Game #12 – God of War III
Publisher: Sony
Developer: Santa Monica Studios
Platforms: PS3
2010 was the biggest year for the God of War franchise. You had the PAL release of the God of War Collection, the release of the PSP exclusive Ghost Of Sparta, and the grand daddy of them all, the much anticipated God of War III. And as a conclusion to a trilogy described as being “epic”, it's rather fitting.
For the most part, it still maintains everything that makes God of War work – the incredibly impressive setpieces, the well paced combat and the over the top feel that's always made the games more entertaining than most. Hell, beating up people with two oversized lion shaped metal gauntlets has never felt so right.
But where GoW3 excels is its presentation. It's a stunning game to look at, and coupled with the setpieces mentioned above, it makes for something special. It also just so happens to be the most violent of the trilogy, with plenty of blood and guts that qualifies Kratos enough to be a combatant in the new Mortal Kombat.
Sure, it is really just more of the same, but it still feels right, and coupled with the beautiful visuals and tight gameplay, it's a hell of a way to conclude the series.
I'm probaly going to get Ghost of Sparta before I get 3. I think I'm probably going to be disappointed with 3, seeing how I loved 1, 2 and the Chains of Olympus (from what I've read). Do you think the God of War franchise has much left in it or is it time to rest it for a while?
^^ I think it's becoming like the 3D Zelda games, the formula is getting kind of tiring now.
But I still love the Zelda games and God of War is still fun seeing how I'm having a blast with Ghost of Sparta. If they make more on the PSP, I'll probably get them!
I do think that Sony Santa Monica has their work cut out for them if they make future God of War games. They have to keep trumping the previous game, which seems like a insanely hard task. Is making it bigger and badder with larger bosses enough? It feels like after God of War 2 and the PSP games, I feel like I've seen it all, which is why I understand the crticism that God of War 3 has been getting.
For me the wow factor has sort of left but I still find the games enjoyable. I played all of them (including the 2 psp ones) except for III. I will get it the minute it gets a price drop (platinum release). Hope to have a decent TV setup as well by then.
I'm sure I will enjoy the game immensely. I don't object to there being a GoW game every 2-3 years or so provided the quality remains high
The ending of the game pisses me off too much to play it. I enjoyed the trilogy's story an awful lot, and I liked the Kratos character because he was such an original creation. But I thought as the final chapter of the saga it just completely let me down. Odd too because normally character and story are not things that I really place a lot of value on in the context of video games. The first one completely grabbed me though and I guess I got mad that it didn't end the way I wanted it to. Kratos didn't deserve a happy ending dammit!
It's all about expectations for me, that's why I'm getting the new PSP one first. As long as it is as good as the last one I'll be thrilled. With 3 I have very high expectations given the first 2 home console versions -- and this being the first HD one.
I agree that if they keep putting them out 2-3 years apart they'll be fine -- won't be blockbuster hits anymore, but will still sell way more than most games.
The first half of the game is a hell of a ride. Then it loses a bit of steam, and by the final part it collapses unto itself like a fart that starts out dry, loud and proud, and that finishes all wet and messy.
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