Game Informer's God of War coverage continues with a look at the title's almost completely revamped combat system. In the video that we've embedded above, the publication talks to lead gameplay designer Jason McDonald, who explains how Kratos has ended up with a magical axe as his main means of cleaving monsters in half.

It's interesting stuff, especially when you consider the fact that Kratos has been using a very similar fighting style since the series' inception. This time around, things aren't quite as hack-and-slash. Instead, you'll have to think more about positioning -- particularly when taking on groups of foes -- and you'll need to keep an eye on your opponent's actions and react accordingly. The bottom line is it's looking a lot more like the kind of combat system that you'd find in an action role-playing game.

But just because combat is more grounded doesn't mean the property's trademark brutality has been thrown out of the window. Kratos is still a beastly fighter, slicing his enemies into chunks and performing some really bloody executions. McDonald says that the development team simply can't wait for players to get their hands on the game.

Are you liking the look of God of War's new combat system? See how far you can throw that axe in the comments section below.