With God of War III, Sony brings an epic trilogy to a thunderous conclusion. This is a series that was a defining title on PlayStation 2 and has gone on to become one of the most critically acclaimed series in the industry. It pushed the technical boundaries of the hardware it was running on and introduced players to a more accessible, more visceral, more brutal third-person combat experience. What began as one man’s quest for redemption in the eyes of the Greek gods now culminates in a furious, vengeance-fueled, genocidal war against those very same Olympians, and it does not disappoint.
Deicide Is Not a Small Thing
God of War III throws players right into the action, picking up just after the conclusion of God of War II. The mythological Titans are ascending Mount Olympus to eliminate their traitorous children, the Olympian gods, led by Zeus. Kratos has sided with the Titans, hoping that this will be the final battle that will allow him to kill Zeus, the overall architect of his misery throughout the series. Kratos is a man who has been manipulated by the gods time and time again, and this story is essentially a rebellion against that, ensuring the total destruction of those who create destiny.
“With God of War III, Sony brings an epic trilogy to a thunderous conclusion.”
It is heady, brutal, classically mythic stuff that manages to update the essence of Greek mythology in an entertaining way for a new generation. It is also definitely not for children. The game’s story of a man fueled by nothing but raging vengeance is full of blood and nudity, and God of War’s traditional “sex mini-game” is all there. Kratos is a man who will do anything to get his revenge, and this game shows it in graphic detail.
Speaking of graphics, Sony Santa Monica surprised no one. Most people expected God of War III to be the most amazing-looking game of the current generation, and Uncharted 2 managed to hold the throne for a handful of months. Still, the technical prowess on display with GOW 3 is breathtaking. There is no screen tearing, a variable frame rate of 30-60 frames per second ensures smooth gameplay, and the level of detail on characters and environments makes the entire game feel like a pre-rendered cut-scene. The art design is phenomenal, making GOW 3 look like a living, breathing Boris Vallejo painting, complete with moody colours and impossibly muscular heroes.
The audio is also a standout. Anyone with a multi-surround system will be putting their speakers and subwoofers through their paces. Explosions and sword blades crash from all directions, a hysterical chorus screams in Greek as the orchestral soundtrack plays, and T.C. Carson delivers his usual over-the-top performance as Kratos. However, there are some surprisingly subdued and nuanced moments in his performance from time to time. Every aspect of the game’s presentation has been carved, buffed and polished to a diamond-like shine. For people who want to show off what a Playstation 3 can do, this is absolute reference material.
Kratos Ain’t Broke
There is only one criticism that can be leveled at God of War III and that is that it doesn’t do anything new. However, it’s hard to call that a criticism when what was already there worked brilliantly and has been refined. The game is still a mix of exhilarating, simple, brutal combat and some environmental puzzle solving, both of which are much better balanced for this third outing. The puzzles, in particular, deserve some praise for some incredibly original obstacles and solutions. The combat, of course, is the real star of the show here, and it does not disappoint.
“God of War III is an easy contender for game of the year.”
The chained blades are Kratos’ go-to weapon, but they are joined by three other weapons that manage to have their own unique applications. Everyone will find a particular weapon they favour, though smarter players will know when to swap one weapon for another to deal with a particular situation.
All of them, however, can be used to complete the game, just with different levels of challenge. Accessories also have their uses, cleverly integrated both in and out of combat, such as a bow that can be used to fire flaming arrows that can burn down obstacles but also doubles as a handy ranged weapon when keeping distance is a necessity. The Quick Time Events that God of War has made a staple of the game’s vocabulary also make a return but have been placed at the edges of the screen to correspond with the corresponding face button on the PlayStation controller.
It’s a small but nice touch that allows players to see the carnage unfold in the brutal finishing moves rather than having it obscured by a large icon covering the action. It also adds a layer of challenge, as keeping a peripheral awareness of the edges of the screen can mean the difference between a spectacularly violent finish and a possible restart of the entire sequence.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about God of War III is the pacing. The developers have a finely tuned sense of timing, knowing how to ramp up combat, break up the tension with more thoughtful puzzles, and then blow the doors completely down with the most amazing boss battles yet committed to a disc. The Titans, in particular, stand out as a gameplay element that players will be talking about for years to come, riffing on Shadow of the Colossus and doing it on a much larger, more terrifying scale than anything that venerable PS2 title could ever hope to do.
God of War III is an easy contender for game of the year. It’s the best-looking game on the market right now, plays like a finely tuned machine, and brings a beloved saga to its conclusion. There simply isn’t a better looking, better-playing action game on PlayStation 3. For fans of the genre, this is the first real must-have title of the year and deserves a place in every PS3 owner’s collection. Except for financial or time reasons, gamers simply have no excuse to deny themselves one of the best, most brutal, bloody popcorn gaming experiences of 2010.
