I was enlightened!!

I'd like to drag this back up to point out that that's not a Phoenix, that the eagle, the symbol of Zeus - and it's there as Kratos lays dying, before the credits roll.

Kratos is pretty definitely dead. There's nothing more to be done with his character - he's renounced vengeance, given hope to a world that did not have it, freed mankind from the bondage of Olympus and the Titans, and fforgiveen himself for his own sins.

His story is over.

Also I am workin' on that Platinum you guys.

I dont get it why did Athena want hope ? And what is she now ?

Also Kratos left hope to whom ? The world is in complete darkness and Chaos :S

I think he just wanted the satisfaction of not giving Athena what she wanted xD

I think Kratos killed himself to break the cycle of unending vengeance which had characterized his entire life.

She wanted hope so that she could rule the world by beig the primariy wielder of the power mankind would need to survive while the world was being reshaped.

Kratos didn't intentionally leave hopep to anyone, bu he ended up leaving hope to humanity - who still lived, even though the world is in sad shape.

At least he's gone, one way or another.

I had thought by smashing circle button till my fingers ached to kill Zeus, Kratos's vengeance was complete. That led me to another penultimate point where he meets Athena and sacrifices his power over Gods(HOPE)  to the entire humanity by taking his own life. This leaves Athena angry as he declares his vengeance is complete. An ending that's truly justified despite the world in chaos and no gods or things to store power.
Whom shall we blame for all this chaos?.. Ares!! who led him from a spartan warrior to Ghost of Sparta seeking vengeance...
Now think of an ending if Ares never made him kill his family(he would've never seeked Pandora)...or Zeus not betraying(he would've never strained to meet the Sisters of Fate)

I see he tried to be noble in the end ... But I think it came a little to late :S

Nothing to do with wanting to be noble - he just refused to do any more destruction. Zeus needed killing - but after that, I think Kratos recognized himself for what he was, and killed himself so that he would not be able to do more harm in the future.

Just completed this game today and although I am sad to see Kratos' story end I am very happy with how it ended.

Great finish to a great trilogy.

I read this somewhere (can't remember where, so can't give a link)

Jaffe's desired ending: Kratos destroys Greek mythology and moves on to Norse Mythology.

LAME. The whole point is that the Olympians are the only gods, and they rule over humanity. If the Norse gods existed, they would be different forms of the Greek gods.

Barlog's desired ending: Kratos becomes death and haunts humanity forever.

Much better than Jaffe's, but I still prefer Asmussen's ending.