The challenge for games like God of War is incorporating a computer controlled companion that isn’t a hindrance. Atreus, the son of Kratos, plays a huge role in Sony Santa Monica’s latest and greatest – but this isn’t the drawn-out escort mission that it could have been. Instead, the youngster is a capable warrior in his own right, working with the Ghost of Sparta to distract and draw the attention of foes autonomously.

The really interesting thing about the new title’s combat system is that, while Atreus will operate independently, you also have some control over him. You can, for example, command him to fire arrows – and you can then work these attacks into your own combos. The proof will be in the pudding, of course, but it all seems brilliantly designed on paper. The game’s gone gold now, so we won’t have to wait long to see for ourselves.

[source youtube.com]