Horizon 3 Could Revolutionize Combat by Taking Inspiration from God of War’s Leviathan Axe

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For nearly nine years, the Horizon series by Guerrilla Games has been celebrated for its thrilling third-person battles against humans and colossal machine creatures resembling animals. Since its debut at E3 2015, Aloy has demonstrated exceptional skill in employing Horizon’s combat mechanics, both in stealth tactics and head-on confrontations, with her reliable bow and spear being her trusted tools of choice.

In the upcoming game, Horizon 3, while Aloy’s combat skills and arsenal have been expanded in previous Horizon titles, new weapons can still be introduced for her to discover and master. One potential weapon that Guerrilla could introduce for Aloy in Horizon 3 might draw inspiration from recent God of War games – an axe.

God of War’s Leviathan Axe Explained

Throughout the 25-year history of God of War, Kratos has predominantly wielded his Blades of Chaos – substantial, dagger-shaped weapons attached to chains permanently fused to the Ghost of Sparta’s forearms – as his main weapon. Although Kratos obtained a few other weapons during his destructive journey through mythological Greece, many of these were discarded or abandoned later on.

In some form or another, Kratos’ Blades of Chaos consistently accompanied him, not just for defeating various enemies but also for navigation and problem-solving purposes. But as Santa Monica Studio embarked on a fresh title featuring Kratos beyond his conquest of Olympus, the creators aimed to equip the Ghost of Sparta with a novel weapon that would symbolize both Kratos’ personal evolution and a new mythology.

At E3 2016, the debut of the new God of War game featured a demonstration introducing a weapon that later became known as the Leviathan Axe. In the year 2018, this magical axe was Kratos’ primary weapon within God of War, imbued with an icy essence. It enabled him to freeze opponents, objects, and even project beams of ice and frost, depending on its adjustments.

The axe can also be used to hit various objects, both for solving puzzles and defeating adversaries – much like Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir. Interestingly, it’s disclosed that the dwarves Brok and Sindri crafted the Leviathan Axe as a counterpart to Mjolnir for Faye, Kratos’ late spouse, as a means of protection for the giants of Jötunheim, who were Kratos’ wife.

As Brok and Sindri explain, the design and name of the Leviathan Axe are based on the mighty World Serpent, Jormungandr.

A Potential Axe Weapon for Horizon 3

In the 2018 release of God of War and the upcoming God of War Ragnarok, players found success with both the Blades of Chaos and the Draupnir Spear. However, it was the Leviathan Axe that truly captured fans’ hearts, demonstrating its effectiveness in combat. With the Leviathan Axe being so well-received, developers Guerrilla Games might draw inspiration from this battle axe to incorporate a similar weapon into Horizon 3. While the Horizon series has showcased a variety of weapons throughout its history, most have been ranged options, with only a few melee weapons in the mix:

  • Aloy’s spear in Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West
  • Ryas’ pickaxe in Horizon Call of the Mountain
  • LEGO Horizon Adventures’ brick separators
  • LEGO Horizon Adventures’ spears
  • LEGO Horizon Adventures’ hammers.

In all previous Horizon games, Non-Player Characters (NPCs) have been depicted wielding axes, war hammers, and swords, whereas Aloy only utilized ranged combat in the gameplay. If Guerrilla were to introduce a new melee weapon like an axe in Horizon 3, it could significantly broaden the series’ combat system, offering a more intricate and varied fighting experience beyond just Aloy attacking enemies with a spear.

In essence, Aloy might construct an axe that blends Zero Dawn and Far Zenith technology, offering versatility in terms of damage types like Shock and Tear, or enabling it to switch between a two-handed length for powerful but slow attacks, or a one-handed length for quicker, less damaging strikes. Additionally, this axe could boast a magnetic feature, making it possible for Aloy to retrieve it after throwing, much like the Leviathan Axe. The future of melee combat in the upcoming Horizon installment remains uncertain.

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2025-05-18 05:04