Kotaku
It's God of War II. Was that enough? Maybe we should say a little more.
For this week's Frankenreview, we've chosen the indie cult hit, God of War II. You may not have heard of its predecessor, God of War, but it's a more likely scenario that upon finishing the game, your brain erased the experience from your memory as no other occurrence (including having a family, finding true love or fulfilling your religious calling) could transcend your time on Mt. Olympus.
Because of the god-like proportions of this week's topic (and since a lot of people were bitching last week), we have chosen the titans of game review for our plagiarism quotes...
Gamepro
...it's that sense of storytelling that is the true strength of both God of War titles...the delicate interplay between narrative storytelling and action is maintained here, and the tension between the two is just right... suffice it to say that Kratos once again faces a series of trials and must once again climb the tallest of mountains, if not physically then metaphorically.
Gamespot
The character models are equal parts gorgeous and grotesque, the environments are incredible to look at (even when they're not gigantic), and everything runs and animates without a hitch. The fixed-view camera work is once again top notch, almost never giving you any problems during combat and doing a fantastic job of framing the action... As PlayStation 2 games go, this is one of the most attractive you'll encounter...
IGN
God of War was imperfect, though fortunately many of its problems were tied directly to individual segments...God of War II is practically devoid of these fallacies...you can now drop down walls while scaling...[and] Kicking boxes or statues pushes them much farther than before, cutting down on the tedium of moving objects, and the repeated tapping of R1 to open doors has been moved to the much more repetition-friendly Circle button...All of this works to create an experience that is perfectly paced.
1UP
Along the way, you'll fight roughly eight bosses...But there are four massive boss fights in particular that rival the scale and drama of anything seen in the first game. One boss is so large you can't even see its head until 10 minutes into the fight. Another boss you have to first defeat on the outside and then climb through its burning remains to finish it off from the inside. 
Gamespy
...the only real criticism that I have of God of War II is that it tends to get a little cheap in the final stages...suffice it to say that some of the later levels ramp up their challenge by putting Kratos in situations that are maddeningly annoying to deal with....Still, I can't fault the game for being difficult, no matter how cheap it seems to put Kratos in such a compromising position. 
I have a beautiful 46" DLP...and the bulb is burnt out. Damn the gods. Damn them all.
Comments
I've been going to bed really late. With the blood of Kratos' enemies on my hands. This game rules. Outshining most 'next-gen' offerings with ease.
Yet another Sony misstep. If they had paid enough to the development house to make it a PS3 exclusive, it would have definitely moved some systems.
I know the developers wanted to keep it on PS2, so as to focus on the game and not the new technology, but throw enough money at them and you would have changed their minds.
Yep, God of War II on PS2 is just wrong, and 4 months after the PS3 release, too.
PapaBear: They could have at least pulled a Twilight Princess and released a greatly enhanced PS3 version along side the PS2 one.
I hear all the time how amazing and revolutionary God of War is. Is it fun? Sure, if you're into the action/adventure genre then it's a blast. Is it revolutionary and innovative? I really don't think so.
Am I the only one who thinks they rely a little too much on locking Kratos in a room with tons of enemies? Seems like it doesn't do anything but artificially extend the length. The puzzles are great, and most of the combat is a lot of fun, but sometimes when you just have to slog through an arena for ten minutes it's a little tedious.
Don't get me wrong, I love the game, but that wouldn't add much to the discussion, would it?
@PapaBear:
I don't believe it was since there is a much larger install base for PS2. When God of War 3 is release it should have a decent install base. Sony has a great strategy in place it seems.
@PapaBear: The game is made by Sony. I really hate when a fanboy gets on the comments and says things like you do.Do you even own a PS2? Next time do a little research before making your biased comments. God of War III is already a lock for the PS3.
I love watching the giant boss battles. It's sort of like an R-rated Shadow of the Colossus.
SotC still wins for me, but they really put some nice effort into the visuals and major battles here.
GOW doesn't add a whole lot to the action category, but it is an amazingly well made game. that alone made it worth my while.
It would have been the mythical "system seller" that the PS3 desperately needs, though. GTA and MGS put the PS2 in everyone's homes, Guitar Hero and GOW got it in the late comers (like me), GOW 3 should be the game that finally gets PS3s flying off the shelves.
Assuming Halo 3 doesn't render the argument slightly moot.
@Dudes_McGee:
hmm, well personally i dont REALLY mind that they lock you in a room during a huge fight. i think that making it through a huge fight full of enemies is a decent challenge, and im kind of glad that they dont give people the option of always just running away. thats kind of like cheating, in my opinion. sure, the fighting can get a little tedious, but theres enough combos and moves that its the closest to perfect fighting/action game i've played. so i cant complain at all.
I played the first game, and it bored the crap out of me. Constant button mashing and crappy writing are not my thing.
And now all the reviews seem to assume that everyone loved te first game. But what if I didn't? Is the sequel the same thing, or is it improved? I really like some of what I've seen for GoW2, but then, I liked what I saw of the first one until i played it. Any advice?
Oh, and I think PapaBear made a valid point, albeit somewhat rudely. If this had been made a PS3 exclusive, it would have shifted some consoles, helping build a better install base. God of War 3 won't have that opportunity since it will be released a couple years down the line, so the install base will, probably, not be growing as quickly. However, I wouldn't necessarily call this a misstep on behalf of sony. The ps2 is successful enough that this game is still going to make them a lot of money.
If you didn't like the first then I really doubt you'll like GOW2.
@OGHowie:
Ok, good to know.
etho: I do believe this game is more of the same. I don't think you'd be served well to even try it out, from what I'm hearing the 'classic' (button sequence, button mashing, etc.) style of GoW gameplay is not for you.
GoW has visuals so entertaining that you can actually watch a friend play and be satisfied.
@Perspex:
I agree with you on this one. I liked God of War a lot (except for the platform jumper that was Hades) but I didn't feel that there was anything especially revolutionary about it.
From what little I've played so far of the sequel, it feels like more of the same. That isn't a bad thing at all. If it just continues on in this vein, though, I'm worried that it will seem stale by the end of the game. And yes, I know I've only just started it.
One thing that did kind of bug me was how they presented the story at the beginning. I don't agree at all with the Gamepro reviewer at all that the storytelling is a strong point. Again, I've only just started the game, but the intro story pace seemed slapped together in a hurry: and he's a god but Olympus hates him and Athena warns him and Sparta is attacking a city and they call on him and he goes down but they steal his power and he fights the colossus and then he's killed etc. etc...you get the idea.
Still, it's a great-looking game and I'm still having a lot of fun with the combat controls, so I'll play through it and I'll have a good time. I just don't think it deserves such high marks for innovation.
I really really despise games where you have to hit buttons quickly as they flash on the screen.
Meh.
My girlfriend watches me play this and is mesmerized. She says holy shit more than me when I am playing it... I think that says something when she mostly is only entertained by the likes of Zuma...
This game has improved on every aspect of its predecessor and Sony is smart to not cap its profits on this product due to the "small" install base that is the current PS3.
i thought it was smart for Sony to release it on the PS2. It catters to the PS2 fan base AND people with the PS3 can still buy it and it'll work perfeclty fine on their systems. There's no inherent reason why you would pay for a ps3 version.
It'd be stupid of them to pull a twilight princess move. You can't compare the Wii/gamecube graphical gap to the PS3/PS2.
If someone doesn't get an OUTSTANDING graphical adventure on the ps3 they will shit bricks. Because its hardware is significantly better than the ps2.
The wii and gamecube gap is significantly slimmer, due to this it made more sense (and the remote) for them to put it on two systems
@jackal888:
"The game is made by Sony. I really hate when a fanboy gets on the comments and says things like you do.Do you even own a PS2? Next time do a little research before making your biased comments. God of War III is already a lock for the PS3."
Couldn't agree more -- you read my mind. That was probably THE funniest "hater" comment I've read in recent memory. The one by papabear, I mean.
Yeah, Sony, another misstep by you -- developing and publishing a game for your own game system with 115,000,000+ install base, only to get lousy 96% average scores. You're so lame, Sony!
Heh, I think some of you confuse Storytelling with actual Story. The story may not be up to many of your standards but the Storytelling involved in the game far surpasses average. The music and camera angles add to the cinematic quality of the game and just give it an epic feel. Similar to what made Gears of War a great game, the way it is presented. In essence it is just another button mashing platforming, similar to Legend of Zelda, so on and so forth. You go thru the game, level to level, fighting in areas (dungeons if you will) solving puzzles and killing things. Eventually you get a new item or skill that allows you to venture further. It isn't very complicated. It is just done perfectly. The fighting system, again, is top notch and varying degrees of difficulty in the game determine how much time you need to put in to master it.
Lots of improvements from the first one including a few new weapons and items. If you loved the first one, you will love this one. If you liked Gears of War, and want to try an Action/Platformer instead of a shooter, you'll probably like this one. If you love over the top gore and stylistic fighting, you'll like this game. If you love games that have those jaw dropping moments of beauty and action, you'll like this game. If you hate all those things, and look no further in a game then the buttons you press to do something, then this probably isnt the game for you.
@jackal888:
Um... Wow.
Yeah, if you EVER seen me post, I own a PS2, PS3, God of War 1 & 2, and I had a Wii before I gave it away due to abject boredom.
Also, my posts usually entail the fact that I love my PS3, but admit that Sony has made mistakes with handling it.
Let's face it: The first few months of the systems cycle is relying on brand new IP's to sell their console. Not all that successfully, I might add. But an established IP, and a sequel to what is arguably one of the best games of the PS2 being a PS3 exclusive... That would have motivated a least a few people to drop the money.
Yes, it was made by Sony, but it was the actual game makers, lead director, and others that chose to keep it on the PS2, as not to possibly sacrifice what they wanted to do with the gameplay for the sake of learning the new technology.
I believe this was a misstep on Sony's part. It's good for the consumer, no doubt. It's a great game, and a lot more people are able to play it. But for Sony, as a company who's future lies in getting their system into as many homes as possible, this was a mistake.
It's one thing to be accused of being a fanboy. But to be accused of being a fanboy to the opposite side that I usually defend... Man, you were just swinging wildly with that pinata stick, weren't you?
This game is the shit, hardcore to the core. Great gameplay and challenge!!! Played it just a bit, can't wait to play on the weekend. :D
@RedRedSuit:
Same as my comment to jackal888.
03/15/07 03:20 PM
I love my PS3. But I can accept it's limitations without feeling like it's an affront to my masculinity and personal identity.
Producing a mega-seller and critical hit for a system with a huge install base is NEVER a mistake. Unless making a huge cash cow is a mistake.
God of War III is coming, too.
@RedRedSuit:
True enough, it wasn't a financial mistake. They made their money off of it, so I guess it's a net-win for them.
But as far as FUTURE sales go... Well, then they better hope people still care when GoW 3 comes out on the PS3.
We'll see what happens. Systems sell their best a couple years after release, when the price goes down and the real blockbusters come out (like in 2004).
etho: If you didn't like GOW1, you should just stop playing video games.
I got the game aswell. GoW is possibly one of the best made games I ever played, and it continues with it's sequal. I don't have a single fault for it so far. It's absolutly amazing.
As much as I dislike Sony, and really don't want to buy a PS3, when GoW3 comes out for the system, I may have to fess up and buy one.
I just wanted to let those of you that accused me of fanboy-ism: No, sorry, not me. Even the Wii has it's winning points with me, though it's not my cup of tea.
I don't want to be a fanboy (fanman? I'm 26 for God's sake!) but to be accused of irrational hate against a machine I shelled out $750 total for so far (games, ps2 memory adapter, and extra controllers for local play) just twists my nipples the wrong way.
Not that there's a RIGHT way... Of course not. That'd be sick.
I've been patiently waiting and fearing this game for some time. My girlfriend bought me the first one and I had to play it when she was there because she loved watching it so much. It was so hard to stop playing but she needed to actually sleep at night, so save I would. Since this was the first time she was interested in my gaming, I had to abide. It was hell waiting for her to come over some nights.
Eventually I wisened up and started a second save file.
@Dervish:
What makes the story interesting is that it makes sense for what happens. It is not like they did a "oh shit we need to somehow make him human" storyline. They used classical world elements to bring that man back to the mortal realm, to bring back the anger which made him insane in the first game. I think it worked rather well.
@Polyh3dron: please list all the games you personally approve of so that we may know which games we must like if we are to continue playing any video games at all. Please, save us from ourselves, it is only right that you reveal to us how much we are wasting our time. I mean, you'd know better than I.
yeah, God of War is pretty good fun, but it's still just 'Donkey Kong Country' at heart.
@PapaBear: Glad to see our jumping to conclusions was wrong. The anti-fanboy defense went up because of your first sentence which suggested the "find anything Sony does to be a misstep" (even when it's a big success) attitude. Apparently, that's not what you meant. We move on.
I can understand that to a point. We Sony fans have been taking a lot of crap as of late. It's easy to see an attack, even if none was intended.
But I don't think it's healthy to our argument to ignore logical and real complaints against our choice in system. It just increases credence to those that DO irrationally hate the PS3 because of Sony's seemingly oblivious PR campaigns of denial and self delusion.
@PapaBear: I agree. Sony absolutely has made many mistakes with PS3, and I (like you) would never hide from them as THAT is the definition of fanboyism. They are what they are -- price, rumble, certain promises made and not delivered, etc.
PapaBear: For that team to have switched development to the PS3 and retained the level of quality in the game would have added anywhere from an additional 6-12 months to the development time, not accounting for the probability of a worse game due to bugs, etc. This would have delayed the release date and then delayed the start of the development of GoW 3 which would put the sequel somewhere in 2009 or 2010. Timing makes much more sense to release for PS2 now.
@FightingChance:
Or they could have told the developers as soon as GoW1 became a hit that the sequel was going to be the flagship of the PS3.
Again, this is not a mistake as far as raw finances go, or as far as the consumer is concerned. I personally believe, however, that it was a mistake on the part of the PS3 marketing to not have this pushed as a PS3 exclusive title, as I believe this would have pushed systems.
Feel free to disagree, it's just my view in response to the slathering mindset of the PS3 hating folks foaming at the mouths saying that there is no compelling enough game to warrant PS3 purchase.
This game works with HDLoader, sweet!!
By the way, God of War wasn't as huge a hit financially as it was critically. It sold under 2 million copies, as far as I know. They're really banking on God of War II to be breakout hit from that franchise, methinks.
How did God of War 1 do in Japan? Does anyone know, I can sense it is quite a hit in North america.
@RedRedSuit: Why do you think Sony made a mistake? I think they are doing very well. The ps3 is not selling as good as they intended, however, they are winning the bluray/hd-dvd war. That might be a war that can bring them a lot more cash than the gaming sector. Just imagine the amount of movies dvd sold vs amount of ps2 games sold, I think movies will generate way more revenue.
@iainttha1: LOL @ second save file! That's awesome!
@Type-E:
"Why do you think Sony made a mistake? I think they are doing very well. The ps3 is not selling as good as they intended, however, they are winning the bluray/hd-dvd war. That might be a war that can bring them a lot more cash than the gaming sector. Just imagine the amount of movies dvd sold vs amount of ps2 games sold, I think movies will generate way more revenue."
That's a complex topic is really out of place here.
"How did God of War 1 do in Japan? Does anyone know, I can sense it is quite a hit in North america."
VGCharts lists it as follows:
0.02J 1.32NA 0.31PAL = 1.65M total
http://www.vgcharts.org/worldtotals.php