Lawrence.com

Adhering to the old standards of video game design frequently results in near universal derision by the gaming community. In many people’s minds, fixed camera angles, linear level design, repetitive button-mashing, and overly masculine protagonists are both the hallmarks and pitfalls of the games of previous console generations.

Despite the fact that it relies on classic gaming clichés, the God of War series proves that a game doesn’t need an open world or branching dialogue to create a great gaming experience.

If you haven’t played the first two God of War games, skip the next paragraph and run to your local electronics outlet to purchase the God of War Collection. Both games hold up well and provide the necessary back-story to this latest installation. (Although God of War III does an adequate job of filling you in, you’re better served playing the first two games yourself.)

God of War III begins right were the previous game left off. Kratos, ever the angry Spartan demigod, is seeking to kill Zeus and end the reign of the Olympic gods. Of course, he must battle gods and monsters on the way to slaying his father.

There are no real surprises in the story. Although it lacks some of the twists and turns of the previous games, it does a good job of filling in some of the plot holes evident from the original and its sequel. It is more consistently engaging than either, although the last couple hours of the game do slow significantly. The dialogue, voiced by notable actors from every corner of the entertainment industry, is very over-the-top, but it fits in with the style of the game.

The game’s graphics and level design are second-to-none. Few games in recent history have been able to boast of the level of quality and the attention to detail prevalent throughout the game, in terms of both the characters and the levels. Kratos, as well as the gods and monsters he battles, are artfully rendered and animated. While good-looking characters are nothing new, the levels represent a new standard for game designers. From fighting on the bodies of Titans to battling through Hades to exploring the temples of the gods, everything about the locations feels realistically alive (or dead), and the sense of scale you’ve felt sporadically throughout the series is front-and-center at all times. The cinematic quality of the soundtrack adds to the already grand scale of the game.

The gameplay is largely similar to what it has always been, with a few refinements. The standard attack controls and combos are primarily unchanged. Prompts for quick-time events, used frequently when battling large beasts and boss characters, have now been moved to the edges of the screen, so as not to distract from the visceral action. It takes a little acclimation, but it does result in a more rewarding viewing experience.

The most notable (and most welcome) changes to the game are in the use of secondary weapons, spells and items. In the previous games, the secondary weapons were fun for a little bit, but were never as gratifying as Kratos’s blades. The new weapons are infinitely more useful, and may supplant the blades as your primary means of eviscerating Zeus’s minions. The spells of previous games are split up into spells and items categories, giving you eight types of magical battling techniques. The spells are somewhat underwhelming, and are not nearly as useful as the items, which are necessary to continue through parts of the game. Most of the spells are more practical in combat with large groups of monsters.

As a linear single-player game, replay value is somewhat limited. After you beat the campaign, there are additional challenge modes available, as well as higher campaign difficulties, to hone your skills. Items and unlocked costumes can be used in a second playthrough, and you can always attempt to find the items your may have missed initially.

God of War III is the rare final chapter of a trilogy that actually lives up to its hype. With solid pacing, superb graphics and gratifying combat, it manages to live up to both the high standards set by its predecessors and the hype of Sony’s marketing machine. Although it represents the end of a beloved trilogy, it’s foolish to think that this is the last we’ll see of Kratos and his whirling, fiery blades.

Story: 8.5

Gameplay: 9.0

Graphics: 10.0

Sound: 9.0

First Play: 9.5

Replay Value: 7.5



Overall: 9.0