January 23, 2008

God of War is a marvelous game. You play as Kratos, a Spartan from Greek Mythology. The protagonist is tasked at killing Ares, the God of War. Plot developments about Kratos' past eventually ensue. These help you understand where he is coming from. By the end of the game, you will want Ares to die too. The game is also presented in a very cinematic fashion. You could easily compare some of it to the recent film 300.

For a PlayStation 2 game, the graphics are breathtaking. Every scenic object streams in seamlessly. The game looks even more amazing on a widescreen display. However, an HD set will blur everything up a tad. Though, I have yet to test it in 480p because I don't have the optional PS2 component wires.

The sound is equally incredible. Although it is Dolby Pro Logic and not Dolby Digital, it is still akin to that of a movie. The monsters sound like monsters, and the soundtrack is fully orchestrated.

The gameplay is literally bloody good fun, but not for the faint of heart. You have various weapons and powers that you can use to kill Kratos' foes. You can rip them in half, throw them, zap them, and turn them to stone. Along with that kind of stuff, there are little mini-games that allow you to do more elaborite kills. You just have to press the "O" button when its icon appears over the head of your enemy.

With four games already out in the series, this game must be played by those who aren't too squeamish. You will possibly be hooked on the series and its dark take on Greek Mythology.