"God of War II: Almost the God of Action Games"

Graphics: Visually this game is amazing, and is without question the best looking Ps2 game of all time. I'm going to get into "Nerd talk" in the next sentence, so be warned. This game has amazing lighting, particles, and textures all running with miles (Literally) wide view distances at times, with real time shadows, more lighting, all with glints and reflections and everything you wouldn't expect in the same package for the Ps2 game. If you've played the original you'll know how the game feels and plays, but if you haven't, this will make your jaw drop. Movements are 100% realistic, and fluid. Gone are the skipping between combos, in comes the realistic muscle and body movement for all characters. The screen shots aren't fixed or altered in any way, this game looks that good. As for the Pegasus battles, holy Moses. Wind and clouds going left and right with the sun blaring in full HDR in your face, while combating enemies left and right, all in the third person view. These sections provide the best visuals of the game, hands down. I won't go into how epic, or amazing the battles look and feel, thats a treat for you to find out. However, the graphics aren't all pretty. There is a major tear in issue, which is if you don't know when a white bar comes down the screen and literally tears it. This happens often, and is quite annoying. And sometimes the frame rate will kick out for coffee, leaving Kratos walking around with the speed in the teens. Not when he's fighting whatever isn't nailed down, but when you are just walking like normal, which is odd. Wrap up: Beautiful, beautiful lighting and particles make for beautiful hallways and forest views. And the CGI is to die for. Amazing, amazing looking game. 10/10

Sound: The soundtrack is the same style as the first, but not as good. The music made the battles in the first, now it goes along with them. the chanting and singing is awesome, but the instruments fail to deliver the sound they should. Even on my two tower speakers with huge subs, the drums and bass/cello line really don't offer anything. As for voice overs, they're amazing. All of the side characters, and Kratos, sound awesome, and that narrator deserves at least an Oscar. She could read a 7/11 Receipt and make it sound like a prologue to a Twilight zone episode. Though the sound effects don't deliver like they did in the previous title, they will still get your blood going on some fights. 8/10

Story: You are Kratos, and you must kill the sisters of Fate and re-arrange your past... And kill anyone along the way. The story this time around is much deeper, and more thought about. However, I didn't like it as much. Just the thought of killing the God of War in the first one made me excited to play. The story doesn't suck you in like the first, but its still good. The amount of side characters in this one is cool, but most of them don't play much of a role.

Game play: "Do you defy the God of War!?" I'm going to start with the fighting. I recommend sticking it on God mode when you first play, then you will be in the ride for your life. The battles in this game are so much more epic this time around, its as if they stuck the original engine on rockets. You get pretty much the same moves and combos, but that doesn't hinder a thing. The enemies are really what needed an up upgrade, and boy did they get one. Now enemies will counter, roll, parry, and fight you as furiously as you fight them. Some parts in the game with enemies are actually harder then the bosses, thats how amazing the battles are. And if you want long battles, this is the game for you. I've had duels with enemies, for fun, up to five or ten minutes long. And to combat the brand new enemies, you get brand new weapons. Such as a Spear, and hammer, bow, and so on. I won't spoil them all, but each one has their strengths and weaknesses, and each one is awesome. And as far as brutality goes, this game eats the first one alive. Tearing the eye out of cyclops, beating someone to death with their own arm, drowning, door curbing, and so on. Though its a bit silly five gallons of blood come out of the enemies in each hit, it still looks pretty cool. You've probably heard about the flying levels. I'll review them right now:

The Pegasus levels are 50/50 for me. Though I've yet to play more epic 3 minute levels, they are just that. 3 minutes. Though flying in third person view over the oceans, with the Island of the fates in the distance, while fighting and brutally killing griffins and goblins is amazing, they are too short. Each level is very easy, and there's only two of them. And if you've played Devil may cry 1, they are exactly like those flying levels. But luckily, they're more epic and mind blowing. And finally, the grappling parts. On the ground you will see a white glowing orb, and with the click of a button you can fling around and jump from part to part. These are pretty cool, I liked them, and one scene almost blew me away where you have to do this over the tops of a jungle with the platforms around you falling. Very nice stuff. Wrap up: The battles in this game are similar to the first, but made to feel more intense and epic. Enemies fight back like the monsters they are, and the bosses are /intense/. I didn't mention them because there are actually so many of them, I would run off to a three page review. I can promise you they deliver though. The flying levels are great, but too short, and the grappling sections are pretty amusing. Overall, in my eyes, this is a solid sequel, but not as inspiring as the first. 8

Replay: Very good. Many things to collect, secrets to unlock and arenas to beat. It will last you at least 30 hours, or more.

Final: Buy it. Its worth the full price, and if you're a God of War series fan, I highly urge you to pick it up. If you're new to the series, play the first one then this.

Pros: Best graphics displayed on the system, fluid action and amazing cut scenes. Really cool new weapons, upgraded AI and nifty bosses make for a cool adventure.

Cons: Story isn't as impressive as the first, flying levels leave much to be desired, screen tear-in is massively frustrating, grappling parts also leave much to be desired, in-game engine cutscenes did not impress, while the computer generated ones did. Puzzles are a mixed bag. Block pushing gets old, people!

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/19/07