WALKTHROUGH - HADES

THE FALLS OF OCEANUM

If you already haven't, go ahead and level up your Blades of Chaos to level 3.

Once the cutscene ends, Kratos will be standing on a rock ledge in the Underworld. A --SAVE PILLAR-- is nearby.

Run directly ahead to find a rough wall that stretches toward the rock platforms up ahead. Climb onto the wall then move to the left and transition to the ceiling. Climb across the ceiling then slash at both sets of rock stalagmites with the Square button to clear them from the ceiling in order to move above the next rock platform. Move over the rock platform at the end then press the R button to let go of the ceiling and Kratos will fall to the rock platform.

Break the statues for some extra red orbs then hop over to the next rock platform on the right side. A set of Harplings will fly by Kratos once he moves up the small hill ahead. Jump against the ceiling to make Kratos grapple onto the ceiling right after the group

of Harplings fly by then move to the left and slash the rock stalagmites out of the way. Keep moving to the left then fall to the rock platform on the other side with the two chests. Open the --UNMARKED CHEST (GORGON EYE [11/21])-- and the --RED CHEST-- then jump back to the ceiling and climb back across to the previous rock platform.

Walk further ahead while back on the other side then run up the small hill and jump to the rough wall on the other side. Hades soldiers will spawn along the wall. Use Square attacks and Triangle attacks to knock them off the wall. Tap the L and R buttons if they every grab onto Kratos to have Kratos stab one and throw it off. Hop across the gap then climb up to the platform up above. The paths will seal off up above and gorgons will attack.

New Enemy: Gorgon

A gorgon only has two basic attacks - its tail slap combo and a stone gaze. Both hits of the tail slap can be guarded against but Kratos will have to roll away from their stone gaze. Use constant rolls to avoid the green gaze and this will keep Kratos out of their line of sight long enough to where he will not be changed to stone. Failure to do so will turn Kratos into a stone statue and at that time any attack will instantly break him and kill him.

Fight the gorgons off with Plumes of Prometheus or Spirits of Hercules with the blades of chaos. Make sure that the final ground pound of either of those combos hits them and it will cause some very good damage. The Efreet's Demon Fury is a good move to shield Kratos from their gaze as well. The gorgons will release blue orbs upon being defeated. Don't ever jump while fighting these enemies - if Kratos gets caught in a gorgon gaze in mid-air then he will likely turn to stone then hit the ground and shatter instantly!

Use Plumes of Prometheus and Spirits of Hercules to defeat the gorgons quickly. Try to group the final two and kill them off with button tap kills by grabbing them while they are weak for a better blue orb amount.

Step through the doorway up ahead after the fight. Notice the stone statue off to Kratos' right. Break the stone statue then climb down the side of the wall behind it. Jump to the platform across from the lower platform - make two well-timed jumps in the air then grab onto the ledge on the other side and pull up. Move over to the thin ledge along the side of the wall and keep hugging the wall and eventually Kratos will sidle onto the side of the wall. This technique will be used a bit in the upcoming areas. Inch across the side of the wall then open the --UNMARKED CHEST (PHOENIX FEATHER [13/19])-- on the other side. Move back across the wall then hop back over to the other side and climb back up the rough wall.

Hop across the gap in the stairs then follow the hill up ahead. Jump up to the raised area then continue up to the open area ahead. The paths will seal off as Hades soldiers and Cyclops attack in the open area.

New Enemy: Hades Soldier

This is really not that much of a new enemy, the only aspect that separates these from undead soldiers is its appearance - they don't have a ghostly glow to them and their swords glow red when they dash. They still have the same blockable dashing attacks that undead soldiers have and can still be defeated with Plumes or jumping Triangle attacks much like the undead soldiers.

The Hades soldiers are the main annoying aspect of this battle. They will try to sneak in dash attacks while the Cyclops attack so it is best to lay down some heavy attacks on the soldiers and make some of the attacks hit the Cyclops in the process. Use jumping Triangle attacks, Plumes, or Spirits of Hercules to lay the smackdown on the Hades soldiers. If you use a Plume or Spirit of Hercules then try to face a Cyclops during the ground pound portion to damage them as well. You'll need to roll quite often during this fight. Try to distance the Hades soldiers away from the Cyclops and use constant jumping Triangle attacks to spam them with damage. Use The Efreets Demon Fury if you must.

After the battle, open the --BLUE/GREEN CHEST-- if needed then hop up onto the raised building area up ahead and move around the middle piece of wall debris to find a --RED CHEST--.

Continue along the main path to the side. Kratos will reach a gap shortly - yes, you can make this jump! Perform a well-timed double jump and press toward the wall on the other side then Kratos will grab the side of the ledge. Pull up and grab all the Harplings that appear to easily defeat them.

Notice the cracked wall in the background. Walk over to the cracked wall and use attacks to destroy it. A gorgon will spawn and attack on the other side. Open the --UNMARKED CHEST (GORGON EYE [12/21])-- and the --RED CHEST-- after the battle with the gorgon.

Step back out of the alcove then continue further ahead - well, to the right. Notice the green chest on the ledge up above. Find the cracked wall in the large alcove to the side then break it - with the camera angle it is kind of hard to see the crack on it. Grab the block on the other side and pull it out of the small area then position it below the green chest, as close as possible to that high ledge. Hop on top of the block then jump and grab the side of the ledge up above and pull up. Open the --GREEN CHEST-- if needed. Jump and grab the side of the higher ledge then pull up once again.

Notice the rough portion of wall on the wall to Kratos' left. Jump onto the wall and climb across the side with the red waterfalls

streaming in front of it. Climb down to the ledge at the very end. Some Hades soldiers will move into view on a much lower area below your current ledge. Jump down to the area with the Hades soldiers.

Use jumping Triangle attacks and Plumes to make quick work of the Hades soldiers. Find the cracked pillar off to the right. Stand near the cracked pillar until a Circle button icon appears then press the Circle button to make Kratos push down the pillar - pushing down this pillar is vital for reaching a high ledge on the other side. Walk through the doorway then save your game at the --SAVE PILLAR--.

RUINS OF ASPHODEL

Find the --RED CHEST-- against the wall across from the save pillar then open it. You did push down that pillar on the other side of the nearby wall, right? Alright, perfect!

Jump on top of the pillar debris in the background then jump and grab onto the side of the high ledge up above. Break the left wall after pulling up then open the --UNMARKED CHEST (PHOENIX FEATHER [14/19])-- in the hidden alcove behind the wall. Climb the rough wall on the right and pull up to the rock ledge up above.

There is a big tree off to the right and a closed door off to the left. The closed door must be opened by defeating some enemies down the path straight ahead so go ahead and move down that path. It's good to have The Efreet up to level 2 for this next fight. A cutscene will play and Harplings will attack along with a new enemy.

New Enemy: Warrior Wraith

These can be distinguished from the Knight Wraiths by their greenish flames surrounding their body. Much like the Knight Wraith, Kratos must first destroy their shield with a Plume or Spirit of Hercules then attack them. The main difference in fighting these enemies is that their attacks, when they do not have a shield, cannot be blocked - Kratos must roll away from both the overhead slash and followup slice. When they have a shield, their attack combination can be guarded or deflected. Use Plumes or Spirits of Hercules to attack them when they are without shields and use The Efreet's Demon Fury to shield Kratos from their unblockable attacks if they ever begins to attack when he is close - or you can just roll.

Use the usual grab and stomp to defeat the Harplings around the area first of all then turn your attention toward the Warrior Wraiths. Use a Plume of Prometheus to destroy their shields then finish them off with more Plumes or a Spirit of Hercules. Their slash combos cannot be blocked while they are without a shield so be prepared to roll away from their slashes at that time or use The Efreet's Demon Fury (tap the Circle button if you have level 2). After each warrior wraith falls, the door back down the path will light up on each side. Once both of the warrior wraiths have been defeated, the door will open. Open the --BLUE CHEST-- or --GREEN CHEST-- after the battle if needed then go back to the door at the beginning of the path.

Move through the doorway back down the path then follow the new path - into the tunnel with red torches and up the stairs. At the top of the stairs, the doors will seal in the new area. Open the --RED CHEST-- on the left and the --UNMARKED CHEST (GORGON EYE [13/21])-- on the right.

Walk into the big open area up ahead. The openings around the area with seal off and a group of Harplings and two warrior wraiths will attack. Treat this battle much like the last battle, but use The Efreet's Demon Fury to your advantage much more this time since Kratos will have to move a bit more carefully because of some saw blades in the area. Don't step into the tracks stretching across the middle portion of the area. Saw blades will rush out of the openings at the ends of the tracks and these can easily damage Kratos if he is in the way. You may notice that the openings along the far wall shimmer as if they can be broken - they can be broken but Kratos does not have the weapon to break them at this point in the game.

Run across the bridge by moving through the next doorway. Use the --SAVE PILLAR-- next to the closed gate.

THE DOCK OF CHARON

Open the --RED CHEST-- on the left side of this area then walk over to the shimmering knocker on the bell and ring the bell to trigger a cutscene. Make sure to save your game before ringing the bell!

Boss: Charon

Attacks:

Slash Combo: Charon steps toward Kratos with two slashes then performs two more slashes as he tosses his scythe toward Kratos.

Green Fireballs: Charon teleports to a far side of the boat then three green fireballs appear around him. Charon launches the three fireballs one at time toward Kratos.

You mean we don't get health or magic replenish before this boss fight? Those bastards! No not really - I'll spill the beans in a moment.

Charon's slash combo can be blocked or deflected at any point during the combo. Kratos can also interrupt this combo with The Efreet's Demon Fury - this works very well if you have level 2 Efreet and mash the Circle button along with the ground pound! Punish him with a Spirit of Hercules or a Plume of Prometheus while he recovers from this combo. He will eventually teleport to one side of the boat then launch a group of three fireballs at Kratos, one at a time. Deflect each fireball by tapping the L button as soon as the fireball is about to hit Kratos to send it right back toward Charon - do this for all three to damage him badly. Deflecting the green fireballs will give Kratos a small green orb per deflection to give him some health. The fireballs can be blocked as well.

Charon will eventually teleport to the back portion of the boat and green flames will spew out from the bottom floor of the boat. Notice the pillars in front of the flames. These can be broken with the right weapon, but Kratos does not have it yet. What is to become of our fearless antihero!? Well, he must get defeated then live to fight and shout at gods another day.

That's right! You must lose this battle. Charon cannot be defeated during this fight. So everything I have been telling you up till now has been basically useless? Well, to the untrained eye, yes. But we will have our revenge on this maniacal ferryman, mark my words. This battle is only a warm-up to humor Charon for a greater ownage later. A cutscene will commence once Kratos has been defeated.