Almost perfect game that would be truly perfect if it had better replay value and was a little longer!
God of War is a nearly perfect game. That's all that really needs to be said about this astounding masterpiece. You play as the tortured warrior, Kratos, on a path of revenge and redemption in ancient Greek mythology. The story and Kratos' history that is revealed through beautiful cutscenes is the best out of almost any game I have ever played. You come to respect and feel empathy for Kratos as you play more and more into the game and that is an amazing effect that VERY few video games can do.
THE GAMEPLAY IS QUITE SIMPLE. Square for weak attacks and triangle for strong attacks and combining both for spectacular combos. It's a very easy mechanic that could use just a tad bit more diversity. I found myself pretty much doing the same move over and over again to defeat most of my foes which sounds tedious but watching the actions happen is pretty damn cool to watch. Also, when your enemy is near death and by tapping a specific button, lets you go in for a "skill kill." You have to press certain face buttons in order to successfully pull these off and they are extremely gruesome but awesome to watch. God of War also balances out puzzles and combat VERY well. And the multiple puzzles aren't too hard and some requires some good thinking but you'll eventually find a way. There are only a few bossess though, but the few there are are of epic proportions and you'll constantly be wowed by these bossess.
THE GRAPHICS ARE PERFECT. The cutscenes are what really shines hear and it's great that the cutscenes are an unlockable feature in the extras. All the actions of enemies and Kratos are very fluid. You'll be impressed how the combat in the game flows so well. The detail that the artists put into shaping what ancient Greek looked like is spectacular; you'll really feel like you are in a myth from Ovid's Metamorphoses. Everything from animation to detail of your mythic foes is pretty flawless.
THE SOUND IS EQUALLY PERFECT. The music is beautiful and epic and fits the mood wherever you are. The soundtrack DOES sound like it's something you would hear in a A+ movie, it's that good. The voice actors really deliver well especially for Kratos and the narrator. The narrator's old voice fits perfect with this mythological tale. Kratos' voice acting is amazing as well and you really feel like he is an actual human being being tortured by his past. The combat sounds are perfect and you can really feel the fury of Kratos' grunts and screams as he rips aparts his enemies.
THE VALUE IS NOT SO GOOD ON THIS GAME. In my opinion, that is. The game is just WAY too short. maybe about 10 - 12 hours in length, which isn't that good for a "third person hack n' slash adventure". Also, there are really no incentives to go back to play the game except on the fact that it is a damn good game! The best extras seem to be unlocked after you beat it the first play through, but the hardcore players will really try to beat it on God Mode which, in my opinion, isn't THAT hard until the final stages of the game. The only reason to play this game again is because it is and amazing experience, and I have played it multiple times just to revisit ancient Greek and Kratos' story.
This game is a must buy for fans of hack n' slash adventure gamers. The combat almost seems to be innovative; that's how awesome the combat is although it needs some more diversity. It seems like this game has paved a way that games of its genre will undoubtedly follow. It's a good weekend rental for the casual gamer and it never gets boring.