[The_Shrike]

Ссылаться на русскоязычную википедию - это сильно.

http://godofwar.wikia.com/wiki/Kratos

Скрытый текст:

For now that the world was cleansed by chaos, she would rebuild it under her rule, using the power of hope. Athena quickly came to realize however, that when Kratos first opened the box to kill Ares, the evils infected the gods of Olympus, taking hold of them. As the evils took hold of the gods, the power of hope instead infused itself into Kratos. Buried beneath all the layers of guilt, anger, and the need for revenge, Hope was finally released when Kratos finally learned to forgive his past deeds, thus releasing its power. Asking Kratos again, he refused, instead impaling himself onto the Blade, thereby releasing Hope into the mortal world, for humanity to embrace. An action that Athena would clearly despise, as she removed the Blade from his chest, uttering the world was not ready to harness this vast power, and how Kratos had disappointed her. Athena then left, leaving a laughing Kratos to die, his vengeance finally complete.

In a post-credits scene, the phoenix-engraved mural where Kratos' body lay was now empty, as a trail of blood lead back to the sea that now consumed the world.

http://godofwar.wikia.com/wiki/Hope

Скрытый текст:

As Kratos refuses to give Athena the power of Hope, he instead kills himself, thereby releasing the power, granting hope to humanity. Athena, after saying that mortals cannot yet wield such power, removes the Blade of Olympus from Kratos' torso and walks away.

It is possible that Hope finally gives redemption to the escaped souls of the Underworld.

Я как-то такому источнику скорее поверю; да и выглядит такое объяснение намного более целостным, логичным и убедительным, чем огрызки информации из русскоязычной вики.

А вообще - все-таки это тот момент, о котором следует каждому составить свое впечатление %)