Intelligence

On the face of it, Dante is the more intellectual of the two; we can’t remember the last time Kratos had a normal conversation, after all. The demon-slayer is much calmer, cooler and by far the more collected when it comes to his endeavours, meaning he’s more likely to think about his next move in battle. He hasn’t had to deal with too much in the way of mental challenge however; as for the most part his tasks involve getting a key from one room, then slotting it into a stone door in the next.

That said, it takes a great deal of grey matter to conquer the deadly traps in the Temple of Pandora, revealing a patient side to Kratos that can actually deal with puzzles when required. He can also perform tasks in multi-tiered rooms that are demanding of his time – time which he’ll no doubt make up for by hammering his fist into an unfortunate creature’s face. Regardless, he’s still blinded by rage and we just can’t let go of the fact that every tragedy that has befallen him has been caused by his own hand, (though if we’re honest, we’d never tell him that) and so Dante chalks up his first clear win.

Weaponry

Every game has Dante take the reigns of a demonic weapon capable of great destruction. Ifrit, Pandora (the suitcase that can morph into a Cannon) and the lightning blade Alastor are among the most memorable weapons with which to despatch the legions of the underworld. In every game beyond the first, he’s favoured a well-rounded blade named Rebellion, which has proven itself to be nothing short of indispensable given the variety of foes that lie in wait. He also has a major advantage in the range department; trusty pistols Ebony and Ivory are on hand for causing rapid, health-chipping damage.

The Ghost of Sparta has had the Blades of Chaos bound to his flesh. Using them as ferocious whips, Kratos unleashes a torrent of pain upon his victims. He’s a master of these blades, working more like extensions of his body than as separate entities and in this respect, the blades are as much a part of him as the rage that consumes him. An enormous hammer, Medusa’s head, the Golden Fleece and even the fabled Blade of Olympus have all been in the Spartan’s blood-soaked hands at one time or another, so in this respect Kratos manages to stand up to his competitor.

Speed/Agility

Now this is where Dante really has the chance to shine. Jumping, bouncing, wall running and teleporting are all part of the slayer’s repertoire, making him a very tough target indeed. It must be frustrating – or downright infuriating – when trying to land a hit on someone who can be there one minute, then gone the next. The fact is; Dante’s main advantage lies in his ability to strike an enemy multiple times before making a quick dash, then waiting for the opportune moment to assault from a different angle. Aerial combos are second nature to this particular fighter, so the largely ground-based Kratos has his work cut out for him if it comes time to wave bye-bye to terra firma.

Yep, Kratos fails badly here. He can be fairly quick with his blades and the wings of Icarus extend his jumping greatly but the character is just too lumbering for his own good. Dante’s speed coupled with his taunting one-liners will only enrage the Spartan further, and it’s certainly not something we’d ever like to be on the receiving end of. Dante on the other hand is fast and focused enough to dodge most of the incoming blows.

And the winner is …

Kratos.

Whether you agree with the verdict or not, it’s clear that a battle between the Ghost of Sparta and the Son of Sparda would be as thrilling as it would be frantic. The truth is, both characters have many traits working in their favour and very few weaknesses, so what it comes down to is how well they handle themselves when things start to get rough. While Kratos would initially struggle to keep up with the fast pace, he’s proven himself resourceful enough to find a way to get in close and, should that happen even once, Dante will find himself in a great deal of trouble. Even if the hunter were to deliver the killing blow, that’s never stopped Kratos before – he’d just crawl on out again and this time, he’d be more irate than ever.

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