Solid cinematic hack-n-slash with gorgeous graphics even though the adventure is short and sweet.
The graphics impress, even though they are only in 720p (is this really a problem for that many people?), and I found myself watching the bonus making-of videos I unlocked while playing the game. The voices are spot-on and the acting is about the best you can expect out of voiceovers, even though the game seems to loose sync with the sound from time to time (cinematics only). I think the biggest problem I had with this game was the fact that I couldn't pick a difficulty (I usually like to lean to the harder side of games) and the fact that I never knew when I'd hit a checkpoint (end of a level?). The combat system was decent and the button-pressing events were relatively accurate (you'll get frustrated with the fact that you are pushing the right button but it doesn't register).
The other problem I had with the game was the it was pretty short. I played it in small pieces over the weekend and got to the last boss by early Sunday afternoon (5, maybe 6 hours of total play). Unfortunately the loading times were not nearly as fast, sometimes taking a few minutes to reload a sequence when I died (I do now appreciate the option to install). And I may be getting really picky here, but for a game where most fights and bosses were pretty easy, the very difficult final boss and the fact you had to beat him 3 times was not met as a challenge, but a "jumping through hoops" tactic. I just got bored fighting him. It took me longer to beat him than all of the levels (and the boss) of the first chapter! It just didn't make sense, but I guess they were trying to get away from that all-too-common "the last boss was too easy, disappointing" problem with todays games. At the same time, making him incredibly difficult was too extreme and less patient gamers that don't like difficult challenges might get turned off by this final fight.
Please note that I played this game having never picked up a "God of War" game in my life (just bought them after playing this game). I'm looking at it with perspective and criticism that doesn't allow the liberties of someone who may be very familiar with a similar convention in "God of War". At the end of the day it's a really fun game and the levels where you are shooting things offer a change of pace that was much appreciated. By the time you reach the last boss, though, you're pretty ready to stop mashing buttons and pretty annoyed by the fact that you are then asked to do it again for 3 gruelingly long battles. Because of the short game, single difficulty, and repetition, I have to stamp this as an all-around perfect rental. Can't imagine why you'd want to buy it, unless you play it and know you wouldn't mind going through it again and again. As for me, I'm upgrading to "God of War" to see what I've been missing.