GOD OF WAR II (PS2)
2007 was a notable year
for gaming, as superb next-gen franchises began to take off and the power of
the new systems was starting to take shape. But it was also a bittersweet one:
it was arguably the last notable year for Sony’s superlative, long-standing system –
the PlayStation 2. After having an illustrious history since 2000, with quality
exclusives like Ratchet & Clank, Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid, the PS3 began to edge the PS2 out of the
limelight, which truthfully was a kinder fate than the outright murder of the
Xbox and Gamecube. But, the PS2 was not content with merely passing the torch,
as quality games such as Okami and Rogue Galaxy saw release. But many
consider one sequel a true swan-song for the console: God of War II.
Immediately starting after the events of the first game, God of War II sees Kratos as, well, the God of War. Bestowed with powers for killing Ares, but still haunted by the memories of his past, Kratos becomes destructive and reckless, much to the chagrin of the gods. As punishment, Kratos is killed by Zeus while he is assisting an army. But while death may seem like the end, a titan called Gaia helps Kratos escape Hell and instructs him to find the Sisters of Fate and prevent his demise. The journey is epic, and you will always be engaged. It’s just as well done as its predecessor, with perhaps the only complaint being a cliffhanger ending which leaves you pining for a sequel that, cruelly, was only released on PS3.
They say you shouldn’t fix what isn’t broken, and God of War certainly was far from bust. GoWII is the same mix of combat, puzzles and epic boss fights, with terrific pacing which keeps you from ever becoming bored. Though a long load bogs you down at your first save, the rest of the game runs without almost any load times, making it a seamless adventure. In a way, though, GoWII is a victim of its own success. While still a superb adventure, it lacks the surprise factor of the original game because it feels familiar. Some sequences feel a touch too similar to memorable moments from the original, and it doesn’t help that some of the ‘new’ magic attacks and weapons merely reskin original ones. That being said, there are still many terrific aspects to this sequel.
Immediately starting after the events of the first game, God of War II sees Kratos as, well, the God of War. Bestowed with powers for killing Ares, but still haunted by the memories of his past, Kratos becomes destructive and reckless, much to the chagrin of the gods. As punishment, Kratos is killed by Zeus while he is assisting an army. But while death may seem like the end, a titan called Gaia helps Kratos escape Hell and instructs him to find the Sisters of Fate and prevent his demise. The journey is epic, and you will always be engaged. It’s just as well done as its predecessor, with perhaps the only complaint being a cliffhanger ending which leaves you pining for a sequel that, cruelly, was only released on PS3.
They say you shouldn’t fix what isn’t broken, and God of War certainly was far from bust. GoWII is the same mix of combat, puzzles and epic boss fights, with terrific pacing which keeps you from ever becoming bored. Though a long load bogs you down at your first save, the rest of the game runs without almost any load times, making it a seamless adventure. In a way, though, GoWII is a victim of its own success. While still a superb adventure, it lacks the surprise factor of the original game because it feels familiar. Some sequences feel a touch too similar to memorable moments from the original, and it doesn’t help that some of the ‘new’ magic attacks and weapons merely reskin original ones. That being said, there are still many terrific aspects to this sequel.
The main meat of the game comes from the combat, which still rocks. You have light and heavy attacks, and you can combine the two to make awesome and devastating combos. A variety of weapons are in place, including the Blades of Chaos, now dubbed Blades of Athena, as well as the Spear of Destiny and Barbarian Hammer, and though the names leave little to the imagination, they are very fun to use. Magic spells make an appearance again, though many of them are alternate versions of the original’s powers. Despite that, they still prove useful in combat, as diverse enemies make you rethink your approach on a constant basis. Orbs power up all your weapons, and the addition of a New Game+ option allows you to keep on powering Kratos even after completing the game for the first time.
Before combat becomes too stale, other elements of play present themselves and keep the experience fresh and exciting. Puzzles remain mostly similar to the previous game, though grotesque new puzzles which task you with using corpses to weigh down switches are different, to say the least. Platforming returns too, as you crawl across vines, jump between ledges and even fend off enemies on said platforms. Exciting sections where you ride a flying creature are made spectacular through quick-time events which punctuate every kill. And of course, boss fights bookend each epic chapter in this saga. Though perhaps not as awesome as some of the bosses in the original game – due moreso to the increased frequency of boss fights – they remain challenging and end in epic fashion through QTEs, keeping you on your toes and rewarding persistence with the sheer force of the climax.
Though next-gen consoles were impressing gamers, God of War II’s presentation still ranks up there among the best. While screen-tearing and jaggies can dampen the experience, the environments are simply breathtaking. The sheer scale of them is incredible, bolstered by stunning art direction which brings the world to life through extensive Greek mythology. Many of the monster designs are new, and older ones are polished up to make them look great. Animation is still awesome too, never hitching up despite the intensity of combat. The sound is also fantastic. The orchestral score remains one of the finest in the business, punctuating each scenario perfectly, and the effects are sharp too. The only downer is the voice acting, which while terrific in some spots, suffers from some stiff characters, such as Atlas, who is as wooden as the tree outside my house. It can dampen, but it never spoils the experience.
Before combat becomes too stale, other elements of play present themselves and keep the experience fresh and exciting. Puzzles remain mostly similar to the previous game, though grotesque new puzzles which task you with using corpses to weigh down switches are different, to say the least. Platforming returns too, as you crawl across vines, jump between ledges and even fend off enemies on said platforms. Exciting sections where you ride a flying creature are made spectacular through quick-time events which punctuate every kill. And of course, boss fights bookend each epic chapter in this saga. Though perhaps not as awesome as some of the bosses in the original game – due moreso to the increased frequency of boss fights – they remain challenging and end in epic fashion through QTEs, keeping you on your toes and rewarding persistence with the sheer force of the climax.
Though next-gen consoles were impressing gamers, God of War II’s presentation still ranks up there among the best. While screen-tearing and jaggies can dampen the experience, the environments are simply breathtaking. The sheer scale of them is incredible, bolstered by stunning art direction which brings the world to life through extensive Greek mythology. Many of the monster designs are new, and older ones are polished up to make them look great. Animation is still awesome too, never hitching up despite the intensity of combat. The sound is also fantastic. The orchestral score remains one of the finest in the business, punctuating each scenario perfectly, and the effects are sharp too. The only downer is the voice acting, which while terrific in some spots, suffers from some stiff characters, such as Atlas, who is as wooden as the tree outside my house. It can dampen, but it never spoils the experience.
Kratos' second adventure is a lengthy one. On the default setting you will finish this in about twelve hours, maybe more if you're a casual gamer. Once you've completed that, you can return to the game for unlockables like concept art, movies and more. Like the previous game, there is a set of tough as nails challenges to complete, though these lack the fun of the first game’s challenges. As already mentioned, a New Game+ feature has been added, encouraging gamers of any skill to keep playing in order to max-out Kratos.
Though arguably not as impressive as the original, God of War II is still a top notch action adventure, and a worthy sequel despite treading familiar ground. The things which made the original terrific – excellent combat, fantastic pacing and beautiful production – are all present in its sequel. Those who invested themselves into Kratos’ tale of vengeance will easily be able to do so again, even if his hubris at the beginning makes him somewhat of a douche. Literally, familiarity is the only thing you could level against the game, and this mainly affects those who didn’t enjoy the original. As a swansong for the PS2, it’s epic, bloody and a sight to behold, and any fan of hack ‘n’ slashers should pick this one up immediately.
Though arguably not as impressive as the original, God of War II is still a top notch action adventure, and a worthy sequel despite treading familiar ground. The things which made the original terrific – excellent combat, fantastic pacing and beautiful production – are all present in its sequel. Those who invested themselves into Kratos’ tale of vengeance will easily be able to do so again, even if his hubris at the beginning makes him somewhat of a douche. Literally, familiarity is the only thing you could level against the game, and this mainly affects those who didn’t enjoy the original. As a swansong for the PS2, it’s epic, bloody and a sight to behold, and any fan of hack ‘n’ slashers should pick this one up immediately.
Similar to...
|
Visual: 9/10
Audio: 9/10 Gameplay: 9/10 Longevity: 8/10 OVERALL: 9/10 Vid by HanzoLuda |
|