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GOD OF WAR: CHAINS OF OLYMPUS
review | PLAYSTATION PORTABLE
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Publisher: Sony.
Developer: Ready at Dawn. Released: March 2008. Genre: Action/Adventure. Posted 2nd September 2025. By Shane Battams © 2025 |
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At a glance, God of War: Chains of Olympus sounds like a Greek tragedy in the making. A series known for epic scale and sprawling adventure, surely trying to replicate it on a handheld would be a herculean task. But Ready at Dawn was up to the task, having excelled with Daxter a couple of years prior. Squeezing everything from the PSP, while making smart tweaks to fit the portable environment, this adventure proves one of the system’s finest. Incredible presentation, as well as fantastic gameplay that matches the PS2 classics with all the epic moments you’d expect from this series, make it a must-play.
A prequel to the first God of War, Chains of Olympus follows Kratos as he serves the Gods of Olympus in the hope of being purged of his emotional torment: the guilt of being tricked into murdering his family. Sent initially to help fend off a Persian army from invading Attica, things soon literally turn dark as the sun plunges from the sky and leaves Greece plunged into darkness caused by Morpheus. Now, Kratos must journey to try and revive the sun and awaken the gods who have fallen into slumber. The story offers an interesting expansion on Kratos’s past, something that was explored in more detail in the first game, but the number of story sequences is relatively small. What’s here benefits from fantastic voicework and writing, making for an enjoyable prequel yarn.
God of War may have moved to the small screen, but it lost none of its penchant for epic action sequences
One of the most impressive games to grace the PSP, Chains of Olympus sacrifices remarkably little in translation to the handheld. Sprawling levels are gorgeously lit and abundantly detailed, particularly the opening level that sees soldiers fighting and a large basilisk destroying buildings. Character models look great, particularly Kratos who loses little detail here, while combat animations are stellar and blood splashes are still plentiful. There’s also little in the way of loading times, cleverly disguised under full-motion video. There are a few small performance stutters, nothing that drastically affects the gameplay, but it can look sluggish. The epic soundtrack also carries over, with a top-notch orchestral score that creates suspense, intensity and grandiose tunes. Combat still hits hard, with potent strikes and slashes; it’s a treat for the eyes and ears.
Even better, the gameplay translates remarkably well to the PSP. Despite the lack of a second analogue, Ready at Dawn would smartly adapt by moving functions to the buttons available. Rolling, which was previously assigned to the right analogue stick on PS2, would be done by holding the two triggers and moving the stick, and it feels responsive and easy to adjust to. Magic and special moves are also done by holding one of the triggers, and it feels natural and enjoyable. Responsiveness also remains fantastic, with no delay in strikes and visceral impact with every hit. The static camera proves a benefit here too, as there are no issues with camera control as a consequence. Most of the other functions, such as grabs and jumping, remain identical and work well still. Quick-time events are responsive for the most part too, though some involving analogue turns are a little awkward on the PSP’s flat analogue nub. Otherwise, Chains of Olympus plays fantastically.
Even better, the gameplay translates remarkably well to the PSP. Despite the lack of a second analogue, Ready at Dawn would smartly adapt by moving functions to the buttons available. Rolling, which was previously assigned to the right analogue stick on PS2, would be done by holding the two triggers and moving the stick, and it feels responsive and easy to adjust to. Magic and special moves are also done by holding one of the triggers, and it feels natural and enjoyable. Responsiveness also remains fantastic, with no delay in strikes and visceral impact with every hit. The static camera proves a benefit here too, as there are no issues with camera control as a consequence. Most of the other functions, such as grabs and jumping, remain identical and work well still. Quick-time events are responsive for the most part too, though some involving analogue turns are a little awkward on the PSP’s flat analogue nub. Otherwise, Chains of Olympus plays fantastically.
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Ready at Dawn also crafted a fantastically paced story, breathlessly taking you from epic encounters to thoughtful puzzles seamlessly. The opening city siege is outstanding, including a multi-stage fight with the basilisk that keeps you on your toes. Meanwhile, trekking through the Temple of Helios sees you opening new paths and returning with new abilities, proving a satisfying change of pace. Speaking of which, Kratos gradually gains new powers, only adding to the joy of the combat, and these include Efreet’s fire or the Sun shield which can open up counters with parries. While fewer in number, the handful of boss encounters all feel grand with tough attack patterns and epic accompanying music. It’s a lean, concentrated experience: all killer, no filler.
This does mean Chains of Olympus is on the shorter side, feeling better suited to handheld sessions. There is decent incentive to return, however. After an initial completion, you can replay the story with upgrades purchased from red orbs carrying over. There’s also God Mode to unlock, which will really tests your skill. Lastly, a handful of challenges are made available, and these can be tough. However, the rewards prove worthwhile, with costumes for Kratos that reward special buffs, giving you the advantage. It ends up providing some decent replay value, even if the initial run is fairly short.
This does mean Chains of Olympus is on the shorter side, feeling better suited to handheld sessions. There is decent incentive to return, however. After an initial completion, you can replay the story with upgrades purchased from red orbs carrying over. There’s also God Mode to unlock, which will really tests your skill. Lastly, a handful of challenges are made available, and these can be tough. However, the rewards prove worthwhile, with costumes for Kratos that reward special buffs, giving you the advantage. It ends up providing some decent replay value, even if the initial run is fairly short.
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God of War: Chains of Olympus is a fantastic handheld experience that stands strong alongside its console brethren. A stunning showcase for the PSP, Ready at Dawn would smartly adapt the controls and gameplay to suit the limitations of the system, resulting in an epic that doesn’t feel compromised for its transition. Visually incredible, mechanically sound and paced with fantastic moments, it’s an epic adventure well worth undertaking. If you own a PSP, this is a must-add to your collection.
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VERDICT"Visually incredible, mechanically sound and packed with fantastic moments, God of War: Chains of Olympus is a fantastic handheld experience that stands next to its console brethren with ease." OVERALL: 9/10 |
OTHER GOD OF WAR GAMES REVIEWED
God of War (2005, PlayStation 2)
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God of War (2018, PlayStation 4)
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