To write this guide I based on the medium difficulty game, the only thing that changes compared to the other modes are the damage received in combat, while the rest remains the same.
Attica city
After the opening cutscene, you will have to fight immediately with some soldiers armed with sword and shield, some square attacks will be enough to take them down.
Once everyone is killed, after the short sequence, you will have to control the giant crossbow to destroy the enemy ship. While trying to take control of it you will be annoyed by some soldiers, take them out and follow the on-screen instructions to use the crossbow. Destroyed the enemy ship, an explosive dart will open a hole to the room below: enter it you will see a chest with a green light and some enemies.
Eliminate all the enemies, open the chest to recharge the energy and continue towards the door, which you will open with a circle. As you open the door you will be attacked by a Cyclops who will start a showdown with you: you will have to continuously press circle to avoid being crushed by his club. Once the test of strength is won, the Cyclops will be eaten by the Basilisk, the first boss of the game. To defeat this boss, I refer you to the boss guide.
Once you have defeated the Basilisk you will find yourself on the beach. You will have to get to the door on the other side, passing through a shower of explosive darts thrown by the enemy. Avoid approaching the red circles in the ground that indicate the imminent impact of a dart. When you reach the ram, take control of it with a circle, and push it towards the door. Open the chests left and right and save in the pillar of light. Position yourself behind the ram and repeatedly press circle to break through the door. Eliminate the soldiers and go forward, paying attention to the archers, parry the arrows with L and approach them to make a clean sweep with the swords. Now rotate the mechanism to open the door to the right: hold circle and one direction to turn the lever. While you operate the mechanism you will be annoyed by some soldiers, release the lever and kill them quickly, then continue to rotate until you see the door totally open. Release the mechanism and quickly run to the door, as you leave the mechanism the door will start to close so do as fast as you can to get through.
Now you will find yourself in front of some soldiers helped by 4 archers. Focus on the latter first and then deal with the soldiers. Go to the right and hit the wooden wall repeatedly until it breaks through, beyond you will find two red chests to open. Break through the wooden wall of the central tower and start climbing the wooden ladder. When you get to the platform just above, go down the ladder by pressing x and open the chest at the bottom, then resume the climb. Lower the circle bridge, defeat the enemies and open the red chest on the left. Now go right and go through the hole while balancing on the beam. Try to stay in the center and if you slip do not despair, Kratos will cling to the edge and pressing X will climb back onto the beam. Open the door beyond the hole, you will find the Persian King, the second boss of the game. To defeat him, I refer you to the boss guide.
Defeat the boss and get your first spell, Efreet. To activate it hold down R + triangle, it will create an explosion around Kratos that will burn all nearby enemies. Use the next fight to familiarize yourself with the magic and once you have killed all the enemies, go to the room to the right. You will find two rather undressed women, with whom you can "interact" by pressing circle. By completing the next minigame you will satisfy the women and get red orbs as a reward. Now go to the left door, save and open the circle door. You will find yourself above the castle walls flooded by fireballs thrown by the basilisk. You will have to chase him away, hitting him with the crossbow that you will find in front of you, but in the meantime you will be annoyed by the soldiers who will continue to climb the wall with the stairs. Stop the soldiers by knocking down the stairs with a circle, then take out all the remaining enemies and take control of the crossbow. Turn it towards the basilisk and shoot the beast. Now open the door on the right and go up the ladder at the back of the room to find 2 chests, then go down and turn the mechanism to continue. Go through the corridor to face the first cyclops of the game. Cyclops are slow but very powerful enemies, their blows are unstoppable, but being rather slow and predictable it will be easy to dodge them easily with somersaults. Unleash 2-3 hits, dodge and repeat until the circle icon appears above the monster, press it to start the minigame which, when completed successfully, will declare the end of the enemy. If you miss the sequence of the minigame you will be damaged and you will have to repeat it all over again.
Open the door on the left and, parrying the arrows, approach the archers around the save point and eliminate them; Then open the chests on the right and save. Climb the wall, kill the enemies and, once all the chests in the area are open, break through the wooden wall and pull the lever to operate the elevator. Open the chests on the left and raise the door to continue. You will find yourself in a large clearing, with some archers and soldiers waiting for you. On the left, as soon as you enter, you will see a button that opens the nearby door when held down. To keep it pressed, you can use the corpse released by the basilisk or a chest located at the edge of the clearing. Take the latter and push it over the button; beyond the door you will find another button, use the corpse to operate it. Save, recharge by opening the chests, and continue by opening the circle door. Now you will have to defeat the basilisk definitively, and to do so, follow the guide ...
After the cutscene, open the chest and go down the left wall. Open the red chest and continue down the left wall. Save your game in the pillar of light and break through the wooden wall on the right. You will meet a soldier with 2 swords and the exits will be blocked. You will have to take down the warrior to be able to continue, he is more aggressive than the enemies encountered before but in any case you will eliminate him with a few blows of the sword.
Enter the next room, break through the wooden wall to find some chests and continue left. In the street you will be attacked by 3 warriors like the previous one, defeat them and enter the house with the torch next to the door, where you will find a red chest. Leaving the house you will have to face other warriors accompanied by some archers. Before continuing, enter the houses with the torch near the door to open 3 more red chests. You will find yourself facing a strange dark fog, and crossing it will prove fatal. You will have to advance pushing the burning chest, which will clear the fog. Once you open the door, you will have to overcome the fog at the end of the clearing with the two doors. To do this, set fire to the cart near the fog with the torch holding the statue in the center of the doors. All this disturbed by some archers near the fog and snake women who will come out the right door. Snake women are enemies easy to defeat, they will attack you with blows of the tail and occasionally emit very loud cries that will stun you: if this happens, get back on your feet by quickly pressing L + R. To stop the continuous influx of snake women you will need to close the right door by turning the nearby mechanism. Locked the door and killed the archers you can take the torch from the statue and set fire to the cart. Now that it's on fire you can push it to make your way through the fog. As you push it you will be attacked by an archer on the left. Leave the cart and jump to its post to take it out and open the chests. Going forward you will be attacked by another archer from the right: as before jump to him, kill him, and open the chests.
Once past the fog you will be attacked by an infernal panther. Parry the claw attacks and watch out for the blue flames it will launch from its mouth as you get close. Break through the rock wall on the left, defeat the archers that appear and open the chests. Climb the wall, save in the pillar of light and, for now, forget about the levers you will need later. Cross the bridge, face some warriors and climb the wall to get to the temple of Helium.
