God of War 2 for PlayStation 2

The original God of War was a remarkable video game which completely obliterated all previous notions of what an action game should be. It borrowed heavily from other games, no doubt. But it combined those pieces so expertly and successfully that the total package felt more like tribute than thievery, and instantly became one of the best video games ever made.

God of War 2 comes highly anticipated, and does not disappoint. It makes no effort to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it endeavors to refine everything set forth in the first game. It does so magnificently, and manages to outclass its predecessor in every respect. Considering the credentials of the first game, that's praise worthy of the gods.

Story:

Although the original God of War could have survived on its gameplay merits alone, part of the allure was the clever story that drove the action. Although set firmly in Greek mythology, the writers chose to throw a wrench into the works. The wrench is named Kratos -- a powerful Spartan soldier who found himself tangled up in godly drama after selling his soul to Ares, the God of War, in exchange for victory in battle. The first game followed Kratos's journey to destroy Ares, and the second installment picks up right where the first one left off, with Kratos enjoying his newfound godhood.

Unfortunately, he's enjoying his goodhood a bit too much for Zeus's taste. The gods of Olympus trick Kratos (in a rather transparent plot...) into giving up his godhood so that Zeus can dispatch him. After being defeated by Zeus, Kratos has no choice but to seek out the three Fates so that he might reverse Zeus's betrayal.

The story is expertly told with high-quality voice acting layered over impressive cinematics (sometimes rendered in-game, and sometimes pre-rendered video). Mythology buffs will enjoy the numerous cameos, and will enjoy seeing how their stories are altered by adding Kratos to the mix.

If the story has any real fault, it's that it ends with such a tempting cliffhanger. The suspense is doubly frustrating since the sequel will be on the PlayStation 3 -- a console which, at present, I have no plan to own.

Violence:

God of War is a brilliant game, but it is not for everybody.

Although most video games revolve around physical conflict of some sort, few revel in violence the way God of War does. Kratos is an anti-hero, and deals out death with startling efficiency. These are not typical video-game deaths where enemies blink out of existence. They are brutally tortured and dismembered, spilling impossible amounts of blood in every direction.

Apart from monsters, there are multiple human characters -- some rather sympathetic -- whose deaths are immeasurably cruel, surprisingly graphic, and often directly controlled by the player. The controls are designed to be viscerally engaging, and are very successful... to the point that violence feels real.

This game is not for the faint of heart, and it is unquestionably not for children.

Gameplay:

God of War 2 is a melee-style beat-em-up in which you are often pitted against multiple enemies at once -- upwards of ten in the hairier battles. Like the first game, God of War 2 is an obvious riff on Devil May Cry. Kratos has the ability to launch extraordinary attacks which defy all physical logic as they juggle multiple enemies. What's remarkable about God of War, and what sets it apart from Devil May Cry, is the remarkable ease of controlling it all.

Despite an intimidating list of moves, guiding Kratos into battle is an immeasurably satisfying experience. His various attacks are so smartly mapped to the buttons that after 30 minutes of play, the controller absolutely vanishes. And new moves are earned slowly throughout the adventure, allowing the player to internalize them at a manageable pace.

None of this is to say that the game is easy... it's a good thing that Kratos handles so well, because he is faced with such a spectacular array of lethal enemies that you don't really have time to be futzing with screwy controls. When you're fending off three armored soldiers and a swarm of harpies armed with bombs, all while staying clear of a giant blast of fire which periodically sweeps through the room, you need to be in full control of the situation.

Like the first game, God of War 2 is also full of pre-animated sequences that require the player to press buttons at the right time. These sections can be brutally challenging, depending on how well you know the Dual Shock controller. You are given about half-a-second to remember which button is the circle, and which one is the triangle. By the end of the game, it's second-nature. But novices will likely find a good deal of frustration in this game mechanic.

Along the way, Kratos is faced with a variety of puzzles, some of which will require a decent mental workout to solve. Although I was occasionally stymied, none of the puzzles were too obtuse, and all can be worked out with a bit of patience and observation.

Improvements:

Although the core gameplay is roughly identical to the original, there are a number of changes, all of which are for the better. Remember struggling to repeatedly tap the right trigger to open heavy doors in the first game? That's been remapped to a face button to make things easier.

Kratos has picked up some new abilities this time around. He can now use his chains as a grappling hook at designated locations. He's far more nimble when climbing on walls than he used to be, thanks to the new ability to jump in any direction and to slide down rapidly. And he learns a few other new tricks along the way (which are so tightly tied to the plot that I dare not spoil them here).

His old spells are replaced by a new set (he's no longer on particularly good terms with the gods that lent him all that power to begin with), and the new playbook is far more useful than the old one. I hardly used magic at all in the first game... now it's become an integral part of battle.

And the sadistic sort of level design seen at the very tail end of the first game (escape from Hades?) is nowhere to be seen this time. Three cheers!

If I have any complaint, it's the continued uselessness of additional weaponry. As in the first game, Kratos will earn a few extra weapons in his adventures, but they all pale in comparison with his chain blades. At no point was I compelled to use them.

And the new inclusion of the Pegasus feels half-baked. Although the flight segments show promise, you'll be glad when they end, so that you can get on with the actual game again.

Bosses:

When the first game opened with the spectacular Hydra sequence, the bar was forever raised on video game boss battles. Sadly, the first game only offered a tiny handful of bosses after the first level.

The sequel ups the ante with a few more titanic bosses, starting with the ludicrously fantastic Colossus of Rhodes which you'll battle throughout the entire first level. It's an obvious nod to Shadow of the Colossus, and thankfully integrated into a much better game than its inspiration.

Most of the bosses, however, are not grand-scale battles. Many are normal human-sized opponents. Although the larger fights are a gas, these smaller duels excel at testing how well you've honed your regular battle skills, and were a welcome addition.

It also deserves mentioning that the final boss of the first game kind of sucked. That's not the case this time around...

Graphics:

This game represents the absolute pinnacle of what is possible on the PS2. Although the graphics engine is seemingly identical to the first game, it is pushed much harder than before. The PS2 was simply not intended to churn out such spectacular sights. Levels are intricately drawn, sometimes miles into the distance. Enemies are geometrically detailed, and animated fantastically. And Kratos himself is a marvel to behold, as he doles out alarming violence with unparalleled elegance.

All the behind-the-scenes math comes at a price, though. Although the game never slows down, there is severe screen-tearing at almost all times. Although this artifact was common in the first game, it is nearly perpetual this time around, and very noticeable if you're playing on a good-sized TV. It never interferes with gameplay, but it sure is ugly.

Sounds:

God of War 2 sounds great overall. Battle sounds ring loud and clear, with excellent surround separation (which is of great benefit when enemies are coming from off-screen). The music is appropriately epic, though strangely unmemorable. And the voice acting is of excellent quality, in contrast to the goofy dialogue that plagues most games.

Extras and Longevity:

The game disc is loaded with extras, some substantial, some silly. There are two higher levels of difficulty beyond the standard setting, and you have the option to replay conquered difficulty settings in "bonus" mode, keeping all your items and abilities from before. By collecting urns hidden throughout the game, you can additionally augment your abilities when you go through for a second run.

The game is also packaged with a bonus DVD. The content is rather skimpy, but it's well produced, and there's some interesting stuff to be found here and there.

Summary:

God of War 2 is a masterpiece, and a perfect reason to dust off the old PS2 if you've been distracted by a next-generation console of late. Although it doesn't blaze any new trails after the brilliant first outing, it offers an expert refinement of what you fell in love with last time. The controls are spot-on, and deliver a remarkable sense of immersion. The graphics push the PS2 right to its breaking point (and maybe a bit beyond, at times). And the story is smart and engaging enough to pull you along the entire way.

Kratos may no longer be a god, but this series isn't giving up its throne any time soon.