GoW3 proves to be a fitting and satisfyingly bloody conclusion to the highly respected mythological platforming series.
The Bad: Story is pretty slow; can become repetitive
The Ugly: Remains a little too true to the series!
I don't even need to illustrate the reputation that the God of War series has garnered over the years. The legacy that has been established for these titles is truly amazing. And God of War 3, the third in the trilogy, provides a fitting conclusion to this series that has become associated with the very definition of the word "epic."
Frankly, one of the best parts about this game is its graphics. This game looks stunning, both technically and artistically. Textures are always sharp, models are superb, and even the art style is varied and appropriate. The scale of the game, as with its predecessors, is extremely impressive as well, thanks in large part to the spot-on graphics. Cutscenes are seamless and look detailed even up close, animations are fluid and convincing, and every action is presented with gratuitous blood and gore to satisfy us long-time fans!
The gameplay is quite possibly the core aspect of the series. It is the trademark to the game, what makes it recognizable to the public. And the series' move to the Playstation 3 keeps the gameplay as true as it has ever been. There are of course plenty of enjoyable weapons to which you will gain access over the course of the game, and almost all of them are either vital to the game or extremely fun to use. I could basically describe everything about the combat to you in a review of God of War 2. Combat is still sprinkled with the instantly recognizable in-game playable movie scenes, all of which are fun and fitting to the action being performed onscreen. My only complaint, and it's a fairly significant one, is that the game is all in all a little too true to its predecessors. If you are behind in the chronology of the game and are looking to catch up, I would not recommend playing all three games back to back (to back); frankly, the games are too similar to each other. By the time you reach the breathtaking conclusion, you are just about as tired of the same old stuff as you could be, and if the conclusion weren't so jaw-dropping in the first place, I would have been pretty bored. But, thankfully, the boss battles throughout are challenging, engaging, and varied. Each boss is very memorable, and you'll fondly look back on these moments afterwards (I know I am).
Another thing the series is know for is their grandiose and epically out-of-proportion storyline. And needless to say, you'll perform plenty of crazy, gory acts during the course of the game. But its the ending that really grips you, and if I haven't made that clear by now, then I haven't done my job as a reviewer.
The sound is also spot on, and adds to the game's immersion. The voice acting is great, and the effects are truly intense. In addition, the music is powerful and gritty, but can also be emotional enough to manipulate the mood of the moment. No complaints here.
Graphics: 9.5/10
Gameplay: 8.5/10
Story: 8/10
Sound: 9/10
Presentation: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Tilt: 9.5/10
Overall Impression: 8.5/10
God of War III is an epic and satisfying end to the excellent legacy that SCEA has graciously put together for us. However, that's about all it does. There's not much new to the formula already set in place, even though this formula still works, and works well. You'll encounter plenty of memorable moments throughout the game, and it's these to you'll remember when looking back upon it, not the time spent in between.