Last of Us beta will be available to those who buy God of War: Ascension

It looks like Sony is trying to pull off what Konami did with Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, but in a rather strange way. According to a post on the PlayStation Blog, those who buy God of War: Ascension will get access to the demo of The Last of Us.

But it is a strange idea, as getting Ascension won’t get you the demo for The Last of Us immediately. Instead, you will get the demo when it is released. At the moment, Sony has not announced a possible release date for the demo of the Last of Us, but presumably, it would be well before the game’s release date of May 7, 2013.

Earlier this month, Sony had kicked off the demo for the multiplayer of God of War: Ascension for those with a subscription to PlayStation Plus. The beta can be downloaded from the PlayStation Store for free.

When you start playing the beta, your first stop is the Rotunda of Olympus, where you learn the nitty-gritty of gruesome gladiator combat. Here you'll pick up vital techniques on special attacks, blocking, parrying and combos.

Getting God of War: Ascension will get you access to the demo of The Last of Us

These early battles are essential to master, as the computer-controlled opponents are a lot more forgiving than other fellow gamers you'll face in the multiplayer modes. Don't be afraid to replay these training stages to brush up on your skills until you're confident of your battle prowess.

Before you leave the Rotunda of Olympus, choose which god you'll pledge your allegiance to. In this Beta, you can pick between Zeus or the Greek god of war, Ares.

If you're a combo brawler who likes close combat, give Ares a try. You'll be blessed with defense-crippling fire magic and items to give you the edge in physical confrontations. However, if you prefer a more tactical fight, pick Zeus. With the Greek god of thunder and lightning on your side, you're able to call down powerful electrical magic to stun opponents, as well as use items that improve your defense.

You can use environmental traps, such as the spikes on the wall in Hercules' pit, for extra damage. Other ways to win include ring-outs and the more typical fights to the death.

Even if you're getting hammered by a merciless adversary, don't quit the game. You'll get bonuses for completing the match, which you'll need to make your Champion stronger.

If you know there's no way to win the match, focus on completing achievements to give your character a boost for future battles. Opening a specific number of red orb chests or grabbing special treasure can help improve your Champion, letting you buy armour, weapons and items before your next match.

God of War: Ascension will be out on the PlayStation 3 in March 2013.