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By Marc Saltzman Gannett News Service Adjust font size:
    Lay your eyes on video game graphics that rival those of the Sony PlayStation 3 -- without shelling out up to $600 for the new machine -- by picking up "God of War II" for the seven-year-old PlayStation 2. The game makers at Sony Computer Entertainment America's Santa Monica, California, studios have created a seemingly high-definition experience out of the aging PS2 console. And yes, the game is as fun as it is gorgeous. Due out March 13 for about $50, "God of War II" is the sequel to one of the most critically acclaimed PS2 titles. You assume the role of Kratos, a Spartan warrior who achieved the status of a god after defeating the powerful Ares. But sitting upon the throne of Olympus did not quell Kratos' appetite for destruction until the goddess Athena reminds him she was the one responsible for his position as the new god of war and punishes him by reducing him to the size of a human. Now, back on Earth, in the ancient Greek city of Rhodes, Kratos must prove he still has the goods to stay alive by fighting mythological creatures. The first major battle is a fight between Kratos and the giant statue of Colossus, whom Athena brings back to life to teach Kratos a lesson. You must dodge his giant fists, catapult boulders (and even yourself) to launch attacks against his huge head and use the twin blades chained to your wrists to fight off his minions. After two lengthy combat sessions, Colossus will fall back into the ocean and throw you into a ruined temple to continue your fight. Other mythological beasts you'll encounter include Cyclops, Medusa and Cerebus, and you'll engage in aerial combat scenes riding on the back of Pegasus and Gryphons. Fun moves to execute include throwing enemies up in the air and chaining attacks together, climbing surfaces such as the side of a mountain, swinging across great distances using a magic grapple and unleashing powers based on nature's elements. Green orbs found in chests, crates and other areas will replenish your health while blue orbs refill your magic meter. But it's not just brutal melee action that will keep you glued to "God of War II." Puzzle-solving plays an important role in this sequel, such as figuring out how to open locked gates or navigate through deadly underground caverns. Some can get a bit tricky, though, but a bit of trial and error will get you through them. At the risk of gushing over the graphics, "God of War II" not only offers highly detailed and smoothly animated creatures to fight against, but also offers impressive art direction with enormous environments that vary greatly between locations (unlike in the first game), along with cinematic camera angles and clever use of lighting and shadows. The noninteractive cut-scenes sequences are also stunning. Unlockable content ranges from bonus games, including an arena-fighting mode and minigame challenges, to extra Kratos outfits to behind-the-scenes media to compliment the second disc, which is already packed with documentary videos, photos, music, interviews and more. "God of War II" is a highly intense, beautiful and gratifying action-adventure hybrid for mature players, and it proves there's still some life left in your PS2 after all. |
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"God of War II" is the sequel to one of the most critically acclaimed PS2 titles.
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