Every once in while, a series is created that sets the benchmark for a genre. Soon after, the series itself becomes the description. This is the case with the God of War franchise. Players know what lies ahead when the game begins and it brings a sense of fast-paced familiarity. God of War: Ghost of Sparta is like chicken soup for the mature gamer’s soul. Really bloody, angry, chicken soup…
The 5th game in the franchise and 2nd on the PSP, God of War: Ghost of Sparta takes place between the 1st and 2nd installments of the home console series. After laying waste to all in his path, Kratos is still plagued by his memories. Conquering Aries and becoming the God of War has not eased ill born deeds in times of yore. In fact, Kratos has some new visions to add to the mix. These new apparitions drive our boy, Kratos on another journey of violence and disembowelment– just the way we like it. Kratos now ventures through Sparta, Death’s domain, and Atlantis, (hey, whatever happened to that place?) all in an effort to save the brother he thought to be lost.
The Blades of Athena, devestating as always
The game begins with Kratos on a voyage home to Sparta after defeating Aries and becoming the newly crowned God of War. From the moment the player gains control of Kratos, the adventure is paced like a marathon where the action is ongoing and there’s very little room or want to pause. The tutorials are evenly spaced, so when the game prompts a new action or command for gamers to undertake, it’s not overwhelming. Players who are familiar with the series will find this installment highly adaptable to the PSP. In a market where developers will change a series just for the sake of changing it, it’s nice to know that Ready at Dawn Studios acclimated to the Series that Sony(c) Santa Monica crafted.
God of War is iconic in its style. The visuals are amazing, the actions scenes are well choreographed, and the puzzles fit into the time and space of the storyline. Every view is breathtaking and detailed. The developers poured all of the spectacular landscapes and scenery into God of War: Ghost of Sparta that can be found on the PS2 and PS3 consoles. As is the standard, the cut scene action sequences rely on the gamer to intact and press the correct button at the correct moment. This lends to a more satisfying crunch when it comes to finishing moves; after all, why just steal your enemy’s weapon when you can steal his arm too? And just when you thought Kratos was all brawn and no brains, he even manages to solve a puzzle or two. What’s not to love?
One eye = one giant weak spot
God of War has set a great precedence in games of the series. Gamers know what to expect when a new title is released and the developers did not disappoint. What has set GOW apart from other titles, all of the gore, Kratosian stubborn indignation, and breathtaking scenery, can be found in this latest release. The blades of Athena, Kratos’ trademark weapons, are joined by some new toys and some old favorites. The Eye of Atlantis allows you to unleash a familiar lightning attack, while the Scourge of Erinys depletes multiple enemies of energy. The game levels up weapons and magic in the same manner by collecting and expending red orbs from fallen enemies. Fans know what to expect when it comes to arms and magic. There have not been any major changes from the series to this title and adhering to the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is a great strategy.
Some fans may find the game a bit on the short side, all weapons and magic, gorgon’s eyes and phoenix feathers can be found 8 hours into the game. On the bright side players will get to see the full potential of Kratos’ armory without spending a great deal of time leveling up. Another potential frustration is some of the real-time action requires key buttons to be pushed at the correct time, however, the gamer almost has to guess what the button will be and when it will be required to push it. If your crystal ball is in the shop like ours is, this could get real ugly, real fast. Hang in there, this only happens a few times during the game.
God of War: Ghost of Sparta delivers the quality and detail expected of the series. The aesthetics of the game are almost daring other titles to be as good or better. The action is never dull and the cut-scenes lend to an intriguing story-line. The recognizable battle system and Quick time sequences are trademark to God of War and allow easy translation from console to handheld. Fans of the series can find comfort with God of War: Ghost of Sparta. Soup’s on…
Overall Score: 8/10
