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| Source // PlayStation |
After playing it earlier on the 1001 list, I came to the obvious conclusion that I missed out on God of War - all of it. PlayStation 2 titles, PlayStation portable spin-offs, PlayStation 3 sequels... you name it, if it had God of War in the title, I glossed over it, and that was mighty silly of me.
God of War II comes at the end of the PlayStation 2's life, but like the first game, it makes sure to pack in more action than you think would be possible, merging Devil May Cry with the Gods of Ancient Greece into a blockbuster of a title that cranks everything up to 11.
To say I'm looking forward to this one is obvious.
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| Source // MobyGames |
Fun Times
Once again, I don't have the PlayStation 2 original, but I am playing the God of War Collection on the PlayStation 3, with its graphical overhaul. I won't lie, I'm glad I am playing this rerelease. It only came out a few years after the originals, but it sure looks swish, and not just in terms of widescreen support.
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| Source // MobyGames |
Someone doesn't like this, though, and shrinks Kratos back down to size, and kindly drops him in the vicinity of some enemy soldiers so that the action can begin.
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| Source // MobyGames |
If you wanted more of the same, God of War II does not disappoint. Light and heavy attacks are mapped to the square and triangle buttons, grabs and jumps fill out the rest of the face buttons, magic makes a return to the L2 button, and dodge rolling still gets in the way of camera control by taking over the right analogue stick.
So far, it is as awesome to button mash as before, with Kratos' attacks filling up the screen. You feel his rage when you unleash your attacks and can launch enemies up into the air or into devastating combos with both ease and delight. You most certainly feel like the God of War right now.
There's something in the background, watching on, however. Something rather more troubling than these soldiers. It is none other than the Colossus of Rhodes brought to life. Your first boss.
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| Source // PlayStation |
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| Source // PlayStation |
As you navigate various corridors and swat away some generic enemy soldiers, the Colossus is trying to swat you away, too. Giant hands and fists slap and pound the arena as setpiece after setpiece lets you know that God of War II is going to be just as big and bonkers as the first game.
Where Halo 3 gave us a choir to try and elicit great respect for Master Chief, God of War II gives us more thematic music to give you the impression that everything you do isn't just important but downright awesome.
These aren't mere flights, but duels between the Gods and everything about God of War II's presentation reminds you about that.
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| Source // MobyGames |
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| Source // PlayStation |
Critics can argue that God of War II isn't really doing anything that God of War didn't do. I'll argue that I just don't care.
This fight goes on and on, broken up by sections reintroducing you to Kratos' skillset before putting you back into sight of the Colossus, each section more maddening and elaborate than the last. Eventually, Zeus himself thrusts the Sword of Olympus into play and tells Kratos to channel his entire essence into the thing to bring down the Colossus.
It took me a little while to figure out what that meant, but a few long presses of R1 later and I was not only hurling the sword into the Colossus but jumping into and fighting the construction from the inside, emerging from his mouth as it finally explodes.
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| Source // MobyGames |
I was content to end my time with God of War II right there, but it turns out we've been made mortal, and then killed by Zeus by the blade that we put all of our godly power into. You can bet that made Kratos' beyond livid, but what can he do? He's dead at last, and the claws of Hades begin dragging him down into the Underworld.
Only Gaia herself is having none of this, and reminds Kratos not to be sure a coward, inspiring him to literally hack and slash his way out of death itself to return to the surface and get his revenge on yet more members of the Greek Pantheon.
And it was then that I saw a save point and simply had to stop playing, because my word was I having a blast that I knew would be better if I finished the first game before playing any more.
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| Source // PlayStation |
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| Source // PlayStation |
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| Source // PlayStation |
Final Word
I have basically seen very little of God of War II - I've not even seen any nudity yet - but I am loving it. Slick and violent, with a crazy story that amps you up for more angry, visceral combat. There'll be puzzle solving, too, I guess, but if I can just go berserk on anyone who gets in the way, I can live with it.
It's such an easy game to get into. You feel like a God playing it. Yeah, Kratos' powers are stripped and you'll be earning them all back like last time, but when it's this fun you don't mind.
Where will the story go? Have they run out of Gods to annoy Kratos' with yet? What ridiculous scenarios will we find ourselves in this time? How can you top fighting the Colossus of Rhodes? How can you top anything that came in the first game? As soon as I get around to finishing that first God of War, you can bet I'll be eager to find out.
So, while technically this is a bit of a useless post because I don't really know how the game will go from here, it's hopefully useful in telling you just how hyped I am to play God of War II. It might not be a title that makes it into a great many best-of-the-best lists, but it sure does feel like a must-play so far.
Fun Facts
"On March 1, 2007, Sony held a media event that featured scantily clad women and a dead goat." - and you don't need to know anything else to know how the Daily Mail ran with that story...
God of War II, developed by SCE Santa Monica Studio, first released in 2007.
Version played: God of War Collection, PlayStation 3, 2010.