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God of War II Review - PS2

Introduction

God of War exploded onto the Playstation 2 nearly two years ago. Seemingly out of nowhere, a brand new super-franchise sprung up from Sony's own US development team - SCEA. It featured graphics far ahead of anything else at the time, fast action, a good mix of puzzles, and an epic storyline featuring Gods and Ancient Greece. It was one of the best action-platformers ever, and reviews were glowing worldwide. We ourselves gave it a 9.5/10.

So while may have itching for a Playstation 3 only Gods of War 2, SCEA decided it was the right thing to release the game on the PS2 right at the end of it's life, or release a last-gen game on a next gen console without the benefits. Playing the game, it was the right decision – as God of War 2 delivers. The fact that it's on Playstation 2 matters little.

We played the "Collectors Edition" which features some nice cardboard packaging, and a great 'making of' DVD. It's worth the extra $10 or so over the standard edition.

Gameplay

Kratos, the God Of War, and the Spartan protagonist of the previous game, grows arrogant and bored of the affairs of the Gods. Instead he wages war on earth through his fellow Spartan army. For this he is cast down on earth as a mortal once again, betrayed by the Gods. From the very start, God of War 2 gets right into the action. Here you must fight the giant Colossus, a giant statue that fills the whole screen, and smashes to pieces the city around you. The first few minutes seem like the final scene from any other game, yet it continues from the start, and never really lets up. Along the way it's mostly action and fighting, and a small mix of puzzles, where your ultimate goal is vengeance. All is set in Ancient and Mythological Greece – a world of Spartans, Titans, Gods, and terrible beasts.

The game is violent, very, but that is what makes it so damn fun (parents run away now). Most of the game involves hacking down as many soldiers and other well known Greek mythological beasts as you can as you venture through each level. Blood spurts everywhere as you slash creatures down, you tear limbs off the enemy and bash them over the head, you spin and throw enemies right across the screen, and you'll have a grin ear to ear as Kratos deal outs death one by one.

To finish many of the characters and the bosses, requires careful timing of the triangle, square, circle, and x buttons in sequence – which are often randomly chosen. Miss the timing, and you'll be thrown back, and have to cause the creature to submit again. Special 'brutalities' and other impressive combos can be dealt out to ensure that killing your enemies is always entertaining. The controls come across as very fluid, and ...

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