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God of War (PlayStation 2)

Manufacturer: Sony Part number: 73992

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$18.99 - $19.99 at 4 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
4.5 stars Spectacular
Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 17 reviews

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: Greek mythology comes to life right before your eyes.
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Gamespot editors' review

God of War (PlayStation 2)

price range: $18.99 - $19.99

Reviewed by: Alex Navarro
Reviewed on: 03/21/2005
Released on: 03/22/2005

The bottom line: Greek mythology comes to life right before your eyes.

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Action adventure games of the quality of God of War don't come around often. God of War takes a tale of vengeance, set against the backdrop of ancient Greek mythology, and turns it into an epic adventure filled to the brim with bloody, stylish, over-the-top combat, challenging puzzles, and highly impressive production values. So many games within the action adventure genre tend to limit their focus so heavily to either the combat or puzzle-solving side, while leaving the opposing side as little more than an afterthought, but God of War does nothing of the sort. Instead, it blends these two equally important parts extremely well. To put it in no uncertain terms, this is one of the best action adventure games on the PlayStation 2, and it should not be missed.

Meet Kratos, one of the meanest yet most sympathetic antiheroes you'll ever meet.

God of War revolves itself around the trials and tribulations of Kratos, a muscular, pale-skinned, heavily tattooed Spartan warrior who, at the outset of the game, is on the verge of suicide. Citing that the gods of Olympus have abandoned him, Kratos throws himself off the tallest mountain in Greece, plummeting to his seemingly desired doom. As he falls, the voice of an elderly narrator cuts off Kratos' death before final impact and tells us of how things had not always been so dire for our hero. Flashback to three weeks prior--to the beginning of Kratos' adventure--where we find him on a wrecked ship in the middle of the Aegean Sea, fighting his way through scads of undead warriors and a rather large, multiheaded hydra. Though the story begins here, you won't learn much about Kratos until quite a bit later in the game. The initial impression you get from his adventures is that he is, for lack of a better term, a mean-spirited, unlikable son of a bitch who would sooner slaughter his own mother than let anyone get in his way. While some lingering aspects of this perception will last throughout the game, you'll come to learn over time that Kratos is a deeply tortured soul who wants nothing more than to wash away the sins of his past.

The main plot of the game revolves around Kratos carrying out a mission from the gods of Olympus to stop the renegade god Ares (incidentally, the titular "god of war") from destroying the city of Athens. The only way a mortal like Kratos can kill a god is to acquire the mythical Pandora's box, a weapon so powerful that even the gods themselves tremble before its power. As you follow Kratos' journey to find Pandora's box, you learn more and more about his troubled past, how he was once a conqueror of fearsome reputation, and how he was eventually led astray by Ares. These bits of story are told through stylishly directed flashbacks that appear at specific intervals. The game's whole method of storytelling takes sort of a slow-burn approach, giving you almost nothing to work with and no understanding of Kratos at the beginning. By the time the game is over, however, you'll know nearly all there is to know about Kratos, and you should find yourself sympathetic to this flawed but repentant warrior. Even though the story is, in itself, a fairly basic tale of revenge, it isn't any less impactful because of this when you reach the final confrontation.

A big part of what makes Kratos so endearing, despite his cruel and unforgiving demeanor, is how much of a total badass he is. In combat, Kratos is a thoroughly capable warrior, thanks in part to his default weaponry: a pair of axelike blades called the "blades of chaos." These blades are actually seared into Kratos' flesh via a pair of chains that are wrapped around each arm. The basic attacks with the blades of chaos let you pull off a lot of nifty, whiplike maneuvers. Over time, you'll earn new combos as you collect and spend red orbs, which are plentifully available throughout all the worlds. All the combos--even the most powerful of them--are rarely difficult to pull off. Though one could try to criticize the combo system for being a little too forgiving and because it almost plays itself a little bit, it's really a moot point, because the attacks are just so much fun and so satisfying to pull off. Even if you are only alternating between the two attack buttons seemingly at random, each and every hit feels great and looks awesome.

The blades of chaos aren't the only weapons at your disposal, either. As you progress, you'll occasionally encounter one of the many gods of Olympus, who are only too happy to aid you in your quest to slay Ares. Each god will provide for you a new weapon when you encounter him or her. For instance, Zeus gives you the power to toss bolts of electricity; Hades lets you unleash the souls of the underworld; and Artemis actually provides you with a huge sword to use as an alternative to the blades of chaos. Along with the blades of chaos, all these weapons and magic types can be upgraded via the red orbs you collect, providing you with greater attack range and more power each time. Each of the different types of magic is useful in its own right, and none feels superfluous at all. Quite the opposite is true, actually. The combination of different magics, along with the weapon combat, creates an excellent variety of attacks that turn Kratos into a serious force to be reckoned with.

The combat system is a ton of fun, despite not being the deepest system you'll ever encounter.

And he'll need to be, too, as God of War is not light on challenge. Make no mistake, if you're expecting some kind of excruciating level of difficulty, you won't find it...at least not on the default level. The hard mode, which is immediately available, will definitely provide you with a stiffer challenge. Still, even with that said, the game is no pushover on the normal difficulty level, thanks largely to the wide variety of tough and creatively designed enemies. Each of the game's baddies is based on a creature from Greek mythology. You'll find cyclopes, gorgons, minotaurs, undead warriors, and winged harpies, among others, on offer. Though some of these enemies amount to mere grunts that can be cut through reasonably quickly, the game tends to throw lots of them at you, meaning you'll need to be quick with your attacks and well versed at using the block mechanic.

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User reviews

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Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 17 reviews
My rating: 0 stars

Showing opinion 1 to 10 out of 17

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9 stars

Best PS2 game I've ever played

by CBStar on July 17, 2006

Pros: Amazing graphics, fun to play

Cons: Some of the cryptic puzzles a little too cryptic

Summary:
Updated
Recently found out that a sequel is coming out - I'll try to get it the day it comes out, which is something I never do.

Summary:
Updated
Recently found out that a sequel is coming out - I'll try to get it the day it comes out, which is something I never do.

4 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

really great game

by uyp501324 on June 19, 2007

Pros: really fun fighter and i like greek mythology

Cons: the game is kinda long and kinda boring at some very rare times

Summary: get this game

Summary: get this game
9 stars

Spectacular Game FUN FUN FUN

by JphillipW on May 16, 2007

Pros: Immersive, Fun combat, great advancing system, great story

Cons: Enemies take a while to figure out how to kill
10 stars

Absolutely Phenomenal

by cookeatstp on June 19, 2006

Pros: Great story, character development, fluid motion.

Cons: Hope God of War II doesn't suck.

Summary: Quite possibly the best game ever.

Summary: Quite possibly the best game ever.
10 stars

Absolutely Amazing!

by jmandall on June 14, 2006

Pros: Unbelievable graphics, smooth game play, awesome story

Cons: None to speak of

Summary: This game brings together all the aspects of a great gaming experience - you get wrapped up in the story and character while at the same time being amazed by ...

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Summary: This game brings together all the aspects of a great gaming experience - you get wrapped up in the story and character while at the same time being amazed by the look of the game. It has great weapons, enemies, lands, powers and sound effects. Once I started playing this game I could not put it down. I can't wait for the sequel!

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9 stars

Great with few flaws

by MichaelBearwalf on June 12, 2006

Pros: great story,amazing graphics,sound

Cons: somewhat short
9 stars

Great Game

by mrlogin on June 11, 2006

Pros: Good Action

Cons: very good gamming

Summary: greate action game and also blody

Summary: greate action game and also blody
10 stars

God of War is one GREAT GAME. Period!

by Dabonka1 on June 1, 2006

Pros: Super high quality cut scenes {best Iv'e seen on PS2}, great fighting abilities {even for button mashers like me}, engrossing story line, not for suitable for kids

Cons: not for suitable for kids

Summary: This game takes some of the best action of many different games {Metal Gear, Rygar, R.Evil, beat/timing games ect.} and puts them into one. The overall theme is ...

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Summary: This game takes some of the best action of many different games {Metal Gear, Rygar, R.Evil, beat/timing games ect.} and puts them into one. The overall theme is Greek Mythology {and dark side of it}... You actually have to fight your way out of hell{Hades} at one point. This game is really not for kids and that is what makes it sooo good and can make it sooo bad. The visuals in this game are the best I have seen for any game on any system. The music is great and different for each level. I have recommended this game too ALL of my friends. As I was addicted to playing it... The unlock-ables are the best!! LOL The funny characters that didn't make the cut are hysterical! I paid $40- for it a little after it came out... I seen it recently as a "greatest hit" for $19.99!! Its worth every penny I paid {and some} and cant recommend it enough to anyone who likes action games at the current price. Bottom line: Get this game you will not regret it!

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9 stars

Jameson Thottam dancing with the Gods in this excellent release

by jameson thottam on January 8, 2006

Pros: Good intertwining and Greek Mythos Storyline - Jameson Thottam

Cons: Short time span (12 hours) - Jameson Thottam

Summary: Jameson Thottam dancing with the Gods in this excellent release

God of War is an epic revenge adventure tale that weaves Greek mythology masterfully in with its own story. With

...

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Summary: Jameson Thottam dancing with the Gods in this excellent release

God of War is an epic revenge adventure tale that weaves Greek mythology masterfully in with its own story. With its fun combo system, beautiful levels, and unique story, God of War places itself among great third person action games such as Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden. A few flaws hamper the game from being perfection, but they're so minor the only question you'll really ask yourself is: "Is a 10-12 hour game worth $50 dollars?"

The Storyline -- James Thottam
Before I help you answer that question, I'll fill you in on what you're getting into. In God of War, you play as a Spartan warrior named Kratos. A former leader of his own army and a master of combat, one day he finds himself at the end of a foes' blade. He calls out to the god Ares to help him out of this situation, and in return he would devout himself to Ares. The god grants his wish and Kratos comes out on top once more. However, the cost of saving his own life became too much for even Kratos, and voes to take revenge for what Ares had done to him.

As Kratos, you wield these dual swords called the Blades of Chaos. You'd better get used to them, because other than the huge Artemis sword and your god-given magics, it'll be the only weapon you use. While this may turn off people hoping to wield other weapons, its actually not so bad, since the Blades of Chaos are a blast to use. They have the best combo potential, and get more powerful as you upgrade them, granting you new moves as well. Some of these moves find good use in the normal game, but in the much harder God difficulty, you'll find yourself sticking to normal sword jabs in order to react quickly enough to your opponent. The Artemis Blade, while impressive and massive, is mostly inferior to your Chaos blades since you sacrifice range and a fast defense for more power.

Spells and Magic-- Jameson Thottam
Magic spells and abilities are granted to you by the gods in order to assist you in your quest, and assist they shall. Most magics will find their uses throughout your travels, but you'll find yourself using Poseidon's Rage more than most other magics due to its cheap magic cost and amazing combo/damage potential. Its good to have this variety in dealing death to your foes, but when one spell pretty much decimates everything, you'll wonder why you'll bother with anything else.

The Upgrade System-- Jameson L Thottam
God of War uses a fairly simple and common upgrade system. After killing a foe he'll normally yield red orbs, in which you pour into your weapons to give them new abilities and power. There nothing here that you haven't seen before in other top notch games of this kind.

The Missions-- Jameson Thottam
However, even with small balance issues, you'll find yourself hooked into Kratos' world. In the very first mission you'll find yourself ripping harpy wings, impaling Hydras, killing innocent bystanders for health, and having a three-way sex romp for a bounty of red orbs. Its almost too cool for its own good. But you don't just annihilate everything in your path, you'll also be subjected to think as the game throws puzzles into your path, however they are not as hard as you'd think. They range from simple ones, like rotating the ballista and moving it off to re-callibrate the turning mechanism so that you can turn it again, to having to form a wall with several oddly shaped blocks. While there are a decent amount of puzzles, they're nothing compared to brain busters in games like Resident Evil, and serve as minor gameplay respites before you go back to your mass murder. Save spots are indicated by a yellow light shooting from the ground, but God of War quicksaves so much, you'll really only need this when you call it a day. While this is nice that it restarts you right near where you died, instead of the insane "Start the level all over again" of Devil May Cry 3, it also makes the game into a simple case of trial and error.

Graphics Galore-- Jameson Thottam
The graphics of GoW are simply stunning for a PS2 game, and even with all the action that can happen on the screen at one time it keeps a constant and fluid framerate for the most part. Also there's virtually no loading time, which even further impresses me on how much the machine can do despite its age. The visuals are very unique and expresses how much painstaking detail went into each section of the game. From the streets of Athens, to the depths of Hades, the level designs take you to this fantasy world and never lets you go.

Scores with the Music-- Jameson Thottam
Music is orchestrated and played very well to the setting, which I'm very happy to hear, instead of throwing in stereotypical metal. The voice acting done by most of the cast is spot on, with only a few overacted parts by some minor characters. Though it seems as if the makers never wanted to show Kratos with any other emotion other than a hardcore tough guy.

In Summary -- James Thottam
The game itself is solid and very enjoyable, the only question you should really ask yourself is "Should I really shell out money for a 12 hour game?" After playing through on normal difficulty, you unlock a small bounty of rewards. The most notable one is the Challenge of the Gods, a mode which you must complete 10 missions exactly as you are told. Some range from simple (Knock enemies off a pedestal), to extremely tough (Survive a wave of over 100 enemies). This mode will take you about an hour or two to complete, depending on your knowledge of the games moves and quirks and your general gaming abilities. Once you beat this mode, you'll get additional costumes. Except for one, they make a minor impact on gameplay and are just there for laughs. One costume called the Dairy (which gives you INFINITE magic) basically totally breaks the game open to basically being a contest on how high you can get your combo meter with Poseidon's Rage.

If you really feel compelled to beat the game with each costume, then you'll find loads of replay value. But after the main game, you'll likely head to God mode, which will be the true test of your GoW abilities. After that, you'll probably watch the videos you have also unlocked and that'll be it.

Final Thoughts -- Jameson Thottam
God of War is, without a doubt, a game you must play if you're an owner of a Playstation 2. Now if you wish to purchase it at full price is another story. If you plan on only being able to afford one game for awhile, this might not be your game and you'll be better off renting it or wait for a price drop. However if you got money to spend and time to play, you'll find God of War a unique and enjoyable game that will look great in your library.

Jameson Thottam

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9 stars

smoking!!!

by edferreira on December 29, 2005

Pros: let's you kick ass.

Cons: No camera views to look around where you are.

Summary: Very good game and story. I just finished it. It will leave you wanting more. The only thing that I did not like was that there were no camera views, ...

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Summary: Very good game and story. I just finished it. It will leave you wanting more. The only thing that I did not like was that there were no camera views, and that made it harder to figure out where to go and see around corners.

The list of weapons was good and the combinations were great. Just make sure to upgrade your powers as you go to unlock more moves and combos.

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Specifications

Manufacturer: Sony
Part number: 73992
Description: Unleash the power of the Gods and embark on a merciless quest as Kratos, an ex-Spartan warrior driven to destroy Ares, the God of War. Armed with lethal double chainblades, Kratos must carve through mythology's darkest creatures - including Medusa, Cyclops, the Hydra and more, while solving intricate puzzles in breathtaking environments. Driven by pure revenge, nothing can stop Kratos from achieving absolution.

Product Basic Spec
Platform PlayStation 2
ESRB rating Mature - Blood and Gore,Nudity,Suggestive Themes,Intense Violence,Strong Language
Genre Action
Elements Action - third person shooter
Number of players 1 Player
Difficulty Variable
Learning curve About a half hour
Resolution 480p (progressive)

Game
Developer SCEA
ESRB Mature
ESRB descriptors Blood and Gore,Nudity,Suggestive Themes,Intense Violence,Strong Language
Release date 2005-03-22

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