M: What do you know about the original version of God of war that I should know about before I start playing? As in, secrets or goals that I should be working towards that I wouldn’t know about without having played through once

G: If you're playing the original God of War (2005), here are some things you should know before starting:

Secrets & Unlockables

  1. Gorgon Eyes & Phoenix Feathers – Collecting all of these upgrades Kratos’ health and magic, respectively. Prioritize finding them to make the game easier.
  2. Secret Sex Mini-Game – Right at the beginning, there's an optional minigame with two women on Kratos' ship. Completing it gives you extra red orbs.
  3. Challenge of the Gods – After beating the game, you unlock this mode, where completing all 10 challenges rewards you with new costumes that offer gameplay bonuses.
  4. Secret Costumes – Beating the game unlocks costumes like Ares Armor (which doubles damage dealt and halves damage taken). Some costumes drastically alter gameplay.
  5. Hidden Muse Keys – In the Rings of Pandora, finding both Muse Keys lets you access a room that grants permanent health and magic upgrades.

Missable Stuff & Gameplay Tips

  1. Orbs from Combo Kills – Killing enemies with high combo chains drops more red orbs. Using the Blades of Chaos' square-square-triangle (Plume of Prometheus) helps build combos efficiently.
  2. Save Magic for Tough Fights – Some battles are much easier if you save Poseidon's Rage or Army of Hades instead of using them on small enemies.
  3. Blade Upgrades Matter – Prioritize upgrading the Blades of Chaos early. They improve damage, range, and add more moves that help in combat.
  4. Atlas Quake is Overpowered – Found late in the game, this magic attack is great for crowd control.
  5. The Cliffs of Madness Can Be Confusing – This section has multiple paths, and it's easy to miss power-ups. Be thorough before progressing.
  6. Save Before the Hades Section – The platforming here is frustrating, and falling means restarting certain sections.

Would you rather have a spoiler-free approach, or are you fine with knowing some of the harder-to-find story and gameplay secrets?

M: I found a pretty good guide to the chests. Are there any other hidden things that you wouldn’t find in a thorough play through? Spoilers are fine. I beat this 20 years ago, I’m doing it for posterity and nostalgia.

G: Since you already have a solid chest guide, here are some other hidden or easy-to-miss things:

Lesser-Known Secrets & Details

  1. Secret Cutscene with Ares – If you stay on the rope bridge leading to Pandora’s Temple without moving for about a minute, a secret cutscene plays where Ares taunts Kratos.
  2. Hidden Extra Red Orbs – In the Path of Hades, there are breakable walls and pillars that give extra red orbs, but they don’t stand out much.
  3. Glitchy High Jump (Infinite Air Hike) – If you block and jump at the right time (called "Hades Reverse"), Kratos can jump much higher than intended, letting you bypass some sections.
  4. Backtracking for Bonus Orbs – Some rooms with destructible objects reset after reloading the game, letting you farm red orbs (most notable before the Cliffs of Madness).
  5. Destroy All Statues in Athens – Breaking all the statues in Athens leads to a small orb reward, but more importantly, it’s a fun little challenge.
  6. Kratos' Family Easter Egg – In the Architect’s Tomb, after the emotional scene with his son’s body, Kratos can attack the corpse repeatedly, causing a secret line of dialogue where he expresses regret.

If you're aiming for a full nostalgia run, would you be interested in some of the known glitches and exploits to mess around with?