The game opens with Kratos standing atop the cliffs of Attica, surveying a city under siege. Unlike the confined spaces of many PSP titles, the scope here is immediately ambitious. The Persian army is laying waste to the city, a tide of enemies crashing against the walls. But the Persian army is merely the appetizer; the main course is a gigantic Basilisk, a fire-breathing monster of mythical proportions tearing through the architecture.
Even by 2025 standards, emulated or played on the PS5 via the God of War Collection, the Battle of Attica holds up due to its art direction. God of War - Chains of Olympus - Battle of Atti...
The Battle of Attica is not a flashback nor a memory; it is the explosive opening salvo of the entire game. The year is approximately 200 B.C. (in the game’s fictional timeline), and the Persian Empire—bolstered by mythical beasts—is launching a naval invasion of the Greek city-state of Attica. The game opens with Kratos standing atop the
After taking enough damage, the Basilisk retreats, allowing Kratos to continue into the city. The Gates of Attica and the Persian King But the Persian army is merely the appetizer;
Searching for usually yields speedrun times or "how to beat the Basilisk" guides. But the level is more than a gameplay hurdle. It is a masterclass in environmental storytelling. It shows us a Kratos at his most brutal, a world at its most fragile, and a war that has no heroes—only survivors and corpses.