God of War

[schild]

I have 4 powers upgraded to max. I don't want to tell you what they are because it'll spoil the surprise. I've already got all the powers though and you'll be able to upgrade them all to max by the end of the game. I'd suggest upgrading Blades of Chaos to level 4 before you get to the upper levels of Pandora's Temple though.

[Nija]

Don't read any of the strats or anything going into it, you'll get more out of it that way. Upgrade the weapons as you see the need to. The blades of chaos may be the starting weapon, but damn if they aren't cool. (in most games your starting weapon sucks. that is of course if you can get more weapons. not the case in god of war. The later stuff is also good, just in different ways.)

[schild]

Just finished the game. Lots of unlockables when you're done, god mode unlocks as well which leads to 4 more unlockables. Including seperate costumes. But really, the best unlockable of all comes after story mode.

You get to watch all the cinematics in a continuous video. If only every game with a story like this had that as a bonus.

Oh, and a couple of the treasures point towards a sequel. Yes, plz, now, more.

Game of the Year.

[CmdrSlack]

Grrr.  I saw this game over at my neighbor's house the other day.  And then I keep reading how much it rules.  I'm so glad he's still renting my PS2, because these writing assignments would NEVER get done.  Hell, I'm moving at a glacial pace as it is.

I shouldn't read this thread.  It's just going to taunt me.

[Toast]

Color me fanboi for this game. It should be game of the year.

I'm playing through Pandora's Temple. The action and puzzles are brilliantly balanced and paced. 

[schild]

After beating the game on normal, I went ahead and tried god mode.

I died on the first group of skeletons. I think my time with God of War is done. But it's the first $50 game I've bought in a while on a whim and it was worth EVERY penny. Hell, if games continue to stay that good, I'll pay $60. Between RE4, Phantom Dust (particularly at $20), Lumines and God of War, 2005 is noiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.

[Yegolev]

At this point I should not have to say that this game is a fucking must-buy.  I told my friend that he had to buy a PS2 today and play this game.  If they port this to PSP, Sony will be able to purchase Nintendo outright the very next week.  Robot Jesus, indeed.  It's not just an action game, either.  You got your puzzles, and I'm not talking about thinly-veiled block-sliding junk from Soulreaver.  Someone already mentioned pushing the caged centurion up the ramp to roast him alive; not your usual block puzzle when your "block" is pleading for its life as you fight off an onslaught of monsters, slowly getting your hapless victim closer to hideous death.  That's just one puzzle, too.  Hell, the fights are somewhat a puzzle, too; boss fights even more so.  Just try to tell me that getting the special kill on a minotaur doesn't make you smile.

Kratos has got to be one of the best action-game protagonists ever.  He has an actual, compelling story that does not involve him being the prince of anything, or out to avenge his momma's death, or the kid with latent powers, or any other tired old chestnut.  He starts off as a badass, and when the going gets supernatural he kicks it up eight or nine notches.  Plus he has sex with two women at once, and sticks his tongue down the throat of some nyads.  Even better, no elves or dwarves anywhere: this is all Greek myth junk but without Harry Hamlin and The Penguin.  I also like the art style in the cut scenes.  The naked breasts are actually not gratuitous, either (IMO), fitting in with the setting very well and are not overdone at all.  Not that you see a whole lot of women.  I'm not going to spoil the story for you, just avoid gamefaqs.com and play it.

I have not finished it yet (job, wife, baby, etc) but it just gets better and better.  I upgraded the Blades first and have not looked back.  To me, that's what it's all about.  I do occasionally appreciate a ranged attack, but it's more fun to run in and beat the shit out of them.  To that point, if you are having a problem with an area or monster, practice and/or think about it more.  Kratos isn't the reason you are losing.

If I did not already have one, I would buy a PS2 to play this game.

[schild]

To that point, if you are having a problem with an area or monster, practice and/or think about it more.  Kratos isn't the reason you are losing.

I can remember ONE area, a very short jumping puzzle where the camera was a good reason to lose. Other than that, it's true. Can't be something? It's your fault as a player for sucking.

If I did not already have one, I would buy a PS2 to play this game.

Yep. Though, Katamari Damacy was already a compelling enough reason to get one.

[trias_e]

So is this game really really really the second coming of robot jesus?  Could I just rent a PS2 and play this and katamari damanci enough to make me happy?  (I'm a cheap bastard/poor student).  Any other ridiculously excellent games for PS2?  I don't mean 85%, cool game type of deal.  I mean 95%, if you don't play this you're a total dumbfuck type of deal.

And is buying used PS2's dangerous business?  I know that a few of my friends have had defective units which manifested itself over a length of time.

[Murgos]

I have a PS-2 collecting a nice, artistic layer of dust but this thread is really tempting me to disrupt it's geriatric slumber to check this game out.  I even went so far as to stare at the box at Super-Target the other day but then the though of all the shit I have to do over the next few weeks brought me to my senses.

[AOFanboi]

Yep. Though, Katamari Damacy was already a compelling enough reason to get one.

Except ofr us Europeans. Curse you, Sony, for torturing us so! *shakes tiny fist*

But there's Ico, Rez, VF4 Evolution, Disgaea...

[Paelos]

Yep. Though, Katamari Damacy was already a compelling enough reason to get one.

Except ofr us Europeans. Curse you, Sony, for torturing us so! *shakes tiny fist*

But there's Ico, Rez, VF4 Evolution, Disgaea...

It seems Euros get the ass-end of gaming releases constantly. If you get everyone speaking English as a standard, this would be a lot easier.

[schild]

There are soooooooooo many Japanese games I want to play. I shouldn't be *surprised* when stuff like Katamari comes out here. It's just insulting.

There's no reason for the continental divide on games anyway. All game should be region free and have english and japanese as language choices.

I know most European games have MANY lanaguage options on them. I don't see the goddamn problem here.

[Nija]

This game is so good it makes playing Jade Empire painful. If anyone is going to buy a PS2 for this, I have an extra one, still new in box. I'll send it to you for $150 shipped.

[schild]

This game is so good it makes playing Jade Empire painful. If anyone is going to buy a PS2 for this, I have an extra one, still new in box. I'll send it to you for $150 shipped.

If I didn't say it, someone would. You can walk into EB and buy a new PS2 in box, one of the slim ones, for $150.

[Nija]

And pay tax.

If you buy mine, I'll include a present for free.

It's one of the slim ones. Not hot, I promise.

[Trippy]

So is this game really really really the second coming of robot jesus?  Could I just rent a PS2 and play this and katamari damanci enough to make me happy?  (I'm a cheap bastard/poor student).

Have you ever played Devil May Cry 1/2/3? If you have and you liked that series you'll like God of War. If you didn't like it then depending on the reasons it may be a more iffy rental.

[Trippy]

I can remember ONE area, a very short jumping puzzle where the camera was a good reason to lose. Other than that, it's true. Can't be something? It's your fault as a player for sucking.

Speaking of the camera in God or War I must say I'm very impressed with it especially given you can't control it, though I've only just started playing so I haven't come across that puzzle schild is referring to. In contrast, the camera in Ninja Gaiden is driving me crazy. Yes I know you can reset it with the right trigger but I shouldn't have to do that every time I move into a different area. Gah! The other problem is I keep trying to use the right thumb stick to control the camera since that's the default in so many games and that screws things up even worse.

[stray]

Something strange is happening. Not that I don't like the game. I've had it on rental for a week now -- but I've only played it twice. I can tell it's a great game....Seems even better than Ninja Gaiden.

Yet, my interest in gaming has totally died as of late. I can't even muster myself to get interested in this. Usually I only get this way when I've got my mind on the opposite sex -- but that isn't the case now.

[schild]

Something strange is happening. Not that I don't like the game. I've had it on rental for a week now -- but I've only played it twice. I can tell it's a great game....Seems even better than Ninja Gaiden.

Yet, my interest in gaming has totally died as of late. I can't even muster myself to get interested in this. Usually I only get this way when I've got my mind on the opposite sex -- but that isn't the case now.

Would you like to try the game on easy mode?

[stray]

Something strange is happening. Not that I don't like the game. I've had it on rental for a week now -- but I've only played it twice. I can tell it's a great game....Seems even better than Ninja Gaiden.

Yet, my interest in gaming has totally died as of late. I can't even muster myself to get interested in this. Usually I only get this way when I've got my mind on the opposite sex -- but that isn't the case now.

Would you like to try the game on easy mode?

Not even that would help. It's like I hate games now...or something.

[schild]

Not even that would help. It's like I hate games now...or something.

I went through the exact same thing about 13 months ago. MtGO and some shitty books snapped me out of it.

[MrHat]

I was incredibly close to buying a PS2 the other day, but I didn't want a used one for 120 bucks when a new one was only 150.  Then the guy at EB said something strange:  he said that the slim ones over heat all the time and get fried.

So I said thanks for the tip and walked out.

[Nija]

He's lying, I've left mine on for days at a time. Longest play session was like 5 or 6 hours, playing GTA SA and God of War.

[Trippy]

I was incredibly close to buying a PS2 the other day, but I didn't want a used one for 120 bucks when a new one was only 150.  Then the guy at EB said something strange:  he said that the slim ones over heat all the time and get fried.

So I said thanks for the tip and walked out.

The slim PS2 doesn't have a exhaust fan like the original design did to pull hot air out of the case -- it only has a smaller internal fan to push the hot air out of the case (there's no opening in the case above where the fan is). I can definitely see that there might be issues if you don't have good air circulation around the case. There is less to cool, though, in the new design since the power supply has been moved outside.

Pic of new PS2 internals:
http://www.saeedk786.cwc.net/scej30.jpg

[Morfiend]

Now, when you guys say, you cannot control the camra, is it stuck behind the chracter, or is it a fixed camra like Rygar or Devil May Cry? Or maybe a hybrid like Prince of Persa?

I really am not fond of the fixed camra style.

[schild]

Now, when you guys say, you cannot control the camra, is it stuck behind the chracter, or is it a fixed camra like Rygar or Devil May Cry? Or maybe a hybrid like Prince of Persa?

I really am not fond of the fixed camra style.

Completely fixed. But it's perfect about 99.999999% of the time. I have no lasting complaints of the camera.

[Morfiend]

Now, when you guys say, you cannot control the camra, is it stuck behind the chracter, or is it a fixed camra like Rygar or Devil May Cry? Or maybe a hybrid like Prince of Persa?

I really am not fond of the fixed camra style.

Completely fixed. But it's perfect about 99.999999% of the time. I have no lasting complaints of the camera.

Bummer.

[schild]

Bummer.

If you're looking for an excuse to not play the game, that's a terrible one.

[Morfiend]

Actually, I really would like to play this game. I just have a thing about fixed camra games. They irrationally annoy me. I will probably end up picking up this game, I'm just not going to rush out and grab it ASAP now.

[Nekon]

I hate to play devil's advocate, but here goes...

I got tired of reading all the great stuff about this game and had to voice my opinion on it. All God of War is is devil may cry with greek mythology graphics overhaul and some boobs here and there. I think the only thing that sets it apart is the finisher combos. Personally, paying 50$ to push some button patterns means crap to me. (Especially considering how god damn repetative that shit is.) I've played it maybe an hour and a half since i bought it a few weeks ago and am just simply bored with it. (What is worse is knowing i wasted 50$ that could have been put to better use... like another game i would play for a few minutes and forget about.) Graphics are good and all, audio too, but this game is nothing i haven't seen before.

But in all honesty, there is some neat stuff here and there, but its just the same mob grinding in all DMC clones, story line is weak in my opinion.

The only thing the game has going for it in my opinion is the tits... a giant leap for console gaming.

[schild]

Nekon, I think you're alone on this one.

[Nekon]

I figured as much, i'm pretty much the poster child for finding any and everything bad/boring/stupid about a game, and having that outweigh any positives. I can't really think of any game i've played in the past few years where i've said "wow, thats really cool, i haven't seen anything like this before!" The meat in the game industry is getting stale beyond all belief to me, someone needs to freshen it up!

[Gong]

eh, I got the same vibe as Nekon. Granted, I am his roommate so it's highly probably that his opinion has inadvertantly rubbed off on me, but whatever.

The game does look rather nice, but it didn't really seem to be anything particularly groundbreaking. It seems to me to just be a refinement of the Devil May Cry/Ninja Gaiden/etc. game, though at least it is in a somewhat fresh context (even though my Latin geek knowledge of Greek + Roman mythology makes me gnash my teeth when thinking of the story).

As JJPasadena said on the first page of this thread, it seems like just another glitzy action game where you absorb the souls of your enemies to gain more power. I've already done that in quite a number of other games. The combat didn't feel as rich or complex as Ninja Gaiden, but that's largely a matter of personal preference.

It's often said around here that games such as WoW and EQ2 probably feel like pretty good games if it's your first MMO, but if you've been around the block a few times, it's not so exciting - it's just a few new things strapped onto a basic gameplay formula that's been burned into your brain for years. God of War seems like a well-made game(as do WoW/EQ2), it just doesn't particularly excite me anymore.

[Nekon]

That was pretty much anything and everything i could have wanted to say but couldn't get it in writing.