Let's dispense with what's not good about this collection on the Vita -
* They've clearly just upscaled the original textures etc here rather than gone back to source and upped the resolution properly, so things that were quite heavily detailed like the models for Kratos and the enemies look better but some of the backgrounds still look as jagged as they did in the PS2 days when the developers had to cut corners to cram so much into the limited memory available back then. I take it the PS3 version has the same problem but since the Vita port came out some 5 years later this is a bit lame.
* The framerate has taken a hit. It's exactly half of what the original PS2 game is, 30fps rather than 60fps. It's fine when you get used to it but it really shows on the intro screen where the flames behind Kratos head just don't look smooth at all. I'm sure the PS Vita would have handled 60fps if the port was better - as it is even at 30fps the framerate dips in some heavy enemy areas. The PS2 used to have minor screen tearing issues, which I would have preferred for more fluid gameplay.
* The addition of touch controls doesn't really add anything. In fact, because on the original Vita most people tend to rest their hands on the rear touchpad if you happen to be walking past a save point it can cause it to trigger by accident. And the icons they've added for touchscreen controls look amateurish compared to the originals. It also adds fake difficulty on some sections - the pungee pit timer on the Cliffs Of Madness where you have to pull a stone block to make a high jump took a lot longer to master than the PS2 version, for example.
* Maybe it's just me but I think it might have helped if they'd included a way to boost the gamma. Compared to something like Uncharted: Golden Abyss the game can get pretty damn dark in places. This could be because I'm using the OLED phat model but still, eye strain.
These things aside though, it's still God Of War and it still has the same high production values, blend of lateral thinking and extreme violence we've come to know and love. Because these were blockbuster hits in their day they can still stack up against the more modern action adventure games, demostrating responsive controls, near-perfectly placed difficulties, epic storytelling and a surprising amount of fun. Sure they're pretty linear but the combat and setting are addictive - I still love the idea of a huge temple set in stone carried on the back of a titan full of enemies to slay and clever puzzles to solve, secrets to find. It's great to have a playable version on the PS Vita even if it did take years and they really could have done a better job rather than shovelling out a not-great port, so you've gotta count your blessings here. Whereas I'd give the PS2 version a 9 or 10, it loses a point because of this, it nearly lost another one but the games themselves are just too good to let that happen.