God of War 2
Update: SCE gives us a peek at some in-game action.
Preview by (Email)
January 1st 2007
Last Updated: 4/4/06
The Basics: When the original God of War exploded onto the PS2 in 2005, it was quickly hailed as one of this generation's best offerings. There was good reason for that, as its marriage of superb gameplay and spectacular presentation showed gamers everywhere that there was still plenty of spunk left in Sony's aging hardware. The list of kudos and prizes (as well as some great sales numbers) heaped upon it virtually guaranteed another installment, and fans everywhere dug in and waited for Sony to make an announcement about the digital future of the Greek Gods.
Well friends, the wait is nearly over.
Sony recently revealed that the much-anticipated sequel is set to hit stores next year, and SCEA's Santa Monica Studios is busy making sure that Kratos's next adventure will be everything you've been hoping and expecting it to be.
The combat system remains more or less the same – you can still pull off those monster combos – but expect to see some new moves and a few changes to the magic system. It's reportedly now based on the elements of nature, such as wind and ice, which opens a lot of stage-related possibilities. In addition to tweaking the already excellent gameplay, the next entry is also going to receive a boost in several key areas, including the puzzle-solving elements and storyline. Players can expect to see a deeper exploration of the ever-popular Greek Mythos, as Kratos encounters a multitude of new characters, from Cerebus to the Cyclops.
What do we think? Simply put, words can't express what I'm thinking. The original God of War is a game that deserves a place in any self-respecting PS2 owner's library, and the thought of a sequel is enough to almost numb my sadness at the PS3's unavoidable delay. This is exactly the title the PS2 needs to keep gamer's dollars away from the Xbox 360 until its successor arrives. Solid gameplay and awesome storyline made God of Warone of the premier titles last year, and I simply cannot wait to put Kratos through his paces again. Wait for it. Buy it. Love it. It's that simple.
··· Ken Horowitz
