Kratos brings forth his reign of chaos onto the next generation era!
PG Exclusive Second Impression
Play... the Pakistani way!
Pros:
- Artistically and technically proficient graphics
- Combat is fast-paced and fun
- Gameplay has been greatly improved over it's predecessors
- Great original soundtrack
- Superb and realistic sound effects
- Better than previous instalments
- Narration is on the downside
Only on the PlayStation 3.
The God of War franchise is known for being that game series which always tries to push the respective console it's in to it's limit. The original God of War, on the PlayStation 2, was a huge graphical achievement for it's time and it's sequel two years later, polished it all up even better! Though they are known for their graphics, the series is also synonymous with having nicely paced combat and lots of blood and gore.
With God of War 2 being a better overall game than the first God of War, Santa Monica was faced with a challenge much like Naughty Dog's: to create a sequel that would surpass the already great prequel in every possible way. It was evident that Naughty Dog had managed to make the challenge their Abuses will lead to ban with the release of the critically acclaimed Uncharted 2 (game of the year '09, mind you)! At first, God of War 3 was actually considered to be a PS2 release by the developers themselves. But, thank God, they changed their mind! I can't even imagine what life would be like if there was no God of War 3 on the PS3!
Can they cook up a successor better than this?
Fortunately, Santa Monica can and did! The end result, God of War 3, was released on the PS3 system and surpassed the previous game in almost every aspect of comparison! We had all expected the graphics to look next-gen and, thus, good. But we were never expecting them to look as amazing as they did after seeing the first gameplay trailer! They were simply fantastic and the final product turned out to look even better than all the promotional trailers! Upon booting up the game you are treated with the best looking main menu I've ever seen! It consists of the traditional half-face of Kratos staring you right in the eye! Not only can you seen the scarily realistic details on his face, but you can also mesmerise yourself at the great looking background. And none of that is CG!
You'd be an idiot for not acknowledging this as the best looking game so far! Don't embarrass yourself.
One of the main issues for past God of War titles was the mostly repetitive combat that had you mash buttons through countless of foes. Though fun at first, it certainly did get boring later on and you'll most likely be pushing Square, Square, Triangle throughout the rest of the game. The original God of War barely offered any weapons, thus further deteriorating the combat. You had the oh-so-lovely Blades of Chaos by your side, and the Artemis Blade which you acquire later on. Other than that, you hadn't any other weapon to entertain yourself. God of War 2 brought with it three new weapons namely, the Barbarian Hammer, Spear of Destiny, and the Blade of Olympus. My personal favourite from these was the spear, however, even though their intention was good the combat still felt recycled and a bit repetitive.
That poor Satyr has no idea what he's getting himself into!
However, with God of War 3 the repetition has completely been resolved and the combat no longer feels recycled. Though the weapons that you have at your disposal are all chain weapons, like your Blades of Exile, each has it's own unique feel to it. You have four weapons in total, which may not sound like a lot, but it is sufficient. Each of them have various combos for you to unlock and try out on the various enemies provided! You also have the ability to change your current weapon on the fly! Just press L1, followed by X, and you'll be switching to another weapon instantly! That way, the string of combo that you pulled off with the previous weapon won't go away and you can continue it with the new one! Just two buttons and the entire gameplay experience feels like a huge leap from the previous two games.
Of course, combat isn't the only thing God of War 3 does better than God of War 2. The game features a superb soundtrack that accompanies you all the way to the end! It may not seem ideal when listening to it on your own, but while playing the game, the soundtrack will make you feel high and mighty or intensify a particular boss battle. The OST is well placed and every place has it's own unique way of introducing itself through the music. Aside from the soundtrack, the sound effects are very realistic! When you slash a foe with the Blades of Exile you'll here the satisfying sound of metal-meets-flesh. When you bash an enemy with the Nemean Cestus you'll here the thudding sound that's oh-so wonderful to hear.
I'm sorry to burst the bubble of those who think God of War 2 was the best in the series. It's not. God of War 3 is clearly the best title in the franchise. Graphics, gameplay, depth, and the sense of scale and immersion; every aspect is better than the previous two games. Yes, the story is simple but it plays it's part in finishing the final chapter in Kratos' saga of vengeance. However simplistic it may be, the ending will shock you either in a good way or a bad way. That depends on you.
The blood stays on Kratos!
The only drawback that holds God of War 3 back is that the story isn't well presented. Though you will understand every bit of it (save for the ending, you might not), it won't be narrated in a good way. You won't be immersed in the game mainly for it's story, you'll be in it for the game-play and satisfying combat!
Value/Worth: 9.0/10
The game will last around 10 or so hours. Though there is no New Game+ it will bring you back due to the Combat Arena and the several items of re-playability which you collect throughout the game.
Graphics: 10/10
The best graphics on a console system so far.
Sound: 9.0/10
The sound effects are amazingly realistic and the soundtrack will heighten every moment in the game!
Game-play: 9.0/10
Changing weapons on the fly, plus new and intriguing weapons ensure your gameplay experience stays fresh and new every time you play it.
Multi-player: --
The game, being solely a single player experience, has no need for such an option.
Overall: 9.5/10
A superb experience that is not to be missed by anyone who owns a PS3!
Value/Worth: 9.0/10
The game will last around 10 or so hours. Though there is no New Game+ it will bring you back due to the Combat Arena and the several items of re-playability which you collect throughout the game.
Graphics: 10/10
The best graphics on a console system so far.
Sound: 9.0/10
The sound effects are amazingly realistic and the soundtrack will heighten every moment in the game!
Game-play: 9.0/10
Changing weapons on the fly, plus new and intriguing weapons ensure your gameplay experience stays fresh and new every time you play it.
Multi-player: --
The game, being solely a single player experience, has no need for such an option.
Overall: 9.5/10
A superb experience that is not to be missed by anyone who owns a PS3!
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