There are many characteristics that make Santa Monica Studios’ new God of War game different than any other. But the most obvious of them is the introduction of Kratos’ son Atreus, who accompanies his father on a trying and treacherous pilgrimage to the top of a mountain where they plan to scatter the ashes of his deceased mother. The father-and-son dynamic between Kratos and Atreus is a central to both the plot and the gameplay in the new God of War, and it’s partially inspired by creative director Cory Barlog’s real parenting experiences. In the new God of War, launching on April 20 for the PlayStation 4, Kratos is learning what it means to be a father — a gradual process that occurs over the course of the story.