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THE BUZZ SURROUNDING GOD of War has been around for some time now, with whispers of a classic action game threatening to overshadow anything else released on the PlayStation 2. Unlike the hype for Killzone last year this buzz has come from the public, with Sony learning from that release and downplaying God of War's achievements prior to it coming out. With the release of the game we finally get to see what the fuss is about and, boy, was it worth the wait.
The game immerses the player in the role of Kratos, a violent mortal with a dark past and and even darker future. As God of War opens we see him jumping to his death from Greece's highest peak, only to be taken back a few weeks earlier to play through the events leading up to that jump. Chained to his arms are twin blades, the Blades of Chaos, and with these he initially wreaks havoc.
God of War's gameplay opens on a ship in the middle of a violent ocean. Evil humanoid creatures swarm around Kratos, forcing players into combat even before they realise what is happening. From here the game , barely letting players take a break as Kratos moves from one battle to the next, with boss fights appearing suddenly and even . God of War is a violent game, and also a reasonably tough one. Save points and cut-scenes emerge as rewards for fighting well and getting up to that point.
Kratos' world is filled with demons and monsters, and these are certainly not shy about trying to end Kratos' journey. From mythical beasts such as hydras, minotaurs and medusas through to entirely original creations the enemies in God of War are a fearsome bunch. There may not be a lot of different types of enemies, but the sheer number of them as well as different combinations requiring differing tactics amount to a great deal of challenge and variety.
Visually God of War is a triumph for the PlayStation 2. Large-scale and detailed scenery typify the game, with action going on in the foreground and background as the gameplay continues around it. Athens is a prime example of this, with fleeing citizens in the foreground and a pitched battle between the god Aries and an army in the background. The look of Kratos and the other characters matches the overall level design, with their movements very smooth and natural. Kratos himself is a highlight, whether wielding the Blades of Chaos, swimming or traversing a rock wall, never giving the impression that he is giving less than 100% effort.
Adding to the excellent visuals through God of War is the near absence of any sort of loading times. There are a some areas that do need them, but not many and not for any great deal of time. In general Kratos can pass through large areas unhindered creating a very smooth and seamless experience.
It is the action that is the centrepiece of God of War though with Kratos initially wielding just the Blades of Chaos to inflict damage. These are blades on chains that he can attack in a number of different ways to attack enemies around him or at a short distance in a style reminiscent of the diskarmor used by Rygar. Later on other magic powers and weapons become available to Kratos, and each of these can be upgraded to provide even more power and ability. |
