God of War manages to still retain its gorey and charming value on a portable platform.
User Rating: 8.5 | God of War: Chains of Olympus PSP
This game is a must-buy for anyone who considers themselves a fan of the series. Not just because it delivers on the same over the top violent gameplay as its console brethren but because of the holes it fills in the Kratos saga. This game shows that Kratos isn't completely a monster but actually has a human side. The basic format of the game is pretty much the same as the previous games, so don't expect to see anything new besides a few weapons and magic. Speaking of which, the blades of chaos are still the most useful weapons on the game but the others you get are cool...for awhile at least. The magic on this game is pretty useful in general but you will still find one of the spells in particular more reliable than the others (similar to the Rage of Poisidon in the first game). Anyway back to the format of the game, like I said its pretty much your standard God of War game (hacking, slashing, blood, gore, a few puzzles, and huge boss fights) with only two exceptions: everything is done with a lesser "BANG" and a major swerve in the game's story. What I mean by this is, that it delievers on being a GOW game but it doesn't look as intense on the PSP (which is expected) and Kratos' overall mission completely shifts gears almost more than half way through the game (which doesn't happen in GOW and GOW 2).
My Breakdown:
What's Good:
- The Graphics (for a God of War game on PSP)
- Delivers everything that is expected from a God of War game
- The story was great. Better than GOW and GOW 2 imo
- New weapons and magic
- Seeing another dimension of Kratos' character
What's Not-So-Good:
- Shorter than the previous titles
- No "Rage of Gods" form
- Doesn't manage to introduce anything new to the series or game mechanics
- Secondary weapons still aren't very useful (beyond when you are required to use them)
What's Bad:
- The carmera can occassionally become a problem when fighting bigger enemies in smaller spaces.
In all, its a great game for fans and new comers alike. For fans of the series, approach this game without the expectation of experiencing anything new but rather as a means of enjoying what made the God of War series an instant classic.
