Like its predecessors,chains of olympusopens with a flash and a bang as Kratos begins knee-deep in combat with the Persian military during an invasion of the city of Attica. This first level will allow you to gain familiarity with the controls, which are a bit different now that the series is on a handheld. With only a single analog stick, dodging is now accomplished by holding both shoulder buttons and pressing the analog nub in the direction you want to dodge. Other than that, everything else is exactly as you remember it, which is an achievement in and of itself. It's tough to name a console-to-PSP game that has made the transition so well, butchains of olympus does it wonderfully.

On his adventure, Kratos will visit set piece after set piece that continually puts the last one to shame. From the battle-torn streets of Attica to the amazing backdrop of Tartarus, each level is more grandiose than the last with stunning scope and size. What's even more impressive is that many of the environmental backdrops also serve as puzzle components so that each part of a stage fits like a puzzle piece into the entire layout. For a development team's first stab at thegod of warfranchise, the creative direction in the game deserves some serious praise. Everything about the series has been nailed perfectly, including the trademark quick-time event mini-games to defeat some of the bigger enemies

If there are any flaws with God Of War Chains Of Olympus, they surface simply because the game looks so good. Pure and simple, the PSP is being pushed hard, and because of this there is some screen tearing and frame rate stuttering when things on screen get very hectic or chaotic. It's not often, but it shows up enough to be noticeable. The other element that some people might have trouble with is the puzzle design. Some of them are so maddeningly difficult to solve and some of the hints are so obscure and unhelpful that you'll want to smash your own face on Kratos' chain blades. Ultimately, a lot of the thinking challenges would have been better served with more distinct visual cues to help the player visualize a solution. Still, completing the puzzles gives a nice feeling of accomplishment when you're able to see how they connect to other parts of the level.