God of War 2 Reviews

• Sending the PS2 off with a vengeance

  
  By AJKWF4W7QD4NS on 2007-03-15
  It's no secret that the PS2 is on it's way out, and that final death rattle isn't so far away these days. So in that case, it's safe to say that the long awaited God of War II is the last, best original game to hit Sony's 128-bit juggernaut. Picking up right where the first game left off, Kratos was successful in killing Ares, and now resides as the God of War in on Mount Olympus. However, Zeus has grown displeased with Kratos, and the Spartan warrior soon finds himself cast into Hades. After striking a deal with Gaia of the Titans, Kratos is once again on a very long, and very violent, journey of revenge. The first thing you may notice when you pop in God of War II is that the game's graphics are astounding for a PS2 game. The first game pushed the limits of what the PS2 could pump out, and God of War II exceeds it. Besides that, the game ups the ante on just about everything that made the first game so great. The level design is superbly done, and the boss battles are more plentiful this time around, and all the more epic as well. Not to mention that the game's music score is even better than the fantastic one found in the first game. And oh yeah, the incredibly brutal fighting and blood-letting is here as well, and there's buckets more to be found. The kills are gorier than one could ever expect, and the game more than earns it's Mature rating. The puzzle elements are more difficult this time around as well, wonderfully rounding out this package. If there's any downside to God of War II, it's that the fighting system itself hasn't changed much. There are still times when button mashing rules, but Kratos gets a few new weapons and magics this time around too. Besides that, everything else about God of War II is superb: from it's narrative to it's voice acting, to it's overall epic feel; God of War II is one of the best titles available for the PS2, period. This is one of those rare cases when the sequel outshines and outdoes it's genre-bending predecessor, and maybe the third installment will make the PS3 worth owning. All in all, God of War II is a masterpiece of modern gaming.
  
  

• Adds quite a surprising amount of depth to the first in the series...

  
  By A3G2G872VHVJMA on 2007-03-16
  Like so many of us that have been counting down the days, I picked up my copy early upon its arrival at the store--and probably like a few of you, I was afraid there was simply no way that they could emulate the marvel of the original...oh how happy I am that my fears existed only in my head.
  
  After 16 hours, I've completed the game so I'll tell you why I feel the sequel has just bested the original God of War. Obviously the first is the amazing storyline that not only picks up right where the first installment left off, but it develops the story a considerable amount with regard to the history of the gods (especially Zeus), the titans, and most excitingly, the past great war between both (I'll give nothing away but suffice it to say that the curious might want to grab a decent Greek Mythology handbook to look up alot of the names associated with the new faces).
  
  The visuals are nothing but spellbinding, as we have come to expect no less considering our first experience with "the ghost of Sparta." The game designers have employed the elements of all the seasons in implementing the rich, colorful world through which Kratos must trek. An especial care to detail has been taken to ensure that no single part of the game stands out when compared to the others so that the entire God of War world seems an endless tapestry of rich colors and dark hues befitting our hero's purpose. Very simply every image, background, character, and enemy (the look of Cyclops, for example, is dramatically improved) is painstakingly detailed and beautifully produced on screen.
  
  Only a small word about the musical score will be necessary. That the original God of War won Best Original Musical Score in 2005 isn't surprising...what will be surprising is if GOW2 fails to pick it up again later in the year. Beautiful vocals, percussion and strings strongly complement all the eye candy. But again, no surprises here...we simply expected it.
  
  The gameplay is also much more fluid. For example, you don't have to wait for the slow climb up ladders anymore, you are now able to heave yourself up in quick jumps. Moreover, you are now able to use your swords to climb under cliffs (very cool by the way) making Kratos much more versatile. Some of the new "gadgets" include Icharus wings (earned later in the game) that allow Kratos to glide over longer distances, a device for slowing time, and [at least] 2 new "other" weapons besides your chain-swords (I had an option for three but only procured two in my first time through the game).
  
  And finally, my personal favorite...the in-game movies. This is where the history of the titans and the titan/olympian war literally come into view. Saving just one early close-up shot of Kratos' face, every normal- and high-resolution movie looks fantastic. After unlocking and watching them following the game's completion, it will be evident to all that a great deal more effort went into the production of these little treasures compared to its predecessor with regard to both overall length and depth of storyline.
  
  CONCLUSION:
  Superb visuals, addicting gameplay and action, wonderful story, and compelling characters. Overall, my recommendation is this: if you're a God of War fan already, you've already bought it...if you like a good action game, you'll find none better (including the original), and if you're curious about all the hype, then rent it (my guess is, afterwards, you will have bought it within two days)...this one makes it hard for any to be disappointed.
  
  5 out of 5--absolutely no doubt about it.
  
  
  
  

• One of the best games the PS2, and the action genre, has ever seen

  
  By A18I7Q4Z35YBTF on 2007-03-28
  God of War 2 had a lot to live up to, being the successor to one of the best Playstation 2 games ever released, God of War. The original game had stellar graphics, sound, action, and an overall epic feel. The sequel lives up to its name, and improves upon it in nearly every way.
  
  First of all, the game was released near the end of the Playstation 2's lifecycle, and many consider it to be the last hurrah of the console. Why would anyone spend $50 on a game that's released on archaic hardware, with worse graphics and such than current generation consoles? There's many reasons, and I'll tell you them.
  
  God of War 2 has an amazing graphics engine that shows that the dying Playstation 2 still has some tricks up its sleeve. It really shines in the visuals department and is an amazing feat for the console. Considering most of the game's cut-scenes utilize ingame graphics, you can clearly see how much emphasis was put into making this game look good. Audio goes hand-in-hand, bringing the entire audio/video experience full circle.
  
  As an action game, God of War 2 is one of the best ever released. It has extremely frantic moments where tons of enemies fill the screen, each creature having its own distinct traits and skills. Just when you think you're dead, a context-sensative icon will appear, allowing you to do certain actions at specific times as they appear on screen, causing massive damage and rewards. The pacing of the action seems just right, although a fair amount of dying will be involved.
  
  The one thing God of War 2 captures, much like its predecessor, is the epic feeling of the entire game. Cut-scenes, battles, locations, enemies, weapons, and the overall feel of the game just immerses you in it, much like a film. The production values are some of the best ever seen in a video game.
  
  Really, the only bane of the game's existence are the overabundant placement of puzzles. God of War 2 and the original all have very interesting and well placed puzzles, ranging from quick move-the-boulder to sprawling levels consisting of tens of time-based and skill-based puzzles. The original game had just the right ratio of action to puzzles, but God of War 2 focuses much too heavily on the puzzle aspects. There's really almost more puzzles to the game than action, which can be excruciatingly annoying and demoralizing. Being cut short of continuing the action because you can't time a grappling hook is obnoxious the first time, but having it happen hundreds of times in countless parts of the game is unnecessary.
  
  All in all, God of War 2 is a mandatory game for any Playstation 2 owner, action game lover, or really just any gamer in general. It's a landmark release with some glaring flaws that still can't bring it down, because everything else about it shines so brightly.
  
  Pick up God of War 2 now and enjoy the game as soon as possible.
  
  

• You loved the first...and now it's time for more

  
  By A2DYSR56EFNYJX on 2007-03-10
  If you enjoyed the first God of War, which by all accounts is the best game released on the PS2, you'll have to love this one too. Good storyline, good music, good puzzles. Rumor has it there are a ton of easter eggs burried that only winning levels perfectly will get you. Teach those Greek gods a lesson with those crazy weapons and put that old PS2 to use, it misses you.
  
  Cheers
  
  

• kicking azz and taking names

  
  By A3VOH5MH8J7Z72 on 2007-03-14
  Probably one of the best opening sequences for a sequel EVER. I have played only the first 2 levels but I feel I am ready to rate the game. 5 stars all around. The story hasn't missed a beat from the ending in GOW1 and the puzzles so far have been great. There are unlockables as you pass the game on different difficulty settings and a bonus dvd disc. Another reason to enjoy wasting away in front of my television. (just what I needed)
  
  
• a simple addictive game, sadly ruined by annoying puzzles
  By A4BA2SSCQ2W56 on 2007-05-14
  god of war 1 was a semi-fun game that became a lot less fun to me after i ran into a bug, getting trapped in one level. i quit after an hour or so of trying to figure out what the hell to do.
  
  god of war 2 is luckily bug-free. but i had to consult a walkthrough about 5 times and i hate that! what happened to the good old days, when walkthroughs weren't even an option and it didn't matter, because you didn't need them? now more and more games put in incredibly annoying puzzles. well i don't like puzzles. if i wanted puzzles, i could go play a puzzle game. too bad god of war takes the path of half-life 2 - interspersing the fun cool action with lame annoying puzzles.
  
  anyway i solved some of the puzzles, some i looked up online, and by the time i reached a place i didn't know what to do, jumping on a rock that i couldn't get past because of a huge lava pit, i quit this game. god of war 2's strengh is in its action, so why does it insist on putting so many obstacles in the way of getting to the action?? it makes no sense, really.
  
  also i found the flying levels to be mostly a bore. i don't think this game should focus on flying.. it should focus on what it's good at - earthbound action. it's obviously taken a lot of inspiration from ninja gaiden and that's cool, but no way would i rate it as highly as ninja gaiden. unfortunately i'm the only one willing to talk about the negative aspects of this game, because gamers think the graphics are oh-so-kool.. and they are great for a ps2 game, but there are problems.
  
  
• Awesome!!
  By A1ALU5YIH57S5B on 2007-03-14
  It seems that the release of the new movie 300 & the release of God of War 2 as well as the series of Rome on HBO it seems that we are going through a phase in pop culture where we are fascinated with the legends and history of ancient Rome & Greece. I just saw 300 last weekend & since I bought this game yesterday I am really enjoying the God of War gaming experience. This game is incredible!! I believe that for the PS2 it will be the greatest game of the year. I own a PS3 & I am not kidding when I say that as far as graphics God Of War on the PS2 rivals some titles on the PS3. The control of the character has been enhanced from the first God Of War also. I felt the movement of Kratos was a little more choppy in the first title. In GOW2 the kill sequences are more polished. The transitions through the action button sequences that you enter are cinematic & cool to watch. I am at the beggining of the game but I am excited to see the next level & the powerups that Kratos will receive. The music is powerful as in the first GOW. The dialog between the characters is not cheesy as other games of the past. They actually have mainstream actors as the characters. T.C. Carson who played Kyle on the series Living Single is Kratos & he rocks, & Linda Hunt plays the narrator and Athena. So they do a good job.
  My summary
  Graphics - *****
  Music - *****
  Fun Factor - *****
  Controls - *****
  
  Dont rent this one, buy it.... There are hidden goodies in this one for those that win it & you will want to play this one again & again.
  
  
• Just awesome
  By A1093U43XIMVAQ on 2007-03-16
  Yesterday, God of War 2 came out. That was the same day I got it. Let me just say that this is unbelievably exciting from start to (I haven't beaten it yet, but I just know it) finish. IF you played and beat the first one, the second one starts right where it ended.
  One thing that made God of War so interesting was the awesome story. As hard as it is to believe, the second story is even better. It isn't just good vs. evil. It is all about perspective. (I'm not spoiling the story, but I'll tell you that Zeus is involved) Kratos wants revenge against someone, while that someone believes that Kratos deserved what he got because of his massive slaughter.
  Now it is time to mention what is most important. THE GAMEPLAY! It is just awesome. Slaughtering millions of enemies in a cool and brutal fashion has never felt so good. You kill every person brutally no matter what you do. You also get several weapons and powers to add to your already awesome weapon.
  The graphics are just plain beautiful. That is all there is to say. Everything from Kratos to vase smashing in the backround is wonderfully detailed. The cutscenes are breath taking. They match the PS3. The sounds are just as good. There is beautiful music in the backround and every character's voice is just right. Their voices perfectly match their character and personality.
  
  The parts where you must press buttons to make Kratos do something coll is back and better than ever. The moves are twice as violent as the first game. There are also more than twice the amount of bosses which means there are more than twice the amount of cool finishers.
  
  This game also couldn't dig into greek mythology any more if they tried.
  
  The only thing I'm really pointing out is that the gameplay hasn't changed much or at all. This isn't really a bad thing though. So I guess I'm saying that this game is perfect.
  
  I'm just going to say this. If you played God of War, I'm not asking you to get this game. I'm not recommending this game to you.
  
  I'M ORDERING YOU TO GET THIS GAME!
  
  
  
  
• Off to Rome
  By A2ODGGK4L8NZUD on 2007-03-15
  no way to compare it to GOW I this series is one of the best games I ever played, it's like a movie. SnakeEater I thought was the best game I ever played then along comes Kratos. I played about the first 45min. of the game and this one is a must have. I expect it to be the game of the year.
  
  
• God of What?? Needed much more work.
  By A3ISV2WSUTVEKO on 2007-03-26
  The first God of War was incredible and a blast to play. So when I heard that Sony was coming out with GOW 2 for PS2 I was eagerly awaiting the release. When I finally got the game from amazon, (had to wait a week for shipment even though I ordered it on the 15th) I immediately opened the game and started playing. What I noticed is that the graphics are much better than in the first game, but then that is expected due to the logical advancements in technology in the time between GOW and GOW 2. The gameplay was a little smoother than in the first which was an imporovement but overall the game was not that great. They basically had the same magic as in the first game with none of them really all that great or awe inspiring. The new weapons they introduced were slow and clunky and really forced the game player to constantly use the blades since the opponents moved around a lot faster than you could attack. On top of that the moves for the weapons were so numerous, and in most cases painfully slow, that you'd be hard pressed to remember any of them and I found myself falling back on all the old moves from GOW. The puzzles which were hard but fun to do in the first game were mostly gone and there were not really that many hard battles with the bosses in this game. On top of that the levels seemed short and the overall length of the game was a lot shorter than in the original.
  The bonus DVD that came with the game was slightly below awful and really teased you with the fact that there could have been more levels in the game that would have increased the entertainment value. To note the people in the bonus DVD state that this game will most likely be the last for PS2 and it will be a great game to send the system out on. Well all I have to say is that if this is the last game for PS2 they basically killed the system. I was greatly disapointed with the game and will be hard pressed to by a PS3 now if this is the level of games they are producing. My suggestion for people is to wait a while until the prices come down then buy the game. I'm actually considerig buying an Xbox 360 now just to play better more involved games.
  
  
• Lets try something new
  By A2POXE8CSEDNIB on 2007-03-27
  I am a fan of the first GoW. I loved the how brutal everything was. The sheer power of the presentation alone captivated me enough to play for hours on end. I simply didn't have that feeling this time around. There have been many improvements in this installment, and they are apparent right off the bat. After about three hours of play, I grew bored. This game is simply missing the wow factor of the first one. Don't get me wrong, this game is good. I was looking for something a little more.
  
  
• The best video game ever. Seriously.
  By A2PV6AEQ6289MD on 2007-03-20
  God of War was the best video game of 2005 (not just my opinion, it won more awards in 2005 than any other game), and many people thought that it was impossible to eclipse it. Wrong. SCEA did it again. More moves, more bosses, more levels, better graphics, more everything. From start to finish, and absolute roller coaster ride of awesome. Perfect.
  
  
• GOW2: Best Game out PERIOD...
  By A396R01UFK3KIY on 2007-03-23
  This game is the best game out right now. I know thats a bold statement but not too may games rival this one. I own an Xbox 360 and a PS3, both have been collecting dust since I bought this game for the PS2. Who would have thought that when I was shelling out 600 dollars for my Ps3 and close to 700 for my 360 with all the additional stuff; that I could have just waited to get a good game for 50 bones for my PS2. While GOW 1 was ground-breaking bringing in a new style of game play to button mashers everywhere; this game is all that with the kinks fixed. Smoother gameplay, beautiful backgrounds, great storyline, all while maintaining the intese bloody mayhem of the original. There's nothing like chopping up hordes of people while screaming "I will make you all suffer!" in kratos's raspy voice. Developers got this game right all the way and knew exactly what we wanted to see in a sequal. The storyline is movie material, not sure who could play kratos...Vin Deisel maybe or the Rock?
  
  Long review short:
  
  Graphics- 10 of 10
  Gameplay- 10 of 10
  Music- 10 of 10
  Storyline- 10 of 10
  Must Have?- You bet! The last masterpiece on PS2. I'm almost scared to see them butcher it when they move it to the PS3. Just like they have done to all the PS3 titles i.e. Def Jam Icon (need I say more?)
  
  
  
• EPIC!!!
  By A1APJMEG6ZFNGV on 2007-03-23
  Halfway through the GOW II and I'm in a rush to review it!? This has never happened before and I think it won't happen again.This game is well worth its $50 and even the price of any XBOX 360 or PS3 game.
  It's just an epos of grandiose mythology based storyline, frenetic bloody action paused by smartly crafted puzzles, high class fantasy art design and a magnificent musical score that will give you goose bumps!
  If you are a parent DO NOT buy it for your kids though!!! It's a very involving masterpiece that could have a high impact on young souls that are still in search of their own path in life.
  *****
  
  
• Better than the first one!
  By A2UN5UY8Q6YMOF on 2007-04-29
  I just finished this game and I have to say I think it is more fun than the first installment and I liked the first one a lot. First of all the story is interesting and there is much diversity in both the places you visit and the enemys you fight. The graphics are pretty good for a last gen game and the boss battles are awesome. The save points are fairly distributed and the game's length is adequate. My only complaints are that the combat involves some button mashing and the lack of camera control is frustrating. I played this on the PS3 so there was no rumble, but frankly I didn't miss it. The game is a bit gory and there's plenty of nude breasts, so its not for small children. To me this was easily the best PS2 game I ever played.
  
  
• God of War II - great graphics...
  By A2WLGJ9K68Z9CX on 2007-08-10
  Lousy game play; the first one was better overall. This game was nothing more than some action mixed with eye candy, and crammed with very poor, and false, references to Greek Mythology (certainly targeted for teenage boys who like "I'm a hardcore mutha'" music).
  
  Let's start with the game play. You get to really abuse block to sickening heights. There is never really any fear of dying for a halfway decent player, even on the higher levels (the vaunted 'Titan' setting). This ruins the game play-wise. If they had removed or limited block, the game would have been far better and given the player a more serious challenge. The final fight with Zeus is pathetic and a non-challenge. Ares was tougher from GoW, and that is not exactly a 5 star endorsement for difficulty.
  
  Historically, the game is laughable. Perseus was nobody to play with, and was honorable. He certainly did not walk around bragging about who he was (like Kratos) and acting pompous. Zeus is pathetically pompous (worse than Perseus, and weak) to where anyone would want to kill him (and a far cry from who he was in "myth"). Athena acts like a weak, love-struck hoochie-mama (she is the Goddess of Wisdom, not stupidity). Icarus was not a crazy lunatic (and his wings being almost useless in-game), and so forth. I clearly get that they made the gods reflect how some teen-age boys see modern day authority figures (like their fathers, and those in law enforcement/government), so they can get worked up into an emotional lather when they play.
  
  The story line is exceedingly dumb. You could somewhat understand Kratos in GoW, but here he is just idiotic. Use your divine powers and get your family back! Better yet, ask Zeus. However, this Zeus is just as dumb as Kratos, and so pompous I doubt he would do anything for anyone (again, far removed from the god the real Greeks worshiped).
  
  The game is great for casual gamers, and those who enjoy working out their emotions on straw men in a very phony, pseudo-Greek backdrop.
  
  
• The last reason to own a PS2!!
  By A2WWC6ZC9IHCFV on 2007-03-21
  Bravo!!! This is a game that not only holds its own in the coming era of next-gen games, but does so on a PS2! God of War 2 is a fitting end to the PS2 legacy. I thought that there could not possibly be another 5-star game for the PS2 after the GTA franchise (GOW1 notwithstanding) but this game is clearly of that calibur and then some!
  
  The closest I could come to a criticism of this game would be not being able to control the camera... but in all honesty, the game is so well designed that it simply doesn't need it. The camera is always exactly where it needs to be and I didn't see a single glitch. Tight!
  
  Gameplay is smooth and seamless. Load screens are few and short. Fighting is SUPER INTENSE and bloodier than ever with some absolutely BRUTAL kills!! Puzzles are smart and challenging. Level design is superb. And the cut scenes are stunningly beautiful! The sound design is no less impressive with top notch voice acting, sound effects and full-on original score orchestration. Even the storyline is gripping. A far cry from your typical cheezy "video game-esque" script, this game sucks you in and pulls you through the game moment by moment. Even at 3 AM with headaches, red eyes and sore wrists, I just couldn't put the controller down! This game is an absolute marvel of production! Can't wait for GOW3!
  
  Again... Bravo SCEA!! You've totally outdone yourselves. Take a bow. Standing ovation!!
  
  
• As Good As God of War, But Camera Angles Are Still Bad
  By A1D5SE7O3XKZ6Q on 2007-04-15
  Pros:
  - Fast-paced continuation of story from the first game and good plot twists. Despite the success of the first game, very, very few developers have explored mythology to this extent for game content, which is a shame.
  - New weapons, updated weapons, and weapon combos offer huge amounts of action. You feel like you can do pretty much anything with the weapons Kratos has.
  - Multi-dimensional puzzles and platform style gameplay inject lots of variety into the game.
  - Good mix of story, action, and puzzles keeps the game fresh.
  - Nice unlockable content adds some replay value to the game.
  - Enormous sense of scale makes the game all the more larger-than-life.
  - Proves that the PS2 can still deliver the goods graphics-wise, and makes me question why it took developers so long to deliver games on DVD format when the PS2 supported DVD format at its launch 7 years ago.
  
  Cons:
  - Camera Angles: I think they're worse than the first game. Found myself on numerous levels getting behind monsters and enemies and not being able to see what was happening. Camera isn't dynamic enough and doesn't change viewpoint very easily. You will be attacked by enemies off-screen because the camera doesn't adjust properly, a no-no in modern games.
  - The game's very short. About equal to the first one, maybe a bit longer even, but short nonetheless. It's on DVD, and yet the game is as short as it is, and there's little excuse for that. Like I said about the first game, if you have the resources to put all sorts of "making of" material in the game packaging, then you have plenty of resources to make the game more than what was delivered, and just didn't do it.
  - Some save problems, but not enough to totally ruin the experience. Save points are plentiful, so it balances out somewhat.
  
  All in all, an excellent continuation of the Kratos vs. the Greek Gods vs. the Greek Titans saga. Once again, parents should take the rating very seriously. The game is violent, as in rip body parts off of bad guys and beat them with same violent, and there are a lot of mature themes in the game. Kratos does some morally questionable things to move the story along, and he's the standard to which all flawed "good" guys will be measured. Parents, you have been warned, by me *and the box label*. 'Nuff said...
  
  I'd like to see more branching storyline, but that's just me. This game series has the potential for it without drowning action-oriented gamers into the minutiae of RPG-style games, or making people pull out the flow charts to remember what happened where and when. Here's hoping God of War III (me thinks there will be a sequel) on the PS3 takes advantage of all that processing power for gameplay additions and enhancements. Developers get a bit caught up in the eye-candy aspect and forget that all that CPU power can be used to branch the storyline out, too.
  
  By all means, play this one and enjoy the experience of being a Greek God/Hero/Titan Avenger. It's worth your hard-earned cash.
  
  
• WHAT IS THIS?!!!!!
  By A1ARHFJDVPDRN5 on 2007-04-24
  This is not what I expected at all, this game, if it were anything but the sequel to perhaps the greatest game ever for the PS2, wouldnt rank above any other mediocre run of the mill adventure game. Where is the combat? What is Perseus doing here? The Icarus' wings seemed like a good idea, but what did they really do with it?, nothing, thats what.
  Its as if they threw every bit of greek mythology the average american teen could be expected to remember or know into this imposter of a sequel.
  Puzzle after puzzle, most of them fairly simple, so after awhile they just become annoying, a terrible plot ( SPOILER ALERT )
  Kratos is Zeus's son, oh please what cliche' crap is that?
  I cant go on its making me sick just thinking about it.
  I havent even touched this game since i beat it the first time, and I dont think i will anytime soon. Save your money, and buy books, you're already here in amazon, it will do you more good than this junk.
  
  
• A perfect way to end the PS2 generation
  By A305MT5Y9I4T69 on 2007-05-20
  If you liked this review, feel free to click my name and check out my others.
  
  I'll admit, like most of the reviewers you'll read from here, I'm quite biased. I played through the original God of War multiple times and loved it. I find this game to be just as exemplary as it's prequel as a practically perfect fantasy hack n' slash platformer. This game will go down in history as the PS2 game that consistently outsold PS3 and Xbox 360 games for several weeks straight upon its release. There's a good reason for that, it's brilliant.
  
  Story 5/5: The developers are cheating here. They are drawing from the most famous works of greek mythology to provide the player with a rich universe of jealous and fallible Gods at war with one another. Many of the scary beasties from the era show their ugly faces here, some with new twists since the first game. You'll face gorgons, satyrs/fauns, cerberi, cyclopes, and even other classical greek heroes like Theseus, Perseus, and Jason. I won't ruin the story except to say that it deals with the classic greek cycle of generation after generation of supreme beings rebelling against their forebears. For most players it will be entertaining, and for people such as my self with more than a bit of familiarity with greek mythology, it's a neat fantasy that falls right in line with the types of things you'd expect from ancient Greek characters.
  
  Visuals 5/5: Stunning. From the very beginning you are treated to eye popping visuals. As you clear out your first room of enemies the sinister glowing eyes of a newly animated colossal "Statue of Rhodes" peers through the windows searching for a way to get to you. Like most background objects in the game you eventually come face to face with the menace. You won't see a single structure in the game's background that you won't eventually visit. One of the highlights include seeing 4 Titan-sized horse statues reigned to an island far off in the distance as you hack up baddies. It won't be long before you've fought your way through various situations to find yourself atop the magnificent horses themselves, all the while battling to gain access to the next area. Enemies are well rendered and range from statuesque to grotesque. The art direction was well done. The realization of the titans themselves is something spectacular. Sounds like the designers drew more than just a little inspiration from "Shadow of the Colossus". It's fantastic having these living speaking goliaths cursing you as you attempt to climb them and overcome the obstacles they create for you. Definitely some of the most memorable graphics of any game I've ever played.
  
  Combat 5/5 (I'd give it a 6 if I could): This is one of the few games where the player's reflexes are the most powerful tool in the game, because the game actually let's you use them. You don't have to be frustrated by sticky controls, useless delayed moves that have no practical use, or moves that get triggered accidentally because of poor layout. Let me put it this way, Kratos can be controlled with the finesse and versatility of a fairly agile character in a "Street Fighter" style video game. In fact he'd probably be right at home in a street fighting game. But even with the most impressive weapons and moves, Kratos can get a good beating if you do not make effective use of his blocking/parrying/dodging abilities. Also, though Kratos learns many super combo moves to dish out dozens of hits in a few seconds, many enemies can break through or evade them and make you pay for "spamming" the moves foolishly. It's important to utilize these combos at moments where the enemy is compromised to capitalize on their effectiveness. The nice thing is that even then, a lot of Kratos' moves can be canceled if you need to do an emergency block/parry. You really have the flexibility of control to let your reflexes do the work, especially in the extremely challenging "Titan" difficulty. This is one of the few games where I actually get more addicted trying to complete the hard difficulties because despite it being extremely tough, it's fun to try and out-box the opponents knowing one false move could end it all. Another nice feature is the addition of new (and wow, even effective) alternate weapons. I am on my second playthrough of the game and found the Barbarian Hammer to be a devastating weapon if you familiarize yourself with the many moves it has. I've heard others remark that they have become just as adept at fighting enemies with the Spear of Destiny as Kratos' Blades of Athena. Finally, the Blade of Olympus which can only be used to play through the game once it's been beaten feels like cheating. But then again you sort of are.
  
  Puzzling/Platforming 3.5/5: The puzzling in this game doesn't approach Zelda proportions but a few moments might stump you for a while. The cinematic outcome of each solution tends to be fairly rewarding. Still, nothing to pat yourself on the back too much for, but just enough to add some breaks from the slaughter. There are more than enough hidden items and chests to keep you looking around for weak walls and obscure nooks. My one complaint would be that the first games seemed to have more of these in lots of devious places. But then again that might just mean that I've missed a bunch of them in the new game still.
  
  Sound 5/5: They got rid of the repetitive nature of the previous game's musical score. The music here has the advantage of a little more variety plus it benefits from the same type of context sensitive music environment. The music makes fairly smooth transitions as you travel from area to area, swelling for dramatic effect where appropriate such as when a battle has just been completed. Voice work is high-quality as well. The characters are all voiced by competent talent without making the mistake of kitschy cartoonish voices. It all works. The only complaint I have here is the sound effect that occurs when you successfully block attacks with the Golden Fleece item. It's a high pitched sort of screamy sound. In places where you do a lot of blocking, it can really get on your nerves especially considering that if you counterattack after blocking there is a loud explosion that follows. So you might get tired of hearing SCREE-BOOM, SCREE-BOOM, SCREE...you get the idea.
  
  Conclusion: They save the best for last. If you liked the first game, then you owe it to yourself to play this as well. If you've never played them, then get the original God of War first, right now. They are setting a standard for exciting well-designed gameplay with awesome characters in an awesome universe. Ancient greek mythology is like society's first comic books. It's even more exciting on your console than it is in your Edith Hamilton book. Check it out.
  
  
• Hell of a game.
  By A289S3EW0H8AT8 on 2007-06-11
  I'll be honest. I don't like American games much. That may isolate me from many gamers out there, but I just like the flare and over the topness(a word?) that a great Japanese game can deliver(Resident Evil 4 anyone?).
  
  Well, God Of War 2 is an American game, and delivers far beyond what i'd expect from many games in it's genre from here or Japan.
  
  The graphics are amazing for PS2(especially if your TV supports Progressive Scan). The sound is great. And the gameplay is fun and addictive.
  
  Kratos' moves are still as wild and violent as they were from the first game, but there are more puzzles and other things to mix it up this time around. There are Pegasus levels that you have where you travel from one place to another. They are done if the view of, oh say, Star Fox. They are a blast to play, and made me wish they had more of them in the game. Everything is well executed in this game, and the boss battles are so over the top, that sometimes you're just like "how the hell am I going to beat THAT?!". That's basically one of the best parts of these games. It all looks so big and complex, but at the end of the day, it's easy and fun to get into.
  
  I love the sheer intensity, style, and bombast that these GOW games have. And I have to give it up to this one as being a bit better than the first one. It's more refined. It has more puzzles this time around, so some fans may not like that as much. Also, the story isn't quite as good as the first one, but it's a logical progression, and I really can't see where else they could have taken it.
  
  All together, God Of War 2 is a must own for the aging PS2. Honestly, there aren't any games on any of the next-gen systems that are this good yet. A must have.
  
  
  
  
• The longest platform game ever made
  By AD0J5KK4WQXNS on 2007-08-30
  God of War (GOW) was the ultimate platform game on the PS2. Before the advent of the new PS3 the developers of GOW had decided to go for a PS2 release sequel of the genre defining game. This 3D platform renaissance started with the PS1 Bruce Willis vehicle `Apocalypse' and was improved on with the jaw dropping Devil May Cry. Puzzle play enhanced by Shadowman 2. GOW was not only one of the best PS2 games of 2005, but is a big PS2 game, lasting about a week with at least two or three full days play in there. GOW set the standards very high. Can GOW II compete?
  
  The truth is that GOW II could never live up to the newness or inventiveness that GOW had, but it can do more of the same again, so nobody is left complaining. GOW lovers will have no problem coming to grips with the new split-second `mini-game' controls that had not been seen before. These `mini-games' require you to match the buttons displayed on the screen so that your character can perform a combo that results in a messy death. Not only are you required to button bash O to perform various actions (and this is real button bashing folks, so get that coffee table support ready), you must also follow through with various other button pressing timed moves, including analogue stick clockwise half turns and full anticlockwise turns that creates a very impressive array of transferring movements to beat the beasties. Included are power-ups and magical secondary weapons, wielded by the dual blades on chains swinger, Kratos, a muscle-bound ghostly white mortal turned immortal, looses his immortality and supernatural abilities which he gained in GOW and has to win them back.
  
  Starting with The City of Rhodes, Inside the Colossus, Flight to the Lair of the Titan, The Lair of the Titan, Flight to the Island of Creation, The Island of Creation, The Steeds of Time, The Temple of Lahkesis, The Bog of the Forgotten, The Temple of Euryale, The Hall of Atropis, Outside Atropis, Atlas, The Palace of the Fates, The Garden of the Gods, Underground, Temple of the Fates, The Inner Sanctum, The Summit of Sacrifice and The Loom Chamber... literally this game takes you to hell and back, which is more than a sort of a rerun of the original GOW.
  
  There is beam balancing, blade dodging, rope climbing (and along the rope battles), rock climbing (and climbing battles), orb collecting, item collecting, lever pulling, statue pushing, wall smashing and swimming. There isn't as much backtracking which GOW did suffer from and that is a good thing because it makes the gameplay more fluid. However the half way decent story that GOW had is replaced by a very convoluted GOW II story about revenge which is not bad, but hard to follow at times, but probably because this game is so long. In fact it will be the longest platform game you have ever played and if you thought GOW was long, GOW II easily outdoes it. Can it get boring? Yes it can because you have to get through so much to find out what happens in the end.
  
  Overall GOW II is more of a remake of GOW than a sequel. Many of the monsters are back again and except for a changing story, some new magic, new weapons, and new bosses, there isn't a whole pile that is different but that still doesn't mean it's bad. In fact it is far from it. It might not be the revolutionary game that GOW was but this is the #2 platform game out there. And oh yeah... Kratos gets a set of wings too! That alone means it can easily retain a solid five stars.
  
  *Note: This game is strictly for Adults only. There is Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language and Sexual Themes.
  
  Pros:
  - Longest platform game ever made
  - Mini-games
  - Immense level designs
  - Explosive action content
  
  Cons:
  - Expectations of revolutionary play like mini-games will not be found.
  
  
• better than the first
  By A1YBEIDTO8T8TQ on 2007-03-18
  better than the first one. The graphics are amazing and the controls are much easier this time around. A way more involved story. this game rocks all around.
  
  
• Kratos is still out of bubblegum
  By A1M4AGJ7PHR2DA on 2007-03-22
  My God, this game is beautiful. It took me four days to beat it (on normal mode, and at 5-6 hours at a time) and while I can't sit here and say it's better than the first GOW (which had a much more challenging finale) it certainly lives up to it and then some. The scenery in this game is breathtaking, especially the level that featured the Steeds of Time (walking on a mile's worth of chains... nice). I can't wait for GOW III, although I guess I'll have to shell out $600 for the PS3.. oh well it'll be worth it:) WARNING: If you played the first game and became really good at the GOD mode, go ahead and select the hard mode on this one. Trust me.
  
  
• A great game, just falls short of the original
  By A3OKFNW2LMF3X2 on 2007-03-26
  A pretty good game that fans of the original will like. In my opinion, it is just fun and has some memorable moments, but is not earthshattering like God of War 1 was. Since GoW 1 pressed the limits of the PS2, this game is more of a continuation of the storyline (think GoW 1.5). I think we'd all have it that way, though, as opposed to the team messing with perfection.
  
  Really the only reasons I gave four stars is that the story is not as good or cohesive as the first. Instead of having motivation built through story line, level design and character development, everything (for the first 1/2 or 2/3 of the game or so) seems very contrived. You'll be going somewhere and get sidetracked by a very artificial plot device way too often. You feel like they ran out of ideas and wanted to lengthen the game. Second, it is very unclear what you are supposed to do sometimes. I felt the puzzles in the first game let you see where you needed to go, you just had to figure out how to do it. In GoW 2 you find things instances where you have to break this pillar to create a bridge, but how do you know you can do that when all the other pillars are indestructable? Then you get an item you didn't know you needed to advance. While many people will notice that most enemies are the same, the team took the liberty of making many more boss fights (one thing lacking in the original) and most of them are pretty amazing. A good game, just not legendary like the first installment.
  
  If you liked God of War, go buy this game. If you're a parent and wanting to know if this game is approriate for your child? It absolutely is not.
  
  Also, I think the game really picks up towards the end with some great boss battles and visuals. Sadly, though, GoW2 pulls a Halo 2 on us and the game ends before you are treated to a final chapter. Kind of sad that after $50 and around 10 hours nothing is resolved. At least this game was a great sequel and didn't suffer from the Devil May Cry 2 disease.
  
  
• Great game.
  By AF8JPLEZBODPA on 2007-05-29
  One of the best games I've played in a really long time. The action, story, characters, environment, ambience, music, gameplay, graphics are all top notch. Definitely reccomended for any video game fan. Don't miss out. If you've played the first one, you owe it to yourself to play this game. You will not be disappointed.
  
  
• Awesome game, but it made me want to pull out my hair
  By A25LWVXIABZHXB on 2007-06-13
  This is a great game. Very fun overall: great voice acting, fun weapons (even if some are basically useless), cool enemies, and good battle mechanics. It was a lot of fun, until the very end.
  
  This game, along with some other recent PS2 games, have a horrible feature that seems to be popular: Button-Press puzzles. I hate button-press puzzles!
  
  Fortunately, most game developers seem to have realized that nobody likes complex, instant-death jumping puzzles (although, there is one version here, which was kind of cool, but still frustrating).
  
  Unfortunately, at least on PS2, some developers have replaced them with button-press puzzles. You're enjoying a cut scene, and suddenly a button flashes on the screen. You have about 1 second to push the button, and if you don't, you die, and have to start the cut scene over.
  
  At the end of the game, there's a cut scene with 4 or 5 button-pushes in a row, and if you miss any of them, you die instantly, and have to do the entire scene over. I don't want to do that in a game, EVER!
  
  5 stars overall, minus 1 star for stupid button-press puzzles. I hope developers are over this stupid idea. If I wanted to play Dragon's Lair, I would have bought that game. It wasn't fun then, and it isn't fun in any other game either.
  
  
• The last Great game for ps2,possibly the Best.
  By ABU7M2VU59JWG on 2007-03-14
  GOW1 was one of the best games I played PERIOD. From the unique story telling,to the combat everything about the game was great(save for the challenge of the gods being so hard,and after you beat it you couldn't use the costumes in God mode)but thats a trifle that can be overlooked when considering argubly one of the greatest playstation titles period.
  
  Now on to GOW2, i haven't played it yet, but from what i've seen and heard, it's better than GOW1.There are more boss battles in this one(picture fighting a giant statue),more moves,magic,and challenge of the gods incorporated in save points(i think).Also, we get to fly(or at least glide)a concept scrapped in the 1st game,due to ripping Icarus' wings off(good ole Kratos.)I read that there were a couple of titans in this one, which are Kronos(the titan from GOW1 carrying the temple of pandora),Atlas(the fabled titan that was forced to hold the planet)and one named Gaia that saves you from hades after Zeus kills you(yep, ZEUS.)
  
  Which leads me to the main boss of this game, from what I know it's Zeus himself(if anyone remembers that before you walked through the door that housed pandora's box in GOW1, there was a picture on the floor that showed two spartans battling Zeus,and it hinted to being a sign of things to come.) The game starts out with you losing your godly powers and fighting Collosos(the statue)you start out with fully powered Blades of Athena, Poseidons Rage,and most of the moves. But eventually when you go to Hades, you lose all of your powers and have to start from square one. Your goal is to get to the sisters of fate's temple(i dont really know why) and on the way you'll encounter new and old enemies(you even have to fight the Barbarian King you beheaded in GOW1 and some of his minions.)
  
  All in all, this game is by far the best game of '07, and possibly the greatest ps2 series ever(minus Metal gear 2 and 3 and the FF series.)If you like story-driven combat,epic battles, and beautifully crafted gameplay, this is for you..
  
  
• Couldn't Ask for More
  By A3DA4MF6G0L9JF on 2007-03-17
  I just bought this game, played it for about 2-3 hours so far and I love it. Graphics are awesome, I thought that they couldn't outdo themselves from how well GOW1 is but they did, and more. Gameplay is amazing, and so is the storyline, going farther back into the Greek mythology and farther back into Kratos's background. The first GOW and how advanced and realistic the graphics are blew me away, GOW2 so far has my mouth dropping whenever we enter a in-game video plus more. If you love the first one, you gotta play the second one!
  
  
• OUTSTANDING, GOOD, BEAUTIFUL, THIS GAME IS WAY MORE THAN THESE WORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!
  By A1S28QB8SQKM8H on 2007-03-21
  THERES NO DOUBT THAT THIS GAME IS THE BEST EVER ON ANY CONSOLE. IF U PLAYED THE ORIGINAL GOD OF WAR IT PICKS UP WHERE IT ENDED. THE BLADES OF ARTHEMIS U AQUIRED AT THE END OF GOD OF WAR COME HANDY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SEQUEL. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE ITS ONE GAME BUT IT HAD TO BE BROKEN UP INTO TWO PARTS, THE MOVES ARE ALMOST THE SAME, SOME OF THE OLD ENEMYS FROM PT.1 ARE BACK, AND THERES TONS OF NEW ENEMYS. THE BEGINNING IS SUCH INCREDIBLE THAT IT SEEMS LIKE IF U WERE FIGHTING ONE OF THE END BOSSES. DONT EVEN THINK TWICE OF NOT PICKING THIS GAME UP. IF U ARE NEW TO THE GOD OF WAR WORLD, PLAY AND BEAT PART ONE SO U CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND THE STORY BEHIND KRATOS!
  
  

• God of War II Signature Series Guide (Bradygames Signature Series) (Bradygames Signature Series)
• God of War II Limited Edition Strategy Guide (Bradygames Strategy Guides) (Bradygames Strategy Guides) (Bradygames Strategy Guides)
• PlayStation: The Official Magazine (1-year)
• Electronic Gaming Monthly
• Play

• God of War
• Shadow of the Colossus
• Heavenly Sword
• Resistance: Fall Of Man
• Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection