PlayStation Hardware & Games

Video: 5
Sound: 5
Gameplay: 4

If anyone was worried that Sony might suddenly stop showing the love for the PlayStation 2, they should think again. The hype last fall may have been on the PS3, but clearly the A-team was hard at work on what just might be one of this year's very best games so far. God of War II also shows that the PS2 as a system still has a lot of life in it. Visually, it is as impressive as many next-generation titles, and the story actually excels beyond that of the original.

At the finish of the original God of War, you, as the mortal warrior Kratos, dethroned a god and, in the process, gained a seat on Mount Olympus—and they don't pull out a chair for just anyone. As this new "God of War," you've got some work ahead of you. If you thought playing a buff, bronzed (age) god meant eating grapes and being fanned by various servants all day, you can think again. The Lord (Zeus, in this instance) giveth, and he taketh away. In your case, it is those godly powers, and he traps them with the Blade of Olympus. Of course, you'll want your revenge, and thus begins a whole new quest that involves facing horrors of epic proportions.

The gameplay is a rather linear yet perilous journey to the farthest reaches of the world, where you'll get to battle some of the mythological realm's most powerful creatures. God of War II features a solid mix of action and puzzle solving that makes for a rich and epic game from beginning to end. Forget the likes of 300, because you can go tell the Spartans they never faced anything like this.

Although past experience with the original God of War isn't necessary, some new players might find this sequel a bit too challenging. This is especially true in the later stages of the game, where all hell is seemingly unleashed to stop you. Combat is a bit too straightforward and involves a fair amount of button mashing, and there are even moments when an alternative way of defeating the bad guys would have added to the gameplay. At times, you might be wishing for god mode—as in pulling a bit of cheating—to make it through. But no one said taking on the whole of the mythological world would be easy.

In terms of visuals, God of War II could be one of the games that will either get you past PS3 envy or make you wonder why they're not making titles this good for the new system. And, as mentioned, this one really shows that the PS2 still has some tricks left yet. Of course, new systems are the hardest to program for, and it is usually the last few games in a system's life that pull out all the stops. Fortunately, Sony didn't give up on the older PS2, because a larger audience can enjoy this game as a result.

And, while the graphics are running at a mere 480p, they make the best of this resolution, and then some. The character animations are incredible, and, mixed with the lush landscapes and ancient buildings, this is the next-best thing to a trip to Greece. The audio is also as impressive, with a solid orchestral soundtrack that accompanies the story very well, along with some rather good voice talent, which includes Harry Hamlin, Linda Hunt, and Michael Clarke Duncan. All this equates to a game that fittingly matches the epic proportions of the story. The magical war to end all wars has begun—may the best god win!

The screenshots above are a little different compared to what you're going to see at home. So in addition here are some movies of the game in action.

God of War II - Gameplay Movie 1.mov (3.1MB)

God of War II - Gameplay Movie 2.mov (4.7MB)

God of War II - Gameplay Movie 3.mov (19.1MB)

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