Australia- -enfr... — God Of War - Ascension -europe
One of Ascension’s most controversial additions was its multiplayer mode—a gladiatorial arena where players pledged allegiance to Zeus, Ares, Hades, or Poseidon. In North America, this was marketed as innovation. In Europe and Australia, where the single-player, cinematic experience is culturally sacrosanct (think Heavy Rain, Uncharted, or the local darling L.A. Noire), multiplayer was seen as a desecration.
The “-EnFr…” release included all multiplayer content, but the latency issues across the European and Australian broadband infrastructure (vastly inferior to Asian and Northern European standards in 2013) rendered it a laggy, frustrating experience. More importantly, the multiplayer’s existence felt like a betrayal of the series’ core promise: that Kratos’s journey was a lonely, brutal, personal pilgrimage. By forcing PvP combat into the DNA of Ascension, the developers diluted the very rage they sought to explain. For the European critic, this was not evolution; it was pastiche—a God of War game embarrassed to be a God of War game.
Kratos’s primary weapon – the Blades of Chaos (re-forged for this prequel) – can be aligned with four elements, each offering unique gameplay:
You switch elements on the fly using the D-pad, creating deep combat variety.
God of War: Ascension refined the classic hack-and-slash formula with several new mechanics:
Without spoiling the entire plot, Ascension explores Kratos’s psychological torment after being tricked into murdering his family by Ares. Bound by the Furies (the chthonic enforcers of oaths), Kratos breaks free and seeks to destroy the Oath Stone to fully release his bond to Ares.
If you are a French-speaking God of War fan in Europe or Australia, the EnFr edition is the definitive way to experience the prequel. For English-only speakers, any PAL copy will suffice. However, for collectors and linguists, this variant offers unique packaging and localization not found in the US release.
Ascension contains clever foreshadowing: Kratos first uses a version of the Blade of Olympus and learns that his fate as the “Destroyer of Worlds” is already written. For fans who played the original trilogy, this adds tragic irony. For newcomers, it’s a brutal, standalone revenge tale.
If you are a completionist in Europe or Australia, you owe it to yourself to play Ascension—specifically the EN/FR version. It is the "Empire Strikes Back" of the Greek saga: darker, slower, and narratively messy, but crucial for understanding why Kratos tried to bury his rage before the Norse era.
Pick it up if: You want to see the graphical peak of the PS3 era and you speak either English or French. Skip it if: You only like the Dad-of-Boy soft reboot.
Have you played the French dub of God of War? Let us know in the comments below. Search tags: #GodOfWarAscension #PS3 #EU #Australia #FrenchGaming #Kratos
God of War: Ascension - A Warrior's Quest for Redemption
Europe and Australia Release Date: March 12, 2013
EnFr: Un voyage de rédemption pour Kratos
God of War: Ascension, the latest installment in the critically acclaimed series, has finally arrived in Europe and Australia on March 12, 2013. This action-adventure game, developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, marks the fifth main installment in the God of War series.
Storyline
The game takes place 10 years before the events of the first God of War. Kratos, the protagonist, is still haunted by his past and struggles with his demigod status. After being betrayed by his friends and forced to serve the Olympian gods, Kratos is on a quest for revenge and redemption.
Players will embark on a perilous journey as Kratos, seeking to fulfill an oath to his old friend, Ares, and to free himself from the burden of servitude. Along the way, he will encounter fierce enemies, form unlikely alliances, and uncover dark secrets about his past.
Gameplay and Features
God of War: Ascension offers a unique blend of combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving. The game features:
Graphics and Soundtrack
The game boasts stunning visuals, with detailed character models, environments, and effects. The soundtrack, composed by Michael Larson and Bear McCreary, perfectly complements the on-screen action, immersing players in the world of ancient Greece.
Regional Release and Languages
God of War: Ascension is now available in Europe and Australia on March 12, 2013, for the PlayStation 3 console. The game supports multiple languages, including:
Conclusion
God of War: Ascension is a thrilling addition to the series, offering a rich storyline, engaging gameplay, and stunning visuals. If you're a fan of action-adventure games or the God of War series, this game is a must-play. Get ready to embark on Kratos' epic quest for redemption and experience the wrath of the gods.
Déchaînez-vous avec Kratos
10 ans avant les événements du premier God of War, Kratos est toujours hanté par son passé et lutte contre son statut de demi-dieu. Après avoir été trahi par ses amis et forcé de servir les dieux olympiens, Kratos est en quête de vengeance et de rédemption.
Jouez à God of War: Ascension et découvrez un jeu d'action-aventure unique, avec un système de combat basé sur la frénésie, des capacités magiques et un mode coopératif. Rejoignez Kratos dans son voyage périlleux et découvrez les secrets sombres de son passé.
Disponible le 12 mars 2013 en Europe et en Australie
God of War: Ascension (Europe/Australia) version, identified by the product code BCES-01741 God of War - Ascension -Europe Australia- -EnFr...
, is the standard PAL release for the PlayStation 3 that includes multiple language options, including English (En) French (Fr)
. Released in March 2013, this version serves as a prequel to the entire God of War
series, depicting Kratos's struggle to break his blood oath to Ares six months after the death of his family. RPCS3 Wiki Key Version Details Language Support (BCES-01741)
: This specific European disc contains several languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Russian. Regional Availability : This version was released across mainland Europe on March 13, 2013 , and in Australia on March 14, 2013 : It carries a rating in Europe and an rating in Australia due to high-impact violence. eBay Australia Gameplay Features
Released in March 2013, God of War: Ascension is the seventh installment in the legendary franchise and serves as a prequel to the entire Greek saga. This specific regional version—the Europe/Australia PAL edition (often identified by Product Code BCES-01741)—is highly sought after by collectors and international players due to its comprehensive multi-language support, including English (En) and French (Fr). A Prequel of Vengeance and Redemption
Set six months after Kratos was tricked into killing his wife and daughter by Ares, Ascension explores the mortal Spartan’s struggle to break his blood oath to the God of War. Imprisoned and tortured by the three Furies—the enforcers of punishment—Kratos must fight for his freedom and sanity in a story that humanizes the Ghost of Sparta more than any previous entry. Regional Features: Europe & Australia (PAL)
The European and Australian versions are essentially identical in terms of content and technical specifications. SerialStation BCES-01741 - God of War: Ascension - SerialStation
For fans in the European and Australian markets, God of War: Ascension
debuted as a significant prequel, specifically tailored for the PAL region with localized language support and exclusive retail editions.
Dive into the world of Kratos with these official unboxings and gameplay highlights:
God of War Ascension Official Collector's Edition Unboxing (HD) 4K views · 13 years ago YouTube · ONE Media + Unboxing God of War: Ascension - Collector's Edition 64K views · 13 years ago YouTube · finngamer Unboxing: God of War Ascension Collector's Edition 23K views · 13 years ago YouTube · Jonathan Morrison Regional Launch Details
The game saw a staggered release across Europe and Australia in March 2013: Mainland Europe & PAL: March 13, 2013. Australia & New Zealand: March 14, 2013. United Kingdom & Ireland: March 15, 2013. Language Support (EnFr Versions)
European physical releases often featured multi-language discs to cover various regional markets.
Multi-Language Discs: Specific PAL versions (such as ID 01741) include a broad range of languages including English (En), French (Fr), German, Italian, Spanish, and Dutch.
Language Selection: Players can change both text and speech languages directly through the Settings menu on the Main Menu. One of Ascension ’s most controversial additions was
Censorship Variations: Historically, European versions of the God of War series have occasionally featured minor alterations in violence or specific scenes to meet regional rating standards, such as those in Germany. PAL Exclusive Editions
Sony released two primary premium versions for these territories:
God of War: Ascension – A Deep Dive into the European and Australian Release
Released in March 2013, God of War: Ascension serves as a crucial prequel to the original PlayStation 2 masterpiece. While fans in North America were quick to embrace Kratos’ origin story, the European and Australian releases (often categorized under the En/Fr/De/Es/It regional coding) carried their own unique impact. This entry was the final God of War title developed for the PlayStation 3, pushing the hardware to its absolute limit while introducing series-first mechanics that remain a point of discussion among fans today. The Narrative: Before the Ghost of Sparta
Ascension takes players back to a time before Kratos became the god-slaying force of nature seen in later titles. Set roughly six months after Kratos was tricked into killing his wife and daughter, the story follows his imprisonment by the Furies. These ancient beings serve as the primary antagonists, tasked with punishing those who break blood oaths to the gods.
The story is told through a non-linear structure, shifting between the present—where Kratos is escaping the Hecatonchires—and the past, explaining his descent into madness. This narrative choice offers a more vulnerable, human side of Kratos that hadn't been explored in the original trilogy. For European and Australian audiences, the localized versions featured high-quality voice acting in French, German, Spanish, and Italian, ensuring the emotional weight of Kratos’ journey translated perfectly across the PAL regions. Gameplay Mechanics and Evolution
While the core combat remained true to the franchise—featuring the iconic Blades of Chaos—Ascension introduced several key changes to the formula:
The World Weapon System: Unlike previous games where Kratos collected secondary permanent weapons, Ascension allowed him to pick up "World Weapons" from the battlefield, such as swords, clubs, and javelins.Elemental Alignment: Kratos could imbue his blades with the powers of Ares (Fire), Poseidon (Ice), Zeus (Lightning), and Hades (Soul). Each element offered unique finishing moves and orb drops.The Life Cycle: This puzzle mechanic allowed Kratos to manipulate time, decaying or healing structures to navigate the environment.Tether Combat: A new grapple system allowed Kratos to hold one enemy at a distance while attacking another, adding a layer of crowd control to the hectic battles. Technical Achievement on the PS3
God of War: Ascension is widely considered one of the most visually impressive games on the PlayStation 3. Santa Monica Studio utilized every ounce of the console's power to create massive, scale-defying set pieces. The opening sequence on the Hecatonchires—a living prison the size of a mountain—set a new benchmark for "epic" in gaming.
The European and Australian versions were optimized for PAL displays and maintained a steady framerate despite the chaos on screen. The lighting engine and character models were so advanced that they rivaled early PlayStation 4 titles, making the 2013 release a swan song for the seventh generation of consoles. The Bold Leap: Multiplayer
Perhaps the most controversial and innovative addition in Ascension was the inclusion of a full-scale multiplayer mode. For the first time, players could create their own champion, pledge allegiance to a god (Ares, Hades, Zeus, or Poseidon), and battle other players in arenas.
The multiplayer combined the brutal combat of the single-player campaign with objective-based gameplay. While it was a departure from the series' purely solo roots, it gained a dedicated following in the European and Australian gaming communities. The servers remained active for years, supported by DLC that included new maps and armor sets based on Greek mythology. Legacy and Regional Availability
The "Europe/Australia - EnFr..." version of the game refers to the multi-language PAL region release. This version is highly sought after by collectors for its comprehensive language support, covering English, French, and other major European dialects.
Today, while the franchise has moved toward the Norse realms, God of War: Ascension remains a vital piece of the puzzle for those wanting to understand Kratos’ full timeline. It stands as a testament to the PS3 era’s technical capabilities and the enduring legacy of Greek mythology in modern gaming. Whether you are playing for the brutal combat or the tragic origin story, Ascension is a cinematic powerhouse that deserves its place in the pantheon of action-adventure greats.
For collectors and language learners, the En/Fr edition is valuable because: You switch elements on the fly using the