Credit should be given to the design team on God of War for the introduction of its memorable main character Kratos, and specifically for his unique and undeniably cool weapons. A Spartan in ancient Greece, Kratos appropriately wears (and is tattooed in) red, and while the game doesn’t strive for historical accuracy, neither does it re-interpret or claim to be inspired by existing works from that time. Its story stands on its own, and while some knowledge of Greek mythology is helpful, the game will have you identifying gorgons and minotaurs in no time. Kratos has a mixture of attacks, both button- and pressure-assigned, and learns new magical special attacks along the way, courtesy of the pantheon of Gods whom he happens to meet. Each special attack is powered by a refillable meter, and another meter enables the player to power up any of these attacks, or Kratos’s signature blades. In a great design of gameplay, the way you defeat certain types of enemies yields a certain kind of power-up, so you can play based on the need to refill any of the three meters: life, magic, and power-up. God of War borrows elements of platforming and puzzle solving from one of the best console games of recent years: Prince of Persia. While the puzzle-solving is far from being the strongest aspect of the game - many of the puzzle elements will have you smacking your head, as the answer to some puzzles isn’t logical, but can rather be solved by simply bashing something. God of War balances this by blending into its platforming the same unapologetically bloody action found throughout the game, such as the infinitely entertaining option to grab an enemy (while climbing a wall), slam him into the wall a few times, and throw him to his death, possibly taking out other baddies on his way down. The PS2 shows off both its capabilities and its limitations in God of War, prompting speculation on just how good this game would look on one of the more powerful consoles. The game on its own merit, however, looks spectacular, with detailed scenery, nice lighting effects, and the ever-present eruptions and cascades of blood. The game’s soundtrack is composed of thunderous drums and booming horns that underscore the intensity of the game and keep your heart pounding. Kratos’s grunts are heard throughout, and the violent collision of his weapons and special attack have an appropriately wet, bone-and-sinew-snapping quality. The mixture of non-stop action and think-on-your-feet gameplay required to defeat the game’s various villains promises a very rewarding adrenaline rush, and is one of the most visceral video games of this generation. Despite the brevity of God of War, the game o ffers significant replay value simply because it is so much fun. 2005 has already seen a handful of excellent game releases, and God of War is simply a must-own for anyone with a PS2.
Other Helpful Reviews for God of War (Greatest Hits)
You are Kratos, a Spartan warrior in the backdrop of Ancient Greece. He’s one anti-hero you certainly don’t want to mess with or you‘ll have hell to pay...literally. One of the coolest things about this character is that... Read Full Review
It's a rare treat when a game comes along and makes you love gaming again or even more. The games I mean are unforgetable experiences like a new Legend of Zelda or an even bigger Grand Theft Auto. God of War is one of th... Read Full Review
