God of War 2 review (PlayStation 2)

It's a shame to see the PlayStation 2 on its last legs. In all honesty, the console has dwarfed a centipede in terms of supporting limbs, but with the rise of next-gen technology, the lack of contemporary graphics and top-notch processing power means it's fast becoming a contender for the Retro Gaming section of many well-known magazines.

SCEA made a bold move keeping GoW exclusive to the PS2. It seems somewhat of a missed opportunity to nudge more people onto the next-gen, but in staying its ground, I'd like to think SCEA was further sweetening the already salivating fanbase that the first God of War generated.

And rightly so. I'll admit to some oral discharges when I first got my hands on Kratos' first outing. The game sported some of the most unadulterated and enthralling action that the PS2 had ever seen, and combined with some superb level design, animation, graphics, etc, it naturally became one of the greatest hits of 2005 earning it a plethora of awards.

Epic Battle

God of War 2 doesn't bring much new to the already admirable formula. In fact, minus a few alterations and upgrades – included a substantial leap in violence, you could easily be looking at the same game. However, as they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The end of the first game saw Kratos taking his rightful place on Mount Olympus as God of War, post-kicking Ares' arse out of the hot-seat, fresh and warm for his own posterior. However, Kratos' seemingly unquenchable thirst for violence and death means he continues to command his Spartan army to conquer all the cities they can within Olympus – much to the dismay of the other Gods. For the disturbance he has committed, Kratos gets the Godly boot down to mere mortality, and after some betrayal from Athena and a fatal blow from Zeus, Kratos gets his own personal Game Over screen until he's reincarnated by Gaia of the Titans with promises of a changed fate. And who better to deliver such a gift than the Sisters of Fate. Welcome to GoW2.

In this quest of brutal revenge, Kratos faces many-a challenge. Much like the first outing, you're pitted against an unfathomable amount of enemies, varying greatly in power, tact and, predominantly, size. Some of the boss battles you face throughout the game are nothing short of jaw dropping, and although the odds seem questionable at best, Kratos' sheer ability and prowess seem to empower the player. Of course, character traits do little against 80-foot mythological monsters, but luckily you're equipped with a handsome set of weapons.

Weapons of War

From the onset, you're kitted out with the same dual chain-blades from the first game. Although these are the default weapon, their application is indispensable in attacking large groups of enemies through their sheer speed and effectiveness at long-range. Once you're in combat, circle, triangle and square are the buttons you'll be jumping between, delivering quick but weak, slow but hard and grab attacks. The L1 button mixed with square and circle execute a irreversible string of attacks that, although utterly devastating in combat with lesser enemies, become somewhat of a rarity during boss fights where a tactic of quick damage and retreat is a prerequisite of success.

On top of the standard attacks, Kratos, once earned, has the 'Rage of the Titans' ability. A swift click of both analog sticks engages a nigh-on invincible, fire-engulfed state that increases speed and effectiveness of all attacks. While this move is initially a novelty, it becomes an absolute Godsend in later levels. If you can find the appropriate hole in a boss' defence, launching in and delivering a 30 hit attack seriously increases your chances of success. As with every other attack, these have to be placed very precisely. In earlier parts of the game you're welcome to mash the buttons and string together rather impressive combos with little effort, but as the game progresses further into the realms of ancient mythology, you'll find yourself having to tactfully execute all those mesmerizing abilities – laying out a superb learning curve.

No Stopping for Puzzles

Progression also bears alternative weapons and magic, but much like in the first GoW, their novelty and application is drastically limited. Beyond the default weapons, you only seem to collect and upgrade new weapons and magic for the purposes of specific tasks rather than just to develop your arsenal. No matter what I gained throughout the game, I always went back to my default blades and bow, and it left me feeling that that side of the game was underdeveloped. If I obtain a giant hammer with humongous destructive power, I want to see it used.

Of course there are times when no weapons are required at all. Again, like Kratos' first outing, GoW2 is heavily puzzle orientated, ensuring you not only use your brawn but your brain as well. I'll admit it had me scratching my head at times, even pulling hairs from it, but the way in which the puzzles are set out is nothing short of superb. At face value they're nothing but switches and buttons. However, when you're tasked with a specific combination, it really hits home just how much SCEA has made from such a simple concept. They're true "Of COURSE!2 puzzles once they're solved, but when you initially encounter them it's hard not to be stumped at times.

The puzzles in the game are so incredibly well thought out that they're not even complicated. Twist a lever, push a block, it's all simple stuff, but what it amounts to is an incredibly integral element to the gameplay that not only challenges the player further, but adds great diversity to an already teeming hack 'n' slash title.

Glorious

Graphically the game is no different in terms of impression. I've been bounding my way through all the next-gen titles I can accommodate and get my hands on since their release, but GoW2 trumps a large percentage of them in regards to aesthetics. From the absolutely huge levels to the bright, high-res textures, particle effects and specifically the animation, GoW2 delivers with brain-haemorrhaging intensity. Everything is massive in this game, but down to every last blood stain on every last character, you're reminded of just how underrated the PS2 was. It's heart-warming to see it still delivering eye candy of this calibre. It really is.

Again, the same applies to the audio side of things. Amongst a spine-chilling soundtrack and effects, GoW2 really shines through the voice overs of all the characters. Much like every aspect of this game, each voice is perfectly suited to each character, delivering an unparalleled level of immersion.

PlayStation 2's Finest Hour?

GoW2 is exactly what every action/adventure game should aspire to be. Everything from the puzzles to the action to the story are so perfectly in sync that the game becomes less of a game and more of a personal conquest. It's a shame it isn't developed more beyond just different weapons, abilities and narrative, but as a sequel to one of the PS2's greatest assets, it's a shining force.

If the PS2 died tomorrow, I'd sleep easy knowing it had the pleasure of housing this beauty. NOT to be missed.