PlayStation has released another entry in the God of War video series. These short documentary style videos go behind the scenes to explore the development of the game, and helps prepare audiences for what to expect in the newest entry of the acclaimed series. The most recent video focuses on Kratos's new weapon, the Leviathan Axe.

Considering how iconic and unique the Blades of Chaos were, it was probably a shock to some that Kratos would be trading them in for something a touch more plain-looking in the new God of War. No one should be fooled by its appearance, however, as the Leviathan Axe has plenty of interesting attributes that make it a worthy successor. In the new video, the development team explains the reasons for this change, as well as elaborates on just what Kratos's devastating new weapon is capable of.

According to lead gameplay designer Jason McDonald, the new God of War is meant to be a fresh start for the series, and for the lead character Kratos as well. "We got a new camera perspective, a new narrative, we got Atreus, a new mythology, and we knew we had to change the weapon as well. We had to bring something new to the table," McDonald explains.

The team knew early in development that Kratos would be carrying an axe, but its quirks, such as its ability to be called back from anywhere, came later. Slowly, it would eventually evolve into the frost-imbued weapon it is today. What makes the Leviathan Axe so different from the Blades of Chaos is its ability to be upgraded and fine-tuned to a player's tastes. The look and even the abilities of the axe can be tweaked and changed over the course of the game, giving player's more control.

Another interesting new addition to God of War is the way it will be telling its story using a "single-shot effect". This means the camera will follow Kratos and Atreus exclusively, and be completely devoid of cuts. The result of this is a game that will not feature loading screens, which should add to the immersive experience the designers are going for. It took an incredible amount of coordination between the various teams to create seamless transitions between cinematics and gameplay, but their efforts will have an immensely powerful impact on the storytelling.

God of War is set to release on April 20, 2018 for PlayStation 4.