God of War has gone through one of the most successful modern resurgences of all time. The original games were quite engaging in their own right, but it goes without saying that Kratos' one-dimensional angry persona led to his character being quite simple when it came to the majority of the original trilogy's runtime. So, when God of War's reboot came around, fans were elated to see a more mature Kratos taking on the daunting task of being a father.
Of course, while the combat system in the modern God of War games has also changed quite a bit, there's no denying that the original trilogy's combat still holds a soft spot in the hearts of many fans. Players who want to check out the classic gameplay of God of War and how it inspired other titles should check out the following games that add their own unique spin to this combat system.
10 Thor: God Of Thunder
During the heyday of Marvel movies, there was a string of video game tie-ins that accompanied most movies. One such title that flew under the radar of most gamers is Thor: God of Thunder.
The game's lack of polish showed in each and every facet of its design, with the combat being a shallow interpretation of God of War's amazing combat system. It was clear that fans looking for experiences matching God of War's quality would have to expand their search quite a bit.
9 Conan
For what it's worth, there's no denying that Conan had a ton of heart and is a fun title as long as players are willing to overlook certain faults. However, this is easier said than done, with Conan being pretty rough around the edges in many ways.
As a result, the game ended up being a fairly unremarkable title that didn't really turn many heads. That being said, players who like God of War's classic combat and don't mind a few shortcuts taken here and there in terms of overall game design will find a lot of things to love about Conan.
8 Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow
In a bid to modernize the series, Konami released a trilogy of Castlevania titles that ended up being fairly unremarkable 3D fighting games. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow was the first title that kickstarted this supposed resurgence for the Castlevania series.
As most people would expect, turning a revolutionary series like Castlevania into a soulless God of War clone didn't sit well with many hardcore fans. Some of the battles in the series were also inspired by Shadow of the Colossus, although this imitation also paled in comparison to the original.
7 Heavenly Sword
The PlayStation 3 took a while to get going, with its long list of exclusives slowly increasing as each year passed. One of the earlier exclusives on the PlayStation 3 that isn't remembered by many is Heavenly Sword.
Controlling Nariko and slashing through enemies using a litany of flashy moves made for a great time. However, while Heavenly Sword was a pretty solid game in its own right, it never really managed to capture the magic that God of War did in any way.
6 X-Men Origins: Wolverine
For a movie tie-in game, it's surprising just how enjoyable X-Men Origins: Wolverine is. The combat was satisfying, crunchy, and gory enough to satisfy most fans of this clawed superhero.
The game featured a lunge mechanic that was satisfying to pull off every single time. It's a shame that more people don't talk about X-Men Origins: Wolverine since it added a fresh and unique spin to the classic God of War combat system that made it such a blast.
5 Darksiders
Darksiders is easily one of the most popular God of War clones out there. It helped that the overall lore of the series was also pretty engaging in its own right, making Darksiders a worthwhile world to explore.
The game's action-packed combat was spaced out with puzzles that actually took some brain power to solve. All in all, Darksiders is an excellent action-adventure title that fans of God of War will have a great time with.
4 Dante's Inferno
Dante's Inferno is another popular God of War clone that many people are pretty familiar with. While the combat itself might've been slightly repetitive, it's far from the only thing that's great about Dante's Inferno.
The captivating setting of the game, Hell itself, was surprisingly fun to explore. Each stage had a strong sense of art direction that helped Dante's Inferno stand out quite a bit from the rest of the God of War clones that were being peddled around.
3 Asura's Wrath
Asura's Wrath features a protagonist who can rival Kratos in terms of sheer rage. Just like Kratos, Asura has also been betrayed by the gods and demands justice for the atrocities he had to overcome.
The fun action combat is broken up by several quick-time events that make the title appear incredibly cinematic. It's unfortunate that Capcom had gated the actual ending of this game since the lack of any controversy might've made most people realize just how amazing Asura's Wrath really is.
2 Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance can definitely compete for the distinction of being one of the greatest video game spinoffs of all time. Controlling a cybernetic ninja in the form of Raiden makes for a great time, with PlatinumGames showing once again why they're masters of their craft.
The combat of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeace is extremely challenging but well worth mastering. The sheer satisfaction that comes from obliterating a tough enemy with a series of expert combos is something that not many titles can replicate, even in the current generation of gaming!
1 Bayonetta
Another PlatinumGames title that is inspired by God of War's classic combat system is Bayonetta. Controlling the titular witch and using her impressive suite of abilities makes for a great time.
Getting a good rating in Bayonetta's stages requires the player to use everything at their disposal. The instant-death QTEs might be one of the most hated parts of the game, but it's a small asterisk in what is otherwise a masterful action title.