta.