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Platform: Playstation
2
Related Links: Review: Gladiator - Sword of Vengeance (XB)
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God
of War
For
being the part of the world so often credited as the area which helped
to mould Western civilization, there sure aren’t a lot of games based in Ancient
Greece. Game developers are
always at the ready to pump out games set in Rome, Medieval Europe,
Feudal Japan, or any other historical setting under the sun.
However, we rarely see any games based on the events of Homer’s
Odyssey, the Persian or Peloponnesian Wars, or even the conquests of
Sparta. Perhaps a lot of
those involved with the game industry just have a lot of dark memories
of the classic 1960s cartoon, The Mighty Hercules.
We’ll just never know. Now,
though, it looks like the folks at Sony are doing something to step away
from this terrible lack of Greek titles on the market with their
upcoming action game God of War, for the Playstation 2.
Starring a bald, tattooed hero named Kratos, who oddly looks more like a 4th Century Celtic warrior than someone from ancient Greece, the story follows this ex-Spartan soldier who is now possessed by Ares, the God of War (now isn’t that just a snappy way to come to a |
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game name?). With all of the skill endowed upon Kratos with this godly help, he went on to become a truly ruthless warrior, leaving swaths of bodies in his wake. Now, looking to change all of this, and lead a more peaceful life, Kratos is out to find a way to kill Ares, but the only way to do so is track down Pandora’s Box.
But enough of heartfelt stories of redemption, lets get down to the hacking, slashing, and disembowelment, you know, the reasons most gamers are going to want to take this game for a spin. In a lot of ways God of War is aiming to be a straightforward action game, with |
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lots of running around
and poking bad guys with sharp objects.
There’ll be dungeons to navigate, traps to avoid, ropes to
climb, puzzles to solve, and Kratos may even get into a steamy encounter
or two with some comely maidens with "come hither" eyes. How the game
will stand out, though, is largely through the way in which our hero
uses his weapons, a pair of rather large swords, as well as a chain, as
he can go to town on enemies, unloading combos galore, even while in the
air. Also, the way the game’s magic system is utilized may get
gamers’ attention, as magic types are closely related to the abilities
of the Greek gods. Of
course, if the more traditional elements are also well done, that
won’t hurt either. With
Greece hardly registering as a blip on gaming’s radar despite the
country’s rich history and mythology, it’s almost criminal that the
industry doesn’t pay more attention to their folklore.
Hopefully, God of War will be good enough to renew developers’
interest in Hercules and the gang…but not too much, because the last
thing we need is another sub-genre milked to all hell. Mr.
Nash (January
4, 2005)
Game
Features: GOD
OF WAR introduces a brutal slice of life set in the mythological Greek
era. Players can live according to their own nature. Even if it is by
brute force. -
GOD OF WAR presents an gameplay mix of raw melee combat fused with
traps, stunts and story driven puzzles. -
Huge collection of moves: players can swing on ropes, scale mountain
cliffs, swim through rivers, slide down zip lines. -
GOD OF WAR delivers an extensive combat system based on uniquely linking
combos for a myriad of fighting moves. Take the combat in air, take out
a number of enemies at once, and utilize "context sensitive
moves" - moves that in particular situations, allow you to grab,
kick or throw an enemy. -
Kratos' main weapons are two blades, one attached to each arm by a long
chain that wraps around his arm. This allows for both short-range and
long-range attacks. -
Encounter some of the greatest mythological beasts and enemies: Medusa,
Cyclops, Minotaur, Harpies and more. -
Magic system that grants the power of gods and monsters: use Medusa's
head to freeze your enemies, strike them with Zeus' thunderbolt, cut
them down with Ares' blades. -
Explore and unravel numerous puzzles that range from simpler lever pulls
to the most mind-bending, sadistic twisters around. -
Players can experience a real-time world of interactivity: soldiers
battle and die, structures fall to the ground, and the dark, violent
world of Greek mythology comes to life in gory detail. - From the creative director of the Twisted Metal and Twisted Metal:Black franchise. |
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