{"id":77458,"date":"2024-02-09T09:40:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-09T15:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=77458"},"modified":"2024-02-09T09:40:02","modified_gmt":"2024-02-09T15:40:02","slug":"god-of-war-a-playstation-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=77458","title":{"rendered":"God of War: A PlayStation Classic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>By NICK McCOY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the Original PlayStation to the PlayStation 4 and 5, Sony has made several exclusive series and games that have reached legendary status. Games like \u201cUncharted,\u201d \u201cRatchet and Clank,\u201d \u201cInfamous,\u201d \u201cTwisted Metal\u201d and \u201cSly Cooper,\u201d these games have become icons for their brand, and even franchises like \u201cCrash and Bandicoot\u201d and \u201cSpyro the Dragon,\u201d which have moved on from the PlayStation system, will always be linked to the iconic console.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, of all the PlayStation-exclusive franchises, very few can match the impact and scale of the \u201cGod of War\u201d series. With its brutal combat, large scale, engrossing and impactful stories and iconic main protagonist Kratos, \u201cGod of War\u201d is one of Sony\u2019s landmark titles, whether you&#8217;re talking about the original Greek trilogy or the new Norse series for the PS4 and PS5.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"736\" height=\"414\" data-attachment-id=\"77465\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?attachment_id=77465\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-1.jpg?fit=736%2C414&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"736,414\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"God of War Review Pics 1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-1.jpg?fit=370%2C208&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-1.jpg?fit=736%2C414&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"77465\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-1.jpg?resize=736%2C414\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77465\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-1.jpg?w=736&amp;ssl=1 736w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-1.jpg?resize=370%2C208&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-1.jpg?resize=150%2C84&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 736px) 100vw, 736px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"700\" data-attachment-id=\"77464\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?attachment_id=77464\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C1063&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,1063\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"God of War Review Pics 2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-2.jpg?fit=294%2C260&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-2.jpg?fit=790%2C700&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"77464\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-2.jpg?resize=790%2C700\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-2.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-2.jpg?resize=294%2C260&amp;ssl=1 294w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C907&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-2.jpg?resize=150%2C133&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-2.jpg?resize=768%2C680&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\"><strong>Formed in 1999 in Santa Monica, California, Santa Monica Studio is one of several first-party developers for Sony. Following the release of \u201cKinecta,\u201d a racing game and their first title, Santa Monica was quickly put to work for Sony\u2019s then brand new PlayStation 2 console, developing the first \u201cGod of War.\u201d Besides the games for Portable Devices, they have been the sole developers of the \u201cGod of War\u201d series, their latest game being 2021\u2019s \u201cGod of War: Ragnarok.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if we\u2019re going to be talking about this flagship series, there is no better way to start with the very first entry, released in 2005. Whether you\u2019re playing the original release on PlayStation 2, or the HD version on PlayStation 3, you\u2019ll be playing one of the best hack-and-slash and action-adventure games you will ever touch. From its excellent story, fantastic lead, incredible graphics and scope and a deceptively deep combat engine, \u201cGod of War\u201d is, by all accounts, a classic.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Release:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Released on March 22nd, 2005, as an exclusive for the PlayStation 2<\/li><li>Developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony&nbsp;<\/li><li>The first game in the series Greek trilogy, before \u201cGod of War 2018\u201d&nbsp;<\/li><li>Followed by \u201cGod of War II\u201d in 2007<\/li><li>Remastered for PlayStation 3 as part of the \u201cGod of War Collection,\u201d alongside \u201cGod of War II\u201d<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGod of War\u201d is set in Ancient Greece and features various characters and locations taken from Greek mythology. The game focuses on Kratos, a Spartan warrior who, before the game\u2019s events, swore a blood oath to the god of war, Ares, after being defeated in battle. While sieging a village at the god\u2019s behest, Kratos is tricked into killing his wife, Lysandra, and his daughter Calliope. This event resulted in his legacy as the \u201cGhost of Sparta\u201d after his dead family\u2019s ashes are bonded to his skin.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deeply haunted by these events, Kratos broke his allegiance to Ares and has been serving the gods for 10 years in hopes they can erase his memories of the event. In \u201cGod of War,\u201d Kratos is tasked by the goddess Athena with defeating Ares, to stop his destruction of Athens, and promises to \u201cforgive him of his sins.\u201d This takes Kratos on a journey to find Pandora\u2019s Box, an ancient artifact that will give him the strength to kill Ares, take his revenge and hopefully, erase the pain of his family&#8217;s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is this consensus, mainly shared by gaming journalists, that \u201cGod of War\u201d\u2019s story, and Kratos himself, only starting getting good in \u201cGod of War 2018\u201d, and that Kratos himself was nothing more than a mindless beast with no depth in the original three games; This couldn\u2019t be further from the truth. There\u2019s no denying Kratos has done some awful things, and if your only experience with the series is \u201cGod of War III,\u201d I can somewhat understand this sentiment. However, Kratos is so much more than what these people give him credit for. From the very beginning of the game, Kratos is portrayed as a tragic, deeply troubled character haunted by his past deeds. It\u2019s also readily apparent that Kratos hates his reputation as the Ghost of Sparta, as seen with his visible frustration at a woman running away from him in fear. Plus, with all the things he has had to endure working for the gods, his hatred for them is more than justified. So, this entire idea of Kratos being this hunk with no personality or depth is completely unwarranted.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" data-attachment-id=\"77463\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?attachment_id=77463\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-3.jpg?fit=500%2C500&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"500,500\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"God of War Review Pics 3\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-3.jpg?fit=260%2C260&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-3.jpg?fit=500%2C500&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"77463\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-3.jpg?resize=500%2C500\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-3.jpg?w=500&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-3.jpg?resize=260%2C260&amp;ssl=1 260w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-3.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"413\" data-attachment-id=\"77462\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?attachment_id=77462\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-4.jpg?fit=1200%2C628&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,628\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"God of War Review Pics 4\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-4.jpg?fit=370%2C194&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-4.jpg?fit=790%2C414&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"77462\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-4.jpg?resize=790%2C413\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-4.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-4.jpg?resize=370%2C194&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-4.jpg?resize=1024%2C536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-4.jpg?resize=150%2C79&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-4.jpg?resize=768%2C402&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\"><strong>Kratos, the series\u2019 iconic main character, is a Spartan warrior and former servant of the Greek Gods. He is known for his brutality and stoicism while also showing moments of sadness and reflection, ultimately being a tragic character. Originally based in Greek Mythology, Kratos would later be set in the land of the Norse Gods, presenting a softer, more reserved Kratos in ancient Scandinavia. No matter what incarnation or generation, Kratos remains one of the Play<\/strong>S<strong>tation\u2019s most iconic mascots.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The overall narrative present in \u201cGod of War\u201d is really great as well. The entire game is one big journey to find Pandora\u2019s Box, with Kratos traveling across Athens, a massive desert known as the Desert of Lost Souls, Pandora\u2019s Temple, where the Box is held, and even the underworld of Hades (Definitely not the last time Kratos visits there). While there aren\u2019t as many characters in this game as there are in \u201cGod of War II,\u201d each one present is distinct and memorable. The gods are easily the least scummy in the entire series because Kratos works for them. The same cannot be said for Ares, who is arrogant, cruel, and incredibly sadistic. He represents everything wrong with the gods and is, therefore, the perfect villain and final boss, only amplified by a phenomenal performance from Steve Blum.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The narrative is also really propelled by the intrigue surrounding Kratos\u2019 past and his desperateness to erase his sins from his mind; the way the game ends, while I don\u2019t want to spoil it, makes you understand that Kratos has every right to despise the gods. It\u2019s an engrossing story and one I think definitely deserves more respect from certain people.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, there\u2019s the gameplay, and it\u2019s the final aspect of \u201cGod of War\u201d that does not get the credit it deserves nowadays. A lot of people have this idea that the original \u201cGod of War\u201d games are just mindless button mashers and that \u201cGod of War 2018\u201d is, once again, when the series really started to have depth. On the surface, it may seem like this is the case, but the second you actually play \u201cGod of War,\u201d you understand there is much more to the combat than meets the eye. Kratos\u2019 primary weapons are the Blades of Chaos, fiery blades hooked to chains wrapped around his arms, and at the start, there are only a few select combos, with light attacks and heavy attacks. Later on, you get the Blade of Artemis, a large sword that offers different combo options.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, \u201cGod of War\u201d is very different from games like <a href=\"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?tag=devil-may-cry\">\u201cDevil May Cry\u201d<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=75348\">\u201cBayonetta\u201d<\/a>. While those games are about style, \u201cGod of War\u201d is all about power. The combat in this game is about slaying large numbers of enemies in the most brutal way possible, with an emphasis on high combos. Kratos will face various different beings from Greek Mythology, from Legionnaires (Undead members of Ares\u2019 army), Minotaurs, Cyclops, Gorgons, Harpies, and more. Kratos has access to a dodge roll and a block, along with a parry if players block right before an attack hits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"444\" data-attachment-id=\"77461\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?attachment_id=77461\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-5.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,675\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"God of War Review Pics 5\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-5.jpg?fit=370%2C208&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-5.jpg?fit=790%2C444&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"77461\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-5.jpg?resize=790%2C444\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-5.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-5.jpg?resize=370%2C208&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-5.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-5.jpg?resize=150%2C84&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-5.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"444\" data-attachment-id=\"77460\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?attachment_id=77460\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-6.png?fit=1280%2C720&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1280,720\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"God of War Review Pics 6\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-6.png?fit=370%2C208&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-6.png?fit=790%2C444&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"77460\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-6.png?resize=790%2C444\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-6.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-6.png?resize=370%2C208&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-6.png?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-6.png?resize=150%2C84&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-of-War-Review-Pics-6.png?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\"><strong>A hack-and-slash game played from a fixed angle, \u201cGod of War\u201d tasks players with slaying large numbers of enemies using chained blades known as the Blades of Chaos, alongside other weapons and magical abilities, with a high emphasis on large combos. Outside of combat, the game focuses on puzzle solving and exploration, with players being able to find chests containing orbs and hidden items. \u201cGod of War\u201d is also famous for its use of quick time events, being used during boss fights and against specific enemies.\u00a0<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The game also features a few boss fights. While not as abundant as they are in \u201cGod of War II\u201d and \u201cGod of War III,\u201d the ones present are excellent. The very first boss fight against the Hydra sets the tone going forward, and the final boss against Ares is just an amazing final confrontation. The fight against a Minotaur in Pandora\u2019s Temple is also quite memorable. \u201cGod of War\u201d is also pretty famous for its quick time events, which occur during bosses and when defeating certain enemies. While it\u2019s easy to make fun of, I do think the QTEs, aside from the ones involving rotating the stick, are implemented really well. The whole combat system comes together to create an excellent and satisfying experience, and while it may seem simple, that doesn\u2019t make it any less gratifying.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other Aspects:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Leveling Up: <\/strong>By collecting the red orbs from enemies or from opening chests, Kratos can upgrade his weapons and abilities to the next level. Upgrading weapons grants various boosts to that particular item, as well as new combos.<\/li><li><strong>Magic Attacks: <\/strong>Kratos gains access to four different magic attacks, acquired from various gods of Olympus. These magic abilities mainly involve range abilities or Area of Effect attacks; Poseidon\u2019s Rage, the first magical attack, unleashes a large storm that decimates any enemy in its range, while Medusa\u2019s Gaze, the second, freezes an enemy in stone, allowing for an instant kill.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Rage of the Gods<\/strong>: By upgrading the Blades of Chaos for the first time, Kratos gains a Rage meter, which, when full, can be used to activate the Rage of the Gods ability. This state makes his attacks hit much harder, and Kratos is unaffected by enemy attacks, allowing for long, interrupted combos.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from its combat, a large part of \u201cGod of War\u201d is exploration and puzzles. In between enemy arenas, players will explore the environment, either to progress or find hidden items and complete various puzzles. There are also various chests scattered around the levels, which mostly provide colored orbs; green orbs replenish health, blue orbs replenish magic, and red orbs give players experience points. Other, more well-hidden chests contain Gorgon Eyes and Phoenix Feathers, which increase Kratos\u2019 maximum health and magic level, respectively. The level design is an aspect where \u201cGod of War\u201d truly shines and propels the puzzles and exploration: The entirety of Pandora\u2019s Temple is a series of large, interconnected puzzles that circle back to each other, and is genuinely one of the greatest designed levels ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, not everything in this game is a banger, and there\u2019s one section that most people agree is the weakest point: The Hades level. As is a rite of passage in \u201cGod of War,\u201d Kratos ends up falling into the Underworld, and must escape Hades\u2019 realm in order to finally confront Ares. There is one major problem\u2026this part absolutely sucks. Not only are the visuals migraine-inducing, but Hades relies too much on platforming, something \u201cGod of War\u201d absolutely does not excel at. Kratos\u2019 double jump is way too heavy to go from platform to platform easily, and there is an astonishing lack of precision in many jumps. Then, at the end of this portion, right before the final boss, you are forced to climb two massive pillars covered in spikes. This section has become infamous for one main reason: if you make one mistake and get hit by a spike, you fall all the way back down and have to do it all over again. It\u2019s such a shame that, despite how great the game is, the final section is an absolute chore to get through.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other criticisms<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Suffers from \u201cfirst game\u201d syndrome, lacking many features of its sequels&nbsp;<\/li><li>&nbsp;A very small selection of bosses<\/li><li>The fixed camera can throw you off sometimes&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, the good far outweighs the bad when it comes to \u201cGod of War.\u201d It\u2019s a defining game for the PlayStation 2 for a very good reason, featuring an engaging story, an iconic main character and some truly thrilling and brutal combat. Even with its occasional hiccups, the game is a thoroughly memorable and enthralling experience that still remains one of PlayStation\u2019s best titles, with \u201cGod of War\u201d\u2019s formula only getting better as the series progressed. If you can find the means to play it, the first \u201cGod of War\u201d title is more than worth your time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Nick McCoy is a senior at Fort Hays State University, studying digital media and journalism. An avid gamer and music listener, he reviews video games and songs and hosts the radio show \u201cThe Understanding of Nick\u201d for KFHS.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By NICK McCOY Tiger Media Network From the Original PlayStation to the PlayStation 4 and 5, Sony has made several exclusive series and games that&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":77459,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56,55,10490],"tags":[15589,14765,442,15260,1729],"class_list":["post-77458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-entertainment","category-opinion","category-video-games","tag-god-of-war","tag-nick-mccoy","tag-reviews-2","tag-video-game-reviews","tag-video-games"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/God-Of-War-Feature-e1707493072439.png?fit=512%2C367&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77458","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=77458"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77458\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77466,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77458\/revisions\/77466"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/77459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=77458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=77458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=77458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}