"God Of War" was released last week and has managed to go straight to the top of the UK game charts, despite the fact it faces fierce competition and is only available on the PlayStation 4. The highly anticipated game sees Kratos return after a long absence and now, having killed all the gods from Greek myth he's taking on Norse mythology.
Highly anticipated
"God of War" was first revealed during Sony's E3 2016 press conference and received a strong response from gamers who were pleased to see Kratos was back. The trailer seriously impressed with its visuals and it seemed this new game would show a more nuanced Kratos, one who was more complex than the enraged killing machine we'd seen in previous games.
Further trailers and gameplay videos showed that, whilst this new game feature more depth than past entries, Kratos is still a warrior who knows how to fight. The new game also introduces Kratos' son, as they embark on a dangerous quest that explores the Norse myths.
Tough competition
"God of War" may have been eagerly anticipated by PlayStation gamers, but the competition in the charts has been tough. Ubisoft's "Far Cry 5" has been in the top spot for the past few weeks and is available on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC, whereas "God of War" is limited to just one platform. Nonetheless, Kratos has managed to usurp "Far Cry 5" which is now down to second place. "Yakuza 6: The Song of Life" has made its debut in third place and "FIFA 18" is in fourth.
"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" brings up the rear in fifth.
Breaking records
Not only has "God of War" managed to go straight to the top, but it is also breaking records. The game has enjoyed the highest first week sales in the series' history, a record previously held by 2010's "God of War 3." The game is also the second best selling game of the year, behind "Far Cry 5." That's no small feat when you keep in mind it's only on the PS4.
The game's sales have no doubt been aided by the incredibly strong reception it has had from critics with many major publishers awarding it perfect scores.
The future
This coming week doesn't see the release of any particularly high profile games and it certainly seems like "God of War" may remain on top for at least another week.
However, titles in the top five such as "Far Cry 5" and "FIFA 18" will no doubt also enjoy continued sales over the next week. Time will tell how long Sony's latest title is able to remain king of the charts. Either way, "God of War" has certainly been another massive hit for Sony's line up of exclusive games.
