God of War II is everything gamers expected to find in the sequel to one of the hottest PS2 games in the system’s history. The graphics are amazing, the music and sound effects are interactive, the fights are intense and the story is … lacking.
Firstly, don’t expect to truly appreciate the graphics engine unless you have an HDTV. The graphics are great on any TV, but they’re absolutely amazing on progressive scan mode, and nearly rival those found on early Xbox 360 games. Everything from background details to semi-interactive surroundings feels like a truly interactive world.
The music and sound are equally impressive. The score provides for a truly “Greek” feel, if such a thing exists (and if it didn’t before, it does now), and adheres to a symphonic detail one would typically expect in a top-budget movie. The sound effects help in spades when interacting with the environment, providing clues as to what Kratos can destroy or affect with his weapons and what remains indestructible (one of the few graphical flaws, however not surprising given the PS2’s current-gen limitations).
Expect the same amazing battles, this time with much larger beasts and Gods. Your first level pits you against the monumental Colossus of Rhodes, a statue that once existed to greet Greek sailors but has now been turned into a destructive monolith hellbent on destroying Kratos. Defeating him requires not just a command of the weapons available but also a strong understanding of the PS2’s controller buttons, as pushing certain buttons at specific times during battles will trigger different cinematic events. Push the square button when prompted and your character might drive his blade directly into the Colossus eye. Can’t find the square button quick enough? The Colossus might just swat you away like a fly.
God of War II is a near-masterpiece, however it fails in the same way the original failed: the story. The game feels much more like a simple puzzle solver than an interactive story. There are characters who come and go … couldn’t they have been involved more?
Kratos’s goal in God of War II is to seek out the Sisters of Fate and change his destiny. His goal in the original was to seek out Ares (the god of war) and kill him. The possibilities for more depth in the story itself has always existed, and yet in both games it fell flat. Solve the puzzles, kill the enemies, and advance the story.
There will be a God of War III, and perhaps the story will finally flesh itself out a little more to finish out the trilogy. Until then, players will be spending the majority of their time solving puzzles and creating multi-attack combos. And they’ll have fun doing it, only something will feel … missing.
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Choosing a Video Game Console to Buy
There are three top-selling video game consoles on the market right now, and each of them caters to a specific type of gamer. The following list provides some basic information on each of the consoles and gives suggestions about choosing the right video game console.
The Xbox 360 (Microsoft)
According to Xbox305.com, Nintendo’s Wii has recently come in ahead of the Xbox 360 in sales. However, it should be noted that the Xbox 360 has been around a lot longer than the Wii. This means that more gamers own the Xbox 360 than any other next-generation console. One can expect the following benefits from owning an Xbox 360:
- By far the widest selection of games, due in a large part to the fact that this console has been around a lot longer than the others.
- Highly refined multiplayer gaming; Microsoft has led the pack with regard to online gaming since the release of the original Xbox. Furthermore, considering the number of Xbox 360s sold, there are always a lot of people to play with online.
- Better graphics than the Wii; while the Playstation 3 reportedly has more power, it has yet to really prove that it can outmatch the Xbox 360 in terms of the sheer number of high-quality games.
The Wii (Nintendo)
As mentioned earlier, Nintendo outmatched Sony and Microsoft in sales in the first quarter of this year. What follows are some reasons why gamers have fallen in love with the Wii:
- Lot of family games; while the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360 cater largely to teenaged and older gamers, the Wii has a large selection of games that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
- The Wii remote; this novel remote turns gaming into more of an interactive experience than ever before. The wireless remote allows players to stand up, turn around, and jump up and down rather than simply plant themselves on the couch with a traditional controller.
- An affordable price; Wii games (and indeed the console itself) are generally less expensive than the other two consoles, although both Sony and Microsoft have recently dropped their prices considerably.
The Playstation 3 (Sony)
While the newest of the big three, the Playstation 3 shouldn’t be counted out just yet. Here’s why:
- As mentioned earlier, the Playstation 3 is graphically the most powerful of the consoles. While only a few games have been released so far that rival the Xbox 360’s massive library, gamers can expect to see more and more jaw-dropping games being released this year.
- Blue-ray disc player; while an add-on must be purchased for the Xbox 360 that allows one to play Blue-ray discs, the Playstation 3 comes ready to play Blue-ray discs out of the box.
- Massive multiplayer matches; while 16 players in one game is normally the limit for the Xbox 360, the Playstation 3 boasts games that can handle a mind-boggling 60 players.
Indeed, for an out-of-the-box, tried-and-true gaming experience, the Xbox 360 is likely the best option. However, gamers with young ones at home that are looking for family-friendly party games will likely prefer the Wii. Finally, players into massive multiplayer that don’t mind waiting a bit for a large game library should choose the Playstation 3.
