God of War

 PlayStation 2
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2512 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,245 out of 2512
  2. Mixed: 175 out of 2512
  3. Negative: 92 out of 2512
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  1. Cody1999
    Jul 20, 2018
    4
    ripped off devil may cry, has way too many qte's has you playing as a psychotic maniac and has you press the same 2 buttons over and over and over again to win, sure sounds fun don't it?!
  2. Andremax
    Jul 15, 2018
    10
    Problaby one the most iconic games enterprise mascot of all time. And Kratos showed how in this classic game. Dungeons has simple but well-prepared dungeons that remember zelda sometimes. Attack enemies is quite funny and playability is very tasteful. Bosses are memorables and story is the higest point, well-written and full-of-imagination. Graphics looks pretty good till nowadays (this isProblaby one the most iconic games enterprise mascot of all time. And Kratos showed how in this classic game. Dungeons has simple but well-prepared dungeons that remember zelda sometimes. Attack enemies is quite funny and playability is very tasteful. Bosses are memorables and story is the higest point, well-written and full-of-imagination. Graphics looks pretty good till nowadays (this is a 2005 game). Classic.… Expand
  3. BSchwarz95
    Jul 12, 2018
    8
    So, an “80%” is not the first grade that came to mind while playing this game. At the beginning, I loved the gameplay and story and while the story stayed pretty top-notch, the gameplay suffered severe quality fluctuations. Given that this game is 13 years old, functionality and fluidity are critiqued with bias but I can say this fairly objectively: parts of this game are relentlesslySo, an “80%” is not the first grade that came to mind while playing this game. At the beginning, I loved the gameplay and story and while the story stayed pretty top-notch, the gameplay suffered severe quality fluctuations. Given that this game is 13 years old, functionality and fluidity are critiqued with bias but I can say this fairly objectively: parts of this game are relentlessly frustrating. There are sections where ultimate surgical precision must be respected by the player, but not by the game. By that I mean that you’ll have to weave between dangers but the “hit boxes” for these dangers are far from exact: this game and it’s controls are often clunky but at the same time, you’re asked for perfection which makes many aspects of this game simple lucky coin flips. I also appreciated the camera work at times but at other times, it seemed like the absolute stupidest idea in gaming history. The variety of angles is “cool,” but often troublesome and easily substitutable for a simple third person close follow camera type. Artistic, not practical (which is a good way to describe a lot of the mechanics) which breeds annoyance almost consistently. Either way, if you have the patience and interest in going back to play this game, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the overall experience. The most notably spectacular aspect of this classic game is the storytelling: we fall in love with a murderous monster, and continue to follow him for 6 more games. The writing is stellar and I think that's the one part of the game that cannot be understated.… Expand
  4. PaupiTLD
    May 22, 2018
    10
    uno de mis juegos favoritos de la ps2 , totalmente recomendable!! al dia de hoy sigue siendo un juego muy genial!
  5. njja02
    May 15, 2018
    8
    Too much backtracking for my taste but a fun action game that I really enjoyed.
  6. Jconker
    May 8, 2018
    9
    The protagonist of the game is sympathetic in one moment then merciless in another it is interesting to see a video-game character this conflicted with a tragic story that repeats itself on the sequels. The voice acting is superb but the Gods motivations are not that great making it feel childish at times. The combat is deadly with great animation shown each time you make a specificThe protagonist of the game is sympathetic in one moment then merciless in another it is interesting to see a video-game character this conflicted with a tragic story that repeats itself on the sequels. The voice acting is superb but the Gods motivations are not that great making it feel childish at times. The combat is deadly with great animation shown each time you make a specific attack that you can see the bloody mess you can do. The combat does feature combos but you don't unlock long combos which is a small shame. The climbing is simple with responsive controls does make it feel realistic, while the button prompts that appear to make a finishing is a welcome feature that really makes the game stand out from the crowd. Even the underwater levels are awesome and challenging; the environments are almost perfect for the time with also amazing character models and background. The sound effects are just amazing with a great soundtrack, the enemies also makes player think for a better strategy in some instances like saving magic, dodging, avoiding, jump, and attack. The unlocks are the challenges in which is actually my least favorite in the series but still a good feature that also unlocks new customs. The level design showcases the diversity and a great pacing just made this game one of the greatest hack & Slash games of all time.… Expand
  7. AKthaBeast
    May 3, 2018
    10
    Great game and a start to the franchise it is now. Taking aspects from hack & slash, puzzle platformers, and gruesome game, God of War combines it to create one hell of a game
  8. Moish
    Apr 28, 2018
    9
    A real success of an American approach of Japanese game mechanics that was a milestone for the video game industry and for PlayStation because of the mixture of puzzles platforming combat and history, an interesting approach of the Greek mythology and a very good overall video game experience.
  9. Hatschi
    Apr 26, 2018
    9
    A true classic and one of the best games I've played in the past, it's too bad that the new PS4 game is lacking behind this one so much.
  10. artificeprime
    Apr 21, 2018
    8
    God of War is a spectacular action game with amazing scale and visual design. This is a really unique take on Greek mythology that has a lot of world building. It takes enough from known myth to be easy to understand and adds enough of its own lore to have its own intrigue. The gameplay is also very good with a mix of combat, puzzle solving and platforming. There are some problems withGod of War is a spectacular action game with amazing scale and visual design. This is a really unique take on Greek mythology that has a lot of world building. It takes enough from known myth to be easy to understand and adds enough of its own lore to have its own intrigue. The gameplay is also very good with a mix of combat, puzzle solving and platforming. There are some problems with combat such as really annoying button mashing sections that are more of a frustration than anything else. There are also a lot of QTE sequences. The scale of the game is massive but it is quite linear and short, the game only lasts about 10 hours. Over all though it is a great experience.

    Gamplay 9 - The combat is very fun, fast paced and there are a good variety of attacks and upgrades. The only major downside of combat is the constant button mashing required at some parts. I bought a turbo controller just to deal with this issue because some bosses require you to press buttons at insane speeds. With the button mashing problem aside though, I liked almost everything else about the combat. There are also some good puzzles and platforming. Boss battles are probably the highlight with some of the best of their time.

    Story/Progression 8 - The story is simple but it is full of interesting twists and turns. There are some really shocking and amazing moments. The way the game uses familiar characters from myth and puts a twist on them is very cool. The finally involves both an amazing spectacle and a satisfying series of events.

    World 8 - The game world is quite small but it does a good job of making it seem far bigger than it is with huge interactive backgrounds. Every area is beautifully designed and full of variety. Each location offers new spectacles and interactions. I was always interested to see what I would encounter next.

    Characters 7 - Kratos is a very iconic character and his backstory does a good job of making him an appealing warrior to play as. The supporting cast is well designed and interesting enough but most of them were a bit one dimensional. I enjoyed the cast as a whole but I felt that few of them offered more than surface level development.

    Visual Design 10 - Easily one of the best looking games of its time. The sets are amazing in both scope and design. The characters and monster designs are detailed and iconic. The cutscenes are awesome.

    Sound Design 9 - While the soundtrack is just decent, the voice acting is great. The sound FX are good and everything works together quite well. I never had a case where the sound bothered me and I thought it was well above average in almost every area.

    Length/Amount of Content 5 - Probably the biggest weakness is that it just doesn't have that much content. Playing through the story takes no more than 10 hours and there is really not extra content or reason for multiple playthroughs. On the plus side the game is fast paced and full of variety so at least the 10 hours of play time is well spent.

    Immersion 9 - I was never bored and I always wanted to find out what would happen next. I felt immersed in the world the whole way through. The only thing that took me out of it a bit was the QTE sequences and frustrating button mashing that made some sections a chore. Overall though the lore and atmospheric design kept me engaged and invested in everything that happened.

    X-Factor 8 - For the most part I loved God of War, it was one of the best action games of its time. The main drawback for me was the way that some gameplay sections were very frustrating. There were parts where I would go from being in awe of everything to hitting my controller against the floor. I know some people love a challenge but there are different types of challenge. To me mashing buttons at finger numbing speeds is not a fun challenge, it is just an irritating chore. I love the game overall but little problems like that made certain parts very tough to enjoy.    … Expand
  11. iddqd4
    Dec 31, 2017
    10
    Просто один из лучших слешеров на Playstation 2.
  12. carloscritic
    Dec 24, 2017
    7
    It's a great game but nowadays feels very old. It has beautiful graphics, enviable artistic style, an entertaining story, but also has a lack of good characters. The game has too many weapons and movements, and if u use them all in a creative way, it's because you have fun being creative, but this way to play is not rewarded, so there are not real motivations (at least, not too much).It's a great game but nowadays feels very old. It has beautiful graphics, enviable artistic style, an entertaining story, but also has a lack of good characters. The game has too many weapons and movements, and if u use them all in a creative way, it's because you have fun being creative, but this way to play is not rewarded, so there are not real motivations (at least, not too much). Also, the game often shows women with big breast showing their nipples, maybe to show that the game is a male adult game or something.… Expand
  13. nestoryavith
    Jun 22, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. "The monster you have created has come back to kill you"... Seriously.. If you haven't played this, don't be my friend alright? I'M serious.
    This is not only a game about a god but the god of games. I'm a santa monica fan for life now. Beautiful graphics, amazing gameplay and needless to say the best (and I mean this) experience in a video game ever period. This is it.. I'ma play this for life till I die of starvation. It's games like this that show you what adventure in another world feels like. 10/10    … Expand
  14. Broyax
    Apr 6, 2017
    2
    Un beat'em all très beau mais très vite lassant, on passe sa vie à chercher des clés et à s'emmerder sur des puzzles bidons entre les bourrinades sans fin sur la touche carré dans des niveaux étroits et des passages plate-forme soûlants, le tout avec des QTE de merde.
  15. Ishi123
    Oct 31, 2016
    10
    The first and the best. God of War is a master class in hack and slash fun. With an amazing story and fun and satisfying gameplay, this game sets a standard for many other games to follow.

    The game is mature, it's brutal, it contains to much energy and violence. Swinging your chain blades around and clearing a room with brutality and strength never gets old, and supplanted by magical    The first and the best. God of War is a master class in hack and slash fun. With an amazing story and fun and satisfying gameplay, this game sets a standard for many other games to follow.

    The game is mature, it's brutal, it contains to much energy and violence. Swinging your chain blades around and clearing a room with brutality and strength never gets old, and supplanted by magical abilities that you unlock along the way, the game is always fun and provides a meaty challenge for those who seek to brave this violent Greek tale of revenge.

    The combat system is top-notch, and swinging your chain blades around and cutting into legions of undead hellspawn feels heavy, satisfying and cathartic, and you are given a wide variety of combos and abilities to tackle whatever is in your way, sending hundreds of enemies straight back to Hades. Some enemies will require more strategy than just mashing square and triangle all over the place, which suffices for most encounters. Magic is provided to tip the scales in your favor for more hectic battles, and the boss fights this game has will definitely test your abilities.

    Level design is amazing as well, with each area feeling fresh with lots of secrets to uncover to reward a bit of exploration. Puzzles can get complex, and will make you stop the violence for a bit to think. The central location of the game itself is one of the most memorable locations in gaming for me, as it is a gigantic temple of trials, containing within itself multiple level types with their own challenges and enemies. Even though you spend most of the game in this one place, it never feels the same as you challenge its deadly halls, filled with demons and traps to test only the bravest and strongest warriors.

    The story is one of revenge, just like everything else nowadays, but it's told very well, and the scale of it sets a precedent that is hard to reach. You are a man up against a god, and it's up to you to gather the strength and the will to destroy the being who wronged you. However, it's not just murder and carnage, as the game will sometimes stop to make you think about your actions, perhaps making you feel some regret for all those innocent people you killed for health orbs back in the first area (you monster). The character of Kratos is tragic and depressing, a man blinded by rage and power who ends up committing atrocities that curse him, all of the world knowing him and the things he's done. It's a quest for redemption and absolution as much as it is for revenge, and it can be quite engaging.

    God of War is a timeless classic, setting the standard for the rest of the series to follow, setting the bar high and providing a gripping and amazing experience the whole way through.    … Expand
  16. MiguelNeto
    Oct 8, 2016
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. God of War é um dos melhores jogos de Playstation 2 ja feito, o jogo é a personificaçao da palavra épico, a historia é incrivel, com excelentes chefes, no jogo encontramos Minotauro, Medusa e o Ares o Deus da Guerra que é o ultimo vilão do jogo, a trilha sonora é incrivel, Kratos é um dos melhores personagem dos Video Game, ele é sangrento, e tem uma historia bem triste, sem falar no final épico, que ficamos gigante e enfrentamos o Ares, God of War é um jogo incrivel, com excelente momentos, e com chefes épicos. Nota 10… Expand
  17. Leoka
    Aug 19, 2016
    10
    Uno de los juegos mas divertidos de PS2, puede que sea corto y algo lineal (pero no tanto como el segundo de la saga) pero lo suple con espectacularidad y jugabilidad frenética para los amantes de los juegos de avanzar y pegar trompadas. El sistema de combate es muy bueno y los combos son muchísimos, me parareció como si jugara un Mortal Kombat pero de aventuras (el Shaolin Monks no estaUno de los juegos mas divertidos de PS2, puede que sea corto y algo lineal (pero no tanto como el segundo de la saga) pero lo suple con espectacularidad y jugabilidad frenética para los amantes de los juegos de avanzar y pegar trompadas. El sistema de combate es muy bueno y los combos son muchísimos, me parareció como si jugara un Mortal Kombat pero de aventuras (el Shaolin Monks no esta tan mal, pero no es tan bueno como este. En fin, un imprescindible de la PS2.… Expand
  18. Filemon_Sega
    Aug 19, 2016
    10
    Não tem oque falar, o nascimento do simbolo do mascote do playstation, jogo lindo, feito para brigar com o xbox, provou que o ps2 consegue fazer coisas incriveis, jogabilidade otima, graficos muito bons , levando a época e o ps2, trilha sonora impecável, um jogo muito divertido sim
  19. Rodrigo_31
    Aug 16, 2016
    10
    This game is the best entry in the God of War series, and will keep it like that! I am absolutely sure that for more beautiful that the new the last of War looks like for ps4, god of war will never be perfect as this title again, the same goes to bethesda, nothing will ever come close to morrowind and Skyrim again!
  20. FilemonBR
    Aug 16, 2016
    10
    Não tem oque falar, o nascimento do simbolo do mascote do playstation, jogo lindo, feito para brigar com o xbox, provou que o ps2 consegue fazer coisas incriveis, jogabilidade otima, graficos muito bons , levando a época e o ps2, trilha sonora impecável, um jogo muito divertido sim
  21. crimsondoor
    Jul 22, 2016
    9
    What a classic. I picked this up only because I love Greek Mythology, but I was surprised at the quality of it. I enjoyed it from start to finish.

    Compared with GOW2, it has better puzzles, story, pacing, atmosphere and soundtrack which is why I enjoyed it more. But they both are much better than GOW3 for sure.
  22. chayshirin
    Jun 25, 2016
    9
    A huge improvement over the first one.
    good:
    Enjoyable puzzles
    great music
    lovely art direction
    excellent pacing
    Good boss fights

    Bad:
    still some cheap deaths
    pointless weapons and abilities
    abandoning new mechanics just after they are introduced
  23. eurowriter
    Apr 12, 2016
    4
    I found this game to be pretty fun about halfway through. Wasn't too impressed. I suggest playing mercenaries or star wars battlefront 2. God of war has an extremely low replay value, its kinda 1 toned. I liked prince of persia better.
  24. bulletchan
    Apr 11, 2016
    10
    (Translate from Portuguese into English)O começo do que seria a melhor trilogia que já joguei,tudo é perfeito nele (para a época),a batalha final é épica,Kratos conquistou uma legião de fãs com este jogo,acho que foi o jogo que mais vezes zerei.
  25. Cosmozerk
    Mar 25, 2016
    8
    God of War is a great hack and slash, that any PS2 or PS3 owner should play.

    STORY: The story follows Kratos, a spartan warrior that killed his own family because the God Ares tricked him to do it. This causes Kratos to have nightmares every day of his life and to get rid of does nightmares he assists the Gods of Olympus and he will do anything that they say in exchange of losing those    God of War is a great hack and slash, that any PS2 or PS3 owner should play.

    STORY: The story follows Kratos, a spartan warrior that killed his own family because the God Ares tricked him to do it. This causes Kratos to have nightmares every day of his life and to get rid of does nightmares he assists the Gods of Olympus and he will do anything that they say in exchange of losing those horrible nightmares.

    PRESENTATION: For a PS2 game God of War looks very nice, the models, animations and backgrounds
    look very good for a PS2 game and if you play it on the PS3 (like i did) the HD treatment helps the look of the game by a massive amount. The voice acting isn't bad either and the framerate (at least in the PS3 version) is very consistent, not to mention the fantastic soundtrack. God of War presentation is very solid, well done and for a PS2 game, it still holds pretty well by today's standards.

    GAMEPLAY: God of War is a Hack and Slash, which roughly translates to: Beat the ever living **** out of anything that stands in your way!!!.

    This game makes you feel like a badass and that is no more apparent that in the first level where you (no joke) impale a giant 3 headed hydra into the pole of a ship and the rest of the game follows suit. In God of War your main weapon is the Chaos Blades, but along the way you will get different weapons from the different Gods. Every time you defeat a Boss, an enemy or pretty much any destructible object, you will get what i call "red souls", you use this to upgrade your different weapons and there are other types of ·souls like the green variation which replenishes your health and the blue variation which replenishes the magic bar that you use to do certain special attacks that the Gods give you along the way.

    I mentioned that you can upgrade your weapons and abilities, but i didn't mention that you can also extend your life and magic meters by finding...eye balls and feathers?...ok..., you find this things in chests and when you collect enough of them your life or magic will increase.

    Oh man, all of these and i haven't even mentioned the 4 main components of God of War. Let's knock out the easy one first:

    Exploration:...you explore places...with some platforming and mini-fights thrown in for good measure. Is also here where you can find checkpoints, the only way to save your game.

    Boss Battles: These fights are great, they are all different in terms of pattern, strategy and strength, the 2 things that all of them have in common is that they always have a quick time event and the fact that they are soooooooooo much fun.

    Puzzles: In my opinion this is one of the game's flaws because these puzzles are not only easy, bland and uninspired, but 70-80% of them are just: drag an item to a certain place and rarely do they have variety.

    Fighting: This is the best part of the game, you basically do combinations with the square and triangle buttons to do many different combos and block incoming attacks with the um....block button, but with your different weapons and upgrades the variety is throw the roof and there is nothing more satisfying than grabbing a guy and separating him in 2 pieces!!!.

    Overall God of War is a great game with amazing music and graphics (for the PS2), very good story, fun boss battles, incredible variety, genius fighting system and while the puzzles may not be that great, they serve to mix things up in order for the game to not get repetitive. With that said God of War gets an 8/10.    … Expand
  26. Antemiz
    Mar 19, 2016
    10
    I was extremly amazed when i first played this game back in 2005, fighting,weapons,levels,puzzle elements, and the characters showed how much this game just changed everything for gamers, well done to santa monica studios.
  27. ursynhu
    Mar 10, 2016
    10
    Este jogo é incrível! Eu recebi e ainda não posso parar de jogar. Os gráficos são tão detalhadas para um game e é desafiador, mas divertido e terá que jogar por horas! A história é complexa e profundamente pensado. O melhor jogo que eu já joguei de forma
  28. OwnedKill
    Mar 8, 2016
    10
    O sucesso dessa trilogia foi por causa desse primeiro jogo, muito massa, batalhas muito épicas, chefões épicos e claro gráfico muito muito massa para a época.
  29. Termin8ter
    Feb 9, 2016
    9
    God Of War is among the best action games of all time, excellent story, perfect combat, great graphics, and an overall amazing experience. Buy this game on sight.
  30. SportsareCrap
    Dec 27, 2015
    1
    Gameplay: 1 (Unplayable)
    Fun: 1 (You can't Have Fun)
    Story: 7 (Story is set during Era 5000BC to 500BC)
    Cast: 7 (Great)
    Score: 1/10

    Overrated By All should got less then 7.8s
  31. Mahdiar
    Dec 17, 2015
    9
    Gameplay : 9
    Graphics : 8
    Story : 8
    Sound : 8
    **********************************************************************************
    Overall : 9
  32. caligula_king
    Oct 3, 2015
    10
    EL NACIMIENTO DE UN DIOS DE LOS VIDEJUEGOS . God of War tuvo toda lo necesario para ser el mejor juego de ps2 y uno de los mejores de la historia, Graficos imponentes(Para esa consola), una historia atrapadora,BSO sublime , muchisima sangre, un enemigo mas que digno como Ares, poderes increíbles y el carisma del personaje principal (Kratos) . SIMPLEMENTE GRACIAS SONY POR CREAR TAL OBRAEL NACIMIENTO DE UN DIOS DE LOS VIDEJUEGOS . God of War tuvo toda lo necesario para ser el mejor juego de ps2 y uno de los mejores de la historia, Graficos imponentes(Para esa consola), una historia atrapadora,BSO sublime , muchisima sangre, un enemigo mas que digno como Ares, poderes increíbles y el carisma del personaje principal (Kratos) . SIMPLEMENTE GRACIAS SONY POR CREAR TAL OBRA MAESTRA EN 2005… Expand
  33. Epik_Ninnja
    May 22, 2015
    8
    I first played God of War in early 2015 and I can reassure anyone who hasn't yet played it or hasn't done so since it launched; this game withstands the test of time. Not only is the combat intense (and very bloody), but the dungeon design is superb for the most part. You'll spend the majority of the game in a giant temple on a titan's back. How epic is that? Also, the puzzles areI first played God of War in early 2015 and I can reassure anyone who hasn't yet played it or hasn't done so since it launched; this game withstands the test of time. Not only is the combat intense (and very bloody), but the dungeon design is superb for the most part. You'll spend the majority of the game in a giant temple on a titan's back. How epic is that? Also, the puzzles are genereally fun and the music is as epic as the story. As for the bad, well, it can get frustrating. I'm not even referring to the repetitive combat but the parts where, say, you have to walk across a thin piece of wood and jump over a spinning blade. Thankfully these parts aren't too frewuent but parts like those are very annoying. Also, difficult curves are annoying (where one fight is randomly far more difficult than ones before and after it). LAstly, the bosses, although few, are downright awesome!… Expand
  34. tsakiym
    May 21, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I do not have to say anything. But i need to write one hundred and fifty characters. i think my score can describe it.................................… Expand
  35. psyco1000
    Mar 24, 2015
    10
    Absolutely the single biggest defining game of my gaming history. I've been an avid fan since the first release, and have converted from Xbox 360 to PS3, and now to PS4, all to follow the coming releases of this series. I borrowed my friend's PS3 to beat GoW3 several times, and then I bought a used PS3 solely to play the GoW collection (which included the remastered last-gen and PSPAbsolutely the single biggest defining game of my gaming history. I've been an avid fan since the first release, and have converted from Xbox 360 to PS3, and now to PS4, all to follow the coming releases of this series. I borrowed my friend's PS3 to beat GoW3 several times, and then I bought a used PS3 solely to play the GoW collection (which included the remastered last-gen and PSP titles), and GOW: Ascension, the 4th console release for the game.

    Needless to say, this is my favorite game series of all time. It has one of the most gripping, well thought-out storylines I've ever seen. The character development we've seen was artfully and movingly done, and the story was unique and creative. Every game has been on the forefront of graphics and game engine for its time. Every boss battle was awe-inspiring, the environments were beautifully humbling, and in my opinion, the combat system is unparalleled.

    No matter how vicious Kratos becomes, we always find ourselves agreeing with his decisions, mostly. ;)    … Expand
  36. fijiboy
    Apr 30, 2014
    9
    such a great game. greek mythology is very interesting, and its portrayed in such an epic way in this game. Kratos is one of the most powerful videogame characters ever and you certainly feel that when you play. the combat is the best part of this game, it feels so smooth and is easy to use and still feel badass. the story is also great and is very interesting to follow. the combat isn'tsuch a great game. greek mythology is very interesting, and its portrayed in such an epic way in this game. Kratos is one of the most powerful videogame characters ever and you certainly feel that when you play. the combat is the best part of this game, it feels so smooth and is easy to use and still feel badass. the story is also great and is very interesting to follow. the combat isn't exactly repetitive, but you soon figure out wich moves are most effective and just end up spanning them. that is the only downside to this game. the boss fights are awesome too, some of the best I've ever seen even to this date and that goes for all the god of war games… Expand
  37. alexaxa
    Mar 23, 2014
    9
    This game was awesome back when it came out. The boss fights were awesome but there was not as many as player would have like but this has been fixed in God of War 2.
  38. ns0l
    Mar 12, 2014
    10
    The finest video game of the decade. The best story. The best gameplay and controls. I didn't like that kind of games before but this one makes me speechless.
  39. Jouna92
    Dec 26, 2013
    8
    God of war started one bloodiest, goriest and over-the-top game series. Very satisfying and addictive gameplay. Epic music and story. Not much of a replay value and there could have been more boss fights.
  40. m_elders
    Dec 19, 2013
    5
    I am writing this review in 2013. I just played God of War for the first time, 8 years after its initial release.

    God of War is probably the most immature critically-acclaimed game I've ever played. Early on I noticed a pattern. If I see a man, he will soon die a bloody death in front of me. If I see a woman, and she has a shirt on, she will soon die a bloody death in front of me. If I    I am writing this review in 2013. I just played God of War for the first time, 8 years after its initial release.

    God of War is probably the most immature critically-acclaimed game I've ever played. Early on I noticed a pattern. If I see a man, he will soon die a bloody death in front of me. If I see a woman, and she has a shirt on, she will soon die a bloody death in front of me. If I see a woman and she does not have a shirt, she might make multiple appearances throughout the game (each time, with no shirt, for why else would a recurring female character exist in a testosterone-dominated game like this?) but she almost certainly will not die. If I see a monster approximately my size, I will kill it within seconds. And if I see a monster 100X my size, I will kill it, but only after a long, epic boss battle.

    Don't get me wrong, I understand the appeal of all of this to an extent. 300 is one of my guilty-pleasure movies, and there are certainly a lot of comparisons to be made between God of War and 300. These are unfair comparisons, of course, because GoW was released prior to 300. While I'm making unfair comparisons, I'd like to say that I didn't find the gameplay of God of War all that appealing, because I just kept thinking, "The combat in Arkham Asylum is so much better." And of course, while the visuals in God of War were no doubt epic for their time, they don't compare at all to the likes of, say, Uncharted or Bioshock Infinite.

    So I guess what I'm trying to say is that God of War did not age well, in my humble opinion. In fact, it may have pulled a Benjamin Button, because it seems very immature from where I'm sitting, in my post-Spec Ops: The Line, post-Flower, and post-Gone Home world. That sounded really pretentious, let's try again. God of War was no doubt great for its time, but as time marches on, it becomes clear that God of War, like the rest of us, is merely mortal.    … Expand
  41. kavilash
    Nov 22, 2013
    10
    as for a new title in Sony PlayStation this just nailed each and every game in all console division. the cut scenes are awesome as for PlayStation 2 .loved the blood and gore kills and one of the best story. Kratos is one of the main character that represent the PlayStation division. just feel the graphics quite low after completing god of war II. still my first PS2 game and has theas for a new title in Sony PlayStation this just nailed each and every game in all console division. the cut scenes are awesome as for PlayStation 2 .loved the blood and gore kills and one of the best story. Kratos is one of the main character that represent the PlayStation division. just feel the graphics quite low after completing god of war II. still my first PS2 game and has the hardest challenges of all!!… Expand
  42. joao1198pedro
    Nov 20, 2013
    10
    this game shows everything good that happens in playstaiton 2,it had excellent graphics(for the time)and an amazing original story,the only problem is that isn't an open world game.
  43. winterhombre
    Nov 16, 2013
    10
    One word: Kickass..........................................................................................................................................
  44. Fedelca
    Sep 28, 2013
    9
    Uno de mis juegos más nostálgicos que he jugado. Posee una excelente virtud que lo hace un juego épico y merecido de jugar... Perdón: un juego NECESARIO de jugar. Excelente temática, impactante ambientación, escenarios de lucha magníficos y gran desarrollo de personajes, nada que le pueda faltar
  45. SJ-ULTI-Reiews
    Sep 27, 2013
    10
    If theirs one word that describes God of War its Epic, the hack and slash gameplay is amazing. GOW has some of the best puzzles ive ever seen. The graphics where great for its time, this game has one of the best stories ever told. Kratos is a gods servant and must do what Ares tells him to do, but Ares takes it to far when he makes Kratos kill his own family, Kratos goes on an epic journeyIf theirs one word that describes God of War its Epic, the hack and slash gameplay is amazing. GOW has some of the best puzzles ive ever seen. The graphics where great for its time, this game has one of the best stories ever told. Kratos is a gods servant and must do what Ares tells him to do, but Ares takes it to far when he makes Kratos kill his own family, Kratos goes on an epic journey to kill the god of war Ares. If you love greek mythology or anything badass than this is the game for you.… Expand
  46. Ultach
    Aug 17, 2013
    9
    A different beast entirely from the series' later entries. Kratos is a reasonably sympathetic Byronic Hero. The atmosphere intentionally invokes Ray Harryhausen films, and gives you an idea of what those films might have been like with blood n guts and all that good stuff. The dialogue can be clumsy in places, but otherwise the story is sound. Some puzzles are real headscratchers, whileA different beast entirely from the series' later entries. Kratos is a reasonably sympathetic Byronic Hero. The atmosphere intentionally invokes Ray Harryhausen films, and gives you an idea of what those films might have been like with blood n guts and all that good stuff. The dialogue can be clumsy in places, but otherwise the story is sound. Some puzzles are real headscratchers, while others you'll barely have to think about. The combat, arguably the main draw of the series, is certainly less complex in this one. It feels more like an action adventure game than a hack n slash (Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden, et all) as far as the combat is concerned, but there's still quite a lot of combo potential.… Expand
  47. ERB
    Jul 29, 2013
    8
    God Of War is one of the best PS2 games you will ever play.I give story [5 points] and [3 points] for game play.Ans still playing this game even In 2013 is still satisfying.
  48. shprea
    Jul 9, 2013
    8
    God of War is one of the most satisfying action games around. The story rooted in Greek mythology is awesome, as is the music. The gameplay is solid and intuitive, full of weapons to use and difficult challenges to conquer. The only issue with this game are the qte, which just suck. It's a great game in general.
  49. Epicluko
    Jul 9, 2013
    9
    Before Shadow of the Colossus, the original God of War was my favorite PS2 game. And who could blame me? It's unbelievable!!

    Not only is the action over-satisfyingly gory and intense, but the story of Kratos is surprisingly fascinating! The graphics, for its time, were the best in its genre. The mixture of Greek mythology and relentless violence is both intriguing and awesome! If you    Before Shadow of the Colossus, the original God of War was my favorite PS2 game. And who could blame me? It's unbelievable!!

    Not only is the action over-satisfyingly gory and intense, but the story of Kratos is surprisingly fascinating! The graphics, for its time, were the best in its genre. The mixture of Greek mythology and relentless violence is both intriguing and awesome!

    If you are looking for an extremely violent but unbelievably well executed action game, pick this up! It's a definite must-have for any hardcore gamer!    … Expand
  50. Basem101
    Jun 16, 2013
    9
    The best hack and slash game you'll play with amazing soundtrack and fantastic story also the characters in this game are good and you'll love every moment of gameplay Recommended
  51. Auritone
    Apr 30, 2013
    9
    What can be said about one of the best hack ’n slash games ever made? Well, it’s a gorgeous game with some stunning and atmospheric graphics (even by today’s standards) which pulls you into the Greek mythological setting. Add to that some great sounds effects and you got a game that’s pleasing to the eyes and the ears. Though the music overall works well, it just seems to try way too hardWhat can be said about one of the best hack ’n slash games ever made? Well, it’s a gorgeous game with some stunning and atmospheric graphics (even by today’s standards) which pulls you into the Greek mythological setting. Add to that some great sounds effects and you got a game that’s pleasing to the eyes and the ears. Though the music overall works well, it just seems to try way too hard to be as bombastic as possible at times. This is particular noticeable when nothing is actually happening, which caused me more than once to wish the music would just take a diazepam and calm down a little.
    But the thing that really makes God of War the classic it has become, is the gameplay. Fluid combat against a multitude of enemies, great combos, intuitive controls, and some great, violent weaponry and godly magic, makes helping Kratos hack and slash his way through the levels in order to eventually defeat Ares in hope of getting rid of the nightmares and guilt that haunts him, an absolute joy. Along the way the action is broken up by some nice small, if not exactly intellectually overwhelming, puzzles, but they do a good job of pacing the game. Furthermore, this game is from an age when developers didn’t tell you everything you had to do at every turn through on-screen prompts, so sometimes you actually have to think a little yourself to solve the puzzles.
    Now, a lot of people point towards the God of War games when placing blame for the overuse of quicktime events we see in games today.
    I find this to be fundamentally unfair.
    In GoW the quicktime mechanic is an intricate part of the game, not unlike finishing- or special moves in beat ‘em ups, and it works very well indeed.
    Judging the quicktime events in this game by the very low standards used in games like Resident Evil 6, Black Ops 2 or the numerous other modern games, which basically use them by default whether warranted or not, is doing GoW a huge disservice.
    A lot of people have also pointed out that GoW was not original and it borrowed from a lot of other games. This is all true, but a game should not be judged on it's originality, but whether it sets out to do what it wants to. And the fact is, that GoW did and does this amazingly well.
    GoW is a classic and should find its rightful place in any hack ‘n slash or action game fans collection.    … Expand
  52. Derpman233
    Apr 19, 2013
    6
    I have to admit this was a good game when I played the HD remake on PS3, but it just got so very boring after a while. I stopped playing when I was almost done with the Temple of Pandora, I just felt that that section was just a gimmick just so that the developers could extend the game's length. There were really no cutscenes during that part and it felt really pointless. I liked some ofI have to admit this was a good game when I played the HD remake on PS3, but it just got so very boring after a while. I stopped playing when I was almost done with the Temple of Pandora, I just felt that that section was just a gimmick just so that the developers could extend the game's length. There were really no cutscenes during that part and it felt really pointless. I liked some of the combos but I'm not really one to remember all the buttons you have to mash to perform a specific combo and often found myself just using two or three of them. Overall, the game is good but lacks: subtitles, good graphics (even after the HD re-release), more cutscenes (I never thought I would be asking for this but, yeah...) and a more engaging story-line. I think GoW: Ascension gets a bit more in-depth into the anger of Kratos and I think that should have been achieved through the original.… Expand
  53. Pepelinojosefo
    Apr 14, 2013
    8
    Es un muy buen juego, tiene una historia aceptable, pero en parte predicable. Lo malo es que es muy lineal el juego, y la música es muy aburrida, es como si fuera todo lo mismo. Pero todo lo demás esta bien, los sonidos muy bien hechos, excelentes gráficos, buen voice-acting, controles muy cómodos, buenos cutscenes, buena ambientación del juego y extremadamente divertido y adictivo, yEs un muy buen juego, tiene una historia aceptable, pero en parte predicable. Lo malo es que es muy lineal el juego, y la música es muy aburrida, es como si fuera todo lo mismo. Pero todo lo demás esta bien, los sonidos muy bien hechos, excelentes gráficos, buen voice-acting, controles muy cómodos, buenos cutscenes, buena ambientación del juego y extremadamente divertido y adictivo, y tiene puzzles que a veces te puede costar bastante pensarlos, la verdad es que lo recomiendo, no solo por el estilo de pelea, si no que te deja con ganas de jugarlo y pasarlo una y otra y otra vez!, Tiene cosas malas, como el quick reaction system, de apretar rapidamente un boton que si lo fallas, perdes, o moris, cosa que te deja (en mi opinion) un sabor muy amargo en la boca, y tambien apretar repetida y rapidamente un mismo boton, eso tambien no es bueno, sobretodo para el joystick, pero no hay que negar que es un clasico de esta consola. Recomendable para el que le encantan juegos de aventura y accion!… Expand
  54. Justinavery7074
    Mar 18, 2013
    10
    You buy a PS2 for reasons like this. Everything about this game is awesome. About 8 years after its initial release and it's still fun as ever. 2 or 3 problems but that's it
  55. Caestus
    Mar 8, 2013
    7
    God of war is a good action game and while there are better action games it is still worth a ride.
  56. Matesers
    Mar 6, 2013
    10
    This game is amazing. The gameplay is perfect, the story is great and you've just got to love Kratos, the main character. Many games have copied the gameplay of God of War and I think that says enough about the quality of it. The story is great, best in the series. The other God of War games have a decent story but the gameplay is even more extensive. Overal: if you like this genre, youThis game is amazing. The gameplay is perfect, the story is great and you've just got to love Kratos, the main character. Many games have copied the gameplay of God of War and I think that says enough about the quality of it. The story is great, best in the series. The other God of War games have a decent story but the gameplay is even more extensive. Overal: if you like this genre, you will love this game. If you don't like the genre, this game might change your mind.… Expand
  57. FluffyRG
    Feb 14, 2013
    10
    This game is a must buy if you own a ps2 the story is amazing and even the graphics are still ''good'' for a game from 2005 the combat is really good this game is a masterpiece!
  58. TheTruth69
    Feb 2, 2013
    8
    I was reading the negative reviews of this game and its just like... Oh this game's music is horrible. Then turn the music off. "It's too hard and there is so much blood..." First of all games dont suck because there hard and this is god of war, there is tons of blood. No that that done with we can review this awesome game. The story is good but the game lacks a lot of cutscenes so youI was reading the negative reviews of this game and its just like... Oh this game's music is horrible. Then turn the music off. "It's too hard and there is so much blood..." First of all games dont suck because there hard and this is god of war, there is tons of blood. No that that done with we can review this awesome game. The story is good but the game lacks a lot of cutscenes so you will find you self a few hours brefor something happens. The game presents it self well though. The music is awesome not much to complain about, The gameplay is superb and the QTE's can be hard but are extremely satisfying. The blades of chaos are extremely good but late game you will prbabaly ditch them for the artemis sword. The puzzles will get you thinking. The magic isnt really that notable becuase you use it when its needed. The graphics are ok but its ps2 game y'know? Kratos is an extremely deep and badass character while the supporting characters, um support. The only notable characters are Kratos, athena, and Ares who has an epic flame beard by the way. The game is worth renting, as its not that notable but if you really like it buy it. The bosses all have a puzzle to solve in order to beat them, like the hydra boss you have to impale each head when you down it. However ares is the boss you really want to fight. The diffculty isnt to bad but the part in underworld is frustrating as hell. The art design is completly good, you will feel like your in ancient greece. And did i mention theres is a sex minigame and boobies! So if you like boobs, sex blood and gore, hack and slash, and flame beards than this game is for you… Expand
  59. Wiksu
    Jan 26, 2013
    10
    Damn difficult game but still so awesome, good story, good fighting, everything is perfect, i have this game on PS3 re-mastered and its good never played in PS2 that shame but Graphics doesnt make a game, right?
  60. vahn
    Jan 12, 2013
    7
    Even if I do admire this game for its technologic standards and detail programming, story and combat system, I really never liked this game. I'll be really honest: the game is excellent graphically and the combat is still good, and the story is very well done and it's not there just to make an appearance. But still...the game is a big button masher, with just pressing one or two buttonsEven if I do admire this game for its technologic standards and detail programming, story and combat system, I really never liked this game. I'll be really honest: the game is excellent graphically and the combat is still good, and the story is very well done and it's not there just to make an appearance. But still...the game is a big button masher, with just pressing one or two buttons everytime, with almost no tactics or thought in the process. There aren't many weapons either, but even then you'll just use one or two tops, because it's always a button mashing game. The good thing is that the game has also puzzles inside and they are actually done very good and I had a lot of fun trying to solve them, even if not many. Second: the game has almost no replayabilty whatsoever. You finish the game once, and there's nothing else to do (except the 10 room challenge thingie). It's not a short game sure...but even Devil May Cry had much more longevity and secrets in comparison! I just expected more content from a game that apparently they say it's perfect, yet once you finish there's just nothing else to do, except restart on another difficulty (which is a cheap way to say "it's longer because it's harder"). And third, which isn't a real flaw, but more of a thought...I think the game is just very admired because of the gore. Let's be honest, everybody loves to rip enemies apart and even I enjoyed tear my enemies in pieces. But that gets tiring and, in all honesty, it's not impressive, and yet this is one of the core details of the game and probably one of the main reasons why it's loved so much (apart the good story, which IS good and has a nice twist, even if predictable). Personally, this game is not meant for me: it didn't leave an impression to me and the lack of content didn't make me want to restart the game, getting dust on the shelf once I finished it. It Is an impressive game for its time and if you're very curious about this game, you could give it a look. Just don't spend full price on it though. It's not worth the entire price.… Expand
  61. magician369
    Dec 22, 2012
    10
    GRAPHICS perfect 10 -GAME PLAY perfect 10- STORY perfect 10-MUSIC perfect 10
    ---EPIC---
    best game for ps2 and probably best game ever.you will be amazed by the big monsters and gods from the greec myth so many actions .the best story ever for a game ,every body say that this could be a hollywood film you will live in ancient history like never been with amazing sound track from Gerard    GRAPHICS perfect 10 -GAME PLAY perfect 10- STORY perfect 10-MUSIC perfect 10
    ---EPIC---
    best game for ps2 and probably best game ever.you will be amazed by the big monsters and gods from the greec myth so many actions .the best story ever for a game ,every body say that this could be a hollywood film you will live in ancient history like never been with amazing sound track from Gerard Morino .....a must play game    … Expand
  62. hawaiianhappy
    Nov 15, 2012
    9
    Excellent game. It has a very good story, great gameplay, it's challenging, and it exceeds expectations for a hack and slash game. The only problem I had with the game is so few boss fights. I thought the minotaur and Ares fights were great and after watching what the studio had to cut out of the game, I kinda feel that they wanted to add more but they didn't have the budget. :(
  63. alex007
    Nov 5, 2012
    9
    "God of War" is a PS2 action-adventure game from the creator of "Twisted Metal Black". Based on Greek mythology, it tells the story of Kratos, a Spartan warrior in service of the Olympian Gods. As the game begins, he is tasked with one final assignment, the destruction of Ares, the God of War. The journey takes on a personal meaning for Kratos since Ares had tricked him into killing his"God of War" is a PS2 action-adventure game from the creator of "Twisted Metal Black". Based on Greek mythology, it tells the story of Kratos, a Spartan warrior in service of the Olympian Gods. As the game begins, he is tasked with one final assignment, the destruction of Ares, the God of War. The journey takes on a personal meaning for Kratos since Ares had tricked him into killing his own family. "God of War" starts with a highly-kinetic battle on a ship which acts as the opening tutorial level. Its action is comparable to "Devil May Cry" but it also features adventure elements and innovative on-screen button prompts. The involving story is mainly told through crisp, highly-detailed CGI cutscenes. Visually, the graphics and animation are impressive for a PS2 game. And the voice acting and Hollywood-esque musical score are superb. "God of War" proudly wears its 'M' rating on its shoulder. Its features nudity, sexual situations and graphic violence. Fans of fast-paced action and adventure will find much to enjoy in this first installment of the popular series. It's a terrific achievement and one of the PS2's best exclusives. 9.5 out of 10… Expand
  64. BasilZero
    Sep 29, 2012
    8
    God of War is an amazing video game which all Greek Myth fans, action fans and fans of violent bloody games will enjoy. The game has a casual length with a decent storyline, character and environmental setting. The music and sound effects are well made and go well with the game. Although not as refined as other action games, this game will surely suffice for any lack of action games youGod of War is an amazing video game which all Greek Myth fans, action fans and fans of violent bloody games will enjoy. The game has a casual length with a decent storyline, character and environmental setting. The music and sound effects are well made and go well with the game. Although not as refined as other action games, this game will surely suffice for any lack of action games you may of add and can start your journey into the rest of the series.… Expand
  65. Nathan1963
    Sep 20, 2012
    10
    (Translate from Portuguese into English)O começo do que seria a melhor trilogia que já joguei,tudo é perfeito nele (para a época),a batalha final é épica,Kratos conquistou uma legião de fãs com este jogo,acho que foi o jogo que mais vezes zerei.
  66. Subject98
    Jul 20, 2012
    8
    While it's less smooth in terms of gameplay than the later titles, this is still probably my favorite in the series. I don't get why people are calling it such a short game. I've beaten it twice and both times took me over 8 hours, not including mistakes. It doesn't feel rushed or thrown together at all, I actually feel that Pandora's Temple is one of the most intriguing and well designedWhile it's less smooth in terms of gameplay than the later titles, this is still probably my favorite in the series. I don't get why people are calling it such a short game. I've beaten it twice and both times took me over 8 hours, not including mistakes. It doesn't feel rushed or thrown together at all, I actually feel that Pandora's Temple is one of the most intriguing and well designed areas in a videogame. Some of the segments toward the end can be very frustrating, is my only complaint.… Expand
  67. habib
    Jun 20, 2012
    10
    This Should be called God of PS2 Game ,because it's the best PS2 game ever .This Should be called God of PS2 Game ,because it's the best PS2 game ever .

    .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................    … Expand
  68. Mako5
    Feb 26, 2012
    7
    This game was a startling surprise for it's day. A fresh and unique experience with a some-what interesting story, though. Gameplay was decent, and sometimes the game grew a little boring. Not the best game in the world, but still I enjoyed the game. I liked it actually. I'd recommend it.
  69. kailip
    Dec 29, 2011
    8
    Great game, but even at high difficulties it seems a bit repetitive and a pointless button mash. I mean, Devil may Cry has the best fighting system I've ever seen, and God Of War has a really great gameplay but it's not as deep, It feels more like a button mash. I'd give it an 8.5. Great game, after all, one of the best games of PS2.
  70. duckypwns
    Dec 11, 2011
    9
    A lot of people say this is a button masher. Um ok? Well sure, if you sit there and mash the button. The same can be said about any game. That doesn't mean you're playing the game properly at all though. If you know how to play a beat 'em up properly and you understand the type of gameplay that's being utilized, you will love this game. The combos are interesting, each useful in varyingA lot of people say this is a button masher. Um ok? Well sure, if you sit there and mash the button. The same can be said about any game. That doesn't mean you're playing the game properly at all though. If you know how to play a beat 'em up properly and you understand the type of gameplay that's being utilized, you will love this game. The combos are interesting, each useful in varying situations, the leveling system is well implemented, the rate at which you unlock new weapons and abilities is very well done, and there's even a bit of exploration, although it's usually very simplistic and obvious. Those are the reasons I play the game, but there's also an added bonus of an interesting story, lore, and characters, as well as stunning visual effects.… Expand
  71. Sachi
    Nov 16, 2011
    10
    God of War is an amzing game that does not dissapoint. Everything is nearly flawless, the graphics are great for the PS2. The combat is very fluid and the best part of the game with many brutal kill animations. The plot holds out to be relatively strong with Kratos on a journey for vengeance. The set pieces are massive and detailed at the same time, God of War reaches epic proportions. TheGod of War is an amzing game that does not dissapoint. Everything is nearly flawless, the graphics are great for the PS2. The combat is very fluid and the best part of the game with many brutal kill animations. The plot holds out to be relatively strong with Kratos on a journey for vengeance. The set pieces are massive and detailed at the same time, God of War reaches epic proportions. The characters are all great too, especially Kratos. Kratos may be a cold-blooded killer but his tragic past makes you sympathize with him and he is a guy who you don't want mad at you. The only flaw is the platforming which can be a little irksome at times but not very. Overall, God of War is a great game to play, especially if you are into violence. "God of War" Score Breakdown: Presentation: 9.6, Graphics: 9.5, Sound: 9.5, Gameplay: 9.7, Lasting Appeal: 9.5. Verdict: 9.7 out of 10 "Amazing".… Expand
  72. abhi181080
    Oct 17, 2011
    10
    unbelievable, kudos to david jaffe and team , what an exhilarating experience, gripping and addictive, u can not stop untill u end it, u just get inside the character so much that if he is hurt , u feel the pain.
    Wow what a play !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  73. jambubby
    Jul 27, 2011
    8
    Full disclosure: I am playing this game on the PlayStation 3, as part of the "God of War Collection" which includes both "God of War" and "God of War 2" upgraded to HD visuals. I'm writing the review here because they are two separate games and deserve their own analysis. Also, I am playing the game for the very first time, as I never owned a PS2. Fist off, I love the game. IFull disclosure: I am playing this game on the PlayStation 3, as part of the "God of War Collection" which includes both "God of War" and "God of War 2" upgraded to HD visuals. I'm writing the review here because they are two separate games and deserve their own analysis. Also, I am playing the game for the very first time, as I never owned a PS2. Fist off, I love the game. I absolutely love it. So why am I taking away two points and giving it an 8 instead of a 10? Well, a 10 is damn near unattainable. To get that score, a game would have to be as amazing as "God of War" is, but without some of its flaws.

    The first flaw is the camera. Players may not have had any issues with this at the time of the game's release, but they really should have. As your character, Kratos, moves throughout his environment, the camera is not static, but it is not dynamic either. It actually travels on rails, following Kratos around and often times delivering a very beautiful and cinematic angle from which to view the action. The problem is, that when battles ensue, (and ensue they do!) it is often impossible to see enemies on the periphery of the environment because the camera is too zoomed in, or positioned such that the player needs to lead the enemies to an area where they can get a good clean view of them. If you don't do this, you may get your ass kicked, even though you are fighting enemies you are otherwise fully capable of defeating easily.

    So how could the developers have dealt with this? Simple, there are plenty of games that zoom out when a battle takes place, and that is what should have happened here. I have no problem with the cinematic angles. In fact, I love them when they are not hindering the battle sequences. Its unfortunate that this is as big of a problem as it is and because of it I have to knock off a point.

    The second problem is the battle controls. That's right, the battle controls. How can I complain about everyone's favorite part of "God of War?" Well, I'm not actually complaining. I am actually pointing out something that is factual and non-objective; that the controls don't always work. They don't always work for a few reasons. One, I wish that the player had the ability to target a specific enemy, or "lock-on" to one of them, rather than just generally steer the left thumb-stick toward the desired target. In defense of the game, the defensive maneuver does seem to work regardless of which direction Kratos is being attacked from. This means that as long as the player is blocking, the enemy attack will be effectively blocked regardless of if the enemy attacks Kratos' front or back. I think the developer stayed away from the lock-on, probably because they were worried about it hindering the games combo system. Fair enough reason, but there are many games (Batman Arkham Asylum) which have great combo systems intact, even with a fantastic targeting system. This could have also been dealt with by allowing Kratos to score hits on enemies next to the ones he is targeting. Oh well, for whatever reason this was not to be.

    The second flaw in the controls is the often mentioned mini-games or quick-time events which serve to initiate finishing moves. After an enemy takes a certain amount of damage, a prompt appears on the screen letting the player know that that enemy is now vulnerable to a finishing move. The moves are usually extremely cool, elaborate, violent, and fun to do. The problem is that the game very often does not register that the player is hitting the prompt button, and the finishing move becomes impossible to initiate. Together, these control flaws are enough to warrant another point off for me. They make an otherwise superb game frustrating.

    Altogether, Kratos' first adventure is absolute stunner. Even with an 8 of 10 rating, the game remains a must play. It is stunning in its beauty even all these years after its original release. As far as a piece of art, it is perhaps a 9 or 9.5 out of 10, but due to some technical failures, the final is really no higher than an 8. Sorry Kratos, but that's as honest as a player can be.    … Expand
  74. Watermelon789
    Jul 11, 2011
    9
    Epic masterpiece, Kratos is even more monster than the brutality. The slick control is smooth and brilliant. Bloody,incredible and bold just wish more heroes had this kind of sense of humor.
  75. raghav123
    Jun 24, 2011
    10
    absolutely amazing!!! i thing the people who are calling this a hack'n slash should first play this game and then look at the depth of its combat. great graphics,slick story and a great overall package...
  76. starmario123
    Apr 27, 2011
    9
    9.5/10 = Incredible = Very clever in it's execution, and espiacially for game with so much blood, gore, and medusa boobs. One hell of an acton game!
  77. platguy4
    Apr 23, 2011
    10
    If your looking for adventure, puzzle, and great combat, look no further. This is a fantastic game in all respects - it keeps you hooked from beginning to end. The pure scale of the environment is enough to warrant a purchase - the environment is vast and engaging. The difficulty level is perfectly tuned, the puzzles are difficult but not frustrating, and the battle scenes are intense andIf your looking for adventure, puzzle, and great combat, look no further. This is a fantastic game in all respects - it keeps you hooked from beginning to end. The pure scale of the environment is enough to warrant a purchase - the environment is vast and engaging. The difficulty level is perfectly tuned, the puzzles are difficult but not frustrating, and the battle scenes are intense and enjoyable in equal measure. All round God of War reaches near perfection and makes you really feel part of the Greek myth it emulates. It is true that there are minor issues with the fixed camera view, but this hardly detracts from the experience of the game as a whole. Also the game is a touch short ( can be finished in about 8 hours), but if you crank up the difficulty settings you soon realise that tactics are everything and the battle system requires skill and forethought. BUY IT… Expand
  78. TheQuietGamer
    Mar 17, 2011
    9
    This isn't one of the best games for the PS2 for nothing, I still can't believe the PS2 is capable of these kind of graphics, don't get me wrong there aged by todays standards but back then these were top notch, the sound track and voice work are PHENOMENAL!!! and the gameplay might be simple but the puzzles and combat are extremely satisfying, this really captures what I love most aboutThis isn't one of the best games for the PS2 for nothing, I still can't believe the PS2 is capable of these kind of graphics, don't get me wrong there aged by todays standards but back then these were top notch, the sound track and voice work are PHENOMENAL!!! and the gameplay might be simple but the puzzles and combat are extremely satisfying, this really captures what I love most about Greek mythology the sex and violence, this game makes you feel like a bad ass slicing your way through enemies with a giant sword, taking on giant bosses, avoiding deadly traps, satisfying maidens, and solving puzzles, and the story is awesome, by now your asking yourself if this is so perfect why didn't I give it a perfect 10? the only flaw I can find with this is the first boss fight, it's just boring, that flaw aside this is still one of the best games I've ever played, and a must own that's just shy of perfection.… Expand
  79. Spartan111
    Oct 7, 2010
    10
    This game is the best i have ever played awesome bosses, puzzles and especially awesome combat after playing all three GOWs this one is still the best because of the way it got me so hooked. I personall love greek mythology and think this presented it amazingly. The hydra was just awesome
  80. OyvindS.W.
    Mar 21, 2010
    10
    Silent Hunter 5 is a mixed bag. At the moment it's incomplete and fairly shallow, with several missing features and unbalances. However, with all the mods already out, and several more on the way, it's no big leap to believe that this will become a true classic once touched up by patches and mods. It has an incredibly moddability and already features things never found in III Silent Hunter 5 is a mixed bag. At the moment it's incomplete and fairly shallow, with several missing features and unbalances. However, with all the mods already out, and several more on the way, it's no big leap to believe that this will become a true classic once touched up by patches and mods. It has an incredibly moddability and already features things never found in III and 4, except through mods: milk cows, wolf packs, far more complex AI, and a far more dynamic campaign where the AI responds well to your every move, and to all the other traffic in the world. Sure, it's got its fault, but Silent Hunter 2, III and 4 were also fairly unfinished when they were released, and look at them now, SHIII in particular with the Grey Wolves Expansion. I highly recommend the review of Neal Stevens, webmaster of subsim.com. He gives a lengthy, honest and unbiased review that really dives (no pun intended) into the game.… Expand
  81. Mr.Anonymous
    Feb 20, 2010
    9
    Apparently, there are major differences between "blatant ripoff" and "improving upon a successful formula". God of War is the latter. It combines the successful elements of action games (Devil May Cry), platforming (Prince of Persia). The combination was so well, so incredible that God of War is one of the best games of this decade. God of War is packed with gorgeous visuals, intense bossApparently, there are major differences between "blatant ripoff" and "improving upon a successful formula". God of War is the latter. It combines the successful elements of action games (Devil May Cry), platforming (Prince of Persia). The combination was so well, so incredible that God of War is one of the best games of this decade. God of War is packed with gorgeous visuals, intense boss fights (which requires strategy, timing, and button-mashing, of course), and relaxing (not too easy, not too hard) puzzles. The puzzles are a nice way to slow the pace down, keep yourself cool after minutes of button mashing. But of course, button mashing alone does not work (unless you're playing on the easy difficulty - shame for you). God of War is best played on normal difficulty and above, where you'll have to time every dodge, think fast (whether you should dodge or block - some attacks parry your guard, some attacks have a wide area of effects which makes dodging useless). Also, you have to think whether to use a normal attack or a strong attack, and sometimes, throw in a magic attack (some magic attacks render you invulnerable to enemies' attacks). Simply put, God of War is a highly addictive action-platforming game that every fan of the genre should enjoy.… Expand
  82. JosephS
    Sep 11, 2009
    5
    This game was incredibly fun until the second half, where it feels like you're simply running through obstacle courses more than anything, which were far more annoying than they were fun or challenging. The fighting itself is awesome, although they did overdo it on the button mashing. The one glaringly *huge* flaw you will likely find with this game are the minigames that involve use This game was incredibly fun until the second half, where it feels like you're simply running through obstacle courses more than anything, which were far more annoying than they were fun or challenging. The fighting itself is awesome, although they did overdo it on the button mashing. The one glaringly *huge* flaw you will likely find with this game are the minigames that involve use of the thumbsticks. For certain enemies, finishers involve rotating a thumbstick in certain directions, in accordance to the icon on the screen. Nice idea, but they implemented this HORRIBLY. I've found that nearly half the time that you actually rotate the thumbstick in the *correct* direction, it marks it as a miss since it is *so* picky about your response, and the enemy throws you off of them and you take damage. *Extremely* annoying. And considering there is a boss in this game in which the ONLY way to kill him is to successfully complete this irritating mini game a number of times over, I absolutely cannot give this game anything higher than a 5. Yeah, it really is that big of a deal. It is highly disappointing that the developers allowed something so little to become such an astronomically huge issue. This game is far more frustrating than fun. And there really is no excuse for that. Not in a game that was otherwise so incredible.… Expand
  83. TomL.
    Jan 31, 2009
    10
    Amazing!
  84. BrianP.
    Nov 21, 2008
    6
    Its a very good game but its a RIP OFF of Great Games like Prince Of Persia, Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden. Eg: Save Point Concept, Puzzles are a total RIP OFF of Prince Of Persia Sands Of Time & Legacy Of Kain. Also the first level is a blatant Rip Off Of Prince Of Persia Warrior Within. Combat is just Like Devil May Cry all Style and with extra QTEs Quick Time Events. So why is GOW Its a very good game but its a RIP OFF of Great Games like Prince Of Persia, Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden. Eg: Save Point Concept, Puzzles are a total RIP OFF of Prince Of Persia Sands Of Time & Legacy Of Kain. Also the first level is a blatant Rip Off Of Prince Of Persia Warrior Within. Combat is just Like Devil May Cry all Style and with extra QTEs Quick Time Events. So why is GOW called the Best PS2 Game? Why is it rated higher than the Above mentioned games? Simple. Because its a combination of all the Above mentioned games. Also its RIPPED OFF the concept but there is no denying that it has made it BETTER. So people liking Gore and Blood, GOW is a must play. People liking only Original Games like me, Hell no, stay away from God Of War.… Expand
  85. MGSFan
    Nov 21, 2008
    6
    A really good game. But it has RIPPED OFF many concepts from games like Prince Of Persia, Legacy Of Kain, Devil May Cry etc. For eg: The save point is a Cheap RIP OFF of Prince Of Persia Sands Of Time. Combat is like Devil May Cry. Puzzles are also RIP OFF of Prince Of Persia and LEGACY OF KAIN. Overall, the only reason because GOD Of War may be better than the above mentioned games is A really good game. But it has RIPPED OFF many concepts from games like Prince Of Persia, Legacy Of Kain, Devil May Cry etc. For eg: The save point is a Cheap RIP OFF of Prince Of Persia Sands Of Time. Combat is like Devil May Cry. Puzzles are also RIP OFF of Prince Of Persia and LEGACY OF KAIN. Overall, the only reason because GOD Of War may be better than the above mentioned games is ONLY BECAUSE its a COMBINATION OF ALL THESE GREAT GAMES. However its still a Pretty Good Game with Awesome Combat and Greek Mythology. Easily one of the BEST PS2 games but only because of games like Prince Of Persia, Devil May Cry. If not for these games GOW would be shit.… Expand
  86. AnonymousMC
    Jul 20, 2008
    9
    This is the type of game that reminds people why they started playing in the first place. Fun and enternaining on what unfourtunatly seems to be in second place in terms of importance on the industry theses days.
    Even with some minor flaws, this is without a doubt one of the best games around and a good influence on recent titles. Comparing this to completely different genres like Halo    This is the type of game that reminds people why they started playing in the first place. Fun and enternaining on what unfourtunatly seems to be in second place in terms of importance on the industry theses days.
    Even with some minor flaws, this is without a doubt one of the best games around and a good influence on recent titles. Comparing this to completely different genres like Halo makes no sense at all.    … Expand
  87. AdamW.
    Dec 11, 2007
    9
    A very fun game if you like fighting (somewhat button-mashing), (poorly animated) breasts, and massive amounts of gore. There's very little replay value except to unlock some of the amusing extras and secrets. The music is alright but I've heard better. The storyline and plot was kind of generic but was acceptable. You should rent this game.
  88. JessicaC.
    Oct 31, 2007
    10
    God of War for Play station two is such an awesome game! Before I played God of War I played Prince of Persia and thought it was the best game ever until I heard of God of War! I love the mythology in it and the awesome action! I love how you get the option to out it on Legendary. Super hard.
  89. FFIXlove
    Oct 27, 2007
    9
    An awesome game with amazing combat mechanics. The plot is good, although could have been better developed. But the game is too short. Still an amazing experience with puzzles fitted in to make the experience more varied. The main music theme is very good, but lacks variety. Lots of blood and gore, so if you actively dislike that sort of thing dont get it. Otherwise, go buy it.
  90. MikeF.
    Oct 16, 2007
    10
    Entertaining for hours. Very fun. I'm sad that I didn't learn about this game until recently, played it on my PS3 - with upscaling looked GREAT on 420p :)
  91. JesusC.
    Oct 9, 2007
    0
    Vapid, button-mashing mixed with mediocre music? No thanks. I'll take Halo 3 over this ANYDAY!
  92. JoshH.
    Oct 8, 2007
    7
    A little redundant and lacking in variety. Decent play though. Halo is better.
  93. NelsonD.
    Sep 12, 2007
    7
    Its entertaining but Rygar: The Legendary Adventure is WAY better, IMO. I think its because of the better atmosphere/enviroment and music. God of War's levels are too bleak and bland for me (though im sure this is might be the intended effect).
  94. JefferyG.
    Sep 6, 2007
    10
    While playing God of War, I honestly found it difficult to resist the urge to simply genuflect and be humbled to be in the presence of such digital divinity, this god among games.
  95. VanessaR.
    Aug 4, 2007
    10
    I've still got about 1/4 to go - game play is brilliant, graphics, story, music and animation is very well done. Already have the second god of war waiting to be played!
  96. HenryM.
    Jul 20, 2007
    3
    I don't know i everybody like that game! it's way too hard, it's the hardest game i ever played! the graphics it's not that good, i would give it 7 because i don't like realistic graphics. and the music is annoying! the game is also too brutal, i almost cried when i saw so much blood.
  97. JamesB.
    Jun 23, 2007
    9
    This game has high definition movies -in-game movies called- and the puzzles and battles you nned to do to win are considerably difficult. I expect that this saga of games -God of War- wouldn't end, but it has to. I'm very anxious waiting for the 3rd game.
  98. JasonC.
    Jun 14, 2007
    9
    Great graphics for current gen, great gameplay, great story, great cutscenes.
  99. ChrisR.
    Jun 9, 2007
    10
    This game it has everything, gore, blood, action and a great story, those who didn't liked it, screw! I just got it because I wanted to play the sequel, but first this one, and oh what a great surprise, is awesome!
  100. KyleH.
    May 25, 2007
    10
    This game is by far the best game I have ever played on the PS2. It had all the elements you'd expect from a top rate title. The gameplay was excellent, both hack n' slash action & puzzle solving were fun & challenging. The audio and graphics were so good the game actually fooled me into thinking I was playing it on my Xbox! I was blown away.
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best PS2 Game of 2005
2
#2 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2005
2
#2 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 75 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 74 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 75
  3. Negative: 0 out of 75
  1. Game Informer
    100
    While playing God of War, I honestly found it difficult to resist the urge to simply genuflect and be humbled to be in the presence of such digital divinity, this god among games. [Apr 2005, p.122]
  2. IGN
    98
    If you like to kill freaky things with your giant serrated knives, you'll love the s*** out of this... This videogame features sexual situations, bare breasts and excessive brutality. Good with that? Excellent!
    Read full review
  3. Play Magazine
    95
    The game contains so much energy and conviction, so much skill and spirit. There came a point where I was totally lost to it, in the way you are to a great movie - to any powerful art form. [Apr 2005, p.50]
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