For the longest time, I've wanted to get into the God of War series through the original trilogy, but because Sony is run by morons, I can't actually play any of those games except God of War III. Unless you own a PS2 or a PS3, the only way to play the first two entries in one of PlayStation's most iconic franchises is to get a PS Now account, which isn't even available in my region. Remaking or remastering a game obviously pretty difficult, but they could've at least ported these games over to the PS Store or something instead of letting these games be forgotten by the passage of time (among many, many others). Ranting and frustration aside, I thankfully wasn't confused or lost in the game's plot like I thought I would be, and I also had a lot of fun with God of War III as a whole.
Because this was my introduction to the series, I obviously can't judge how well God of War III connects to the stories of the previous two games, but as a blood-soaked and vengeance-fueled hack-&-slash game, it works really well as a standalone experience. The combat here is responsive and brutal, as Kratos rips and tears through his foes with a heavy dose of quick time events that somehow don't feel tacky or obnoxious at all. The finishers were both satisfying and vicious, and that especially applies to the horrific ways that Kratos kills the game's bosses. Along with the ferocious action, God of War III also features a lot of platforming and puzzles, and not only do they serve as good breaks in between all the hacking and slashing, but they're also fun in their own right, even if the combat was the best part of the game for me. I also liked how the game introduced its new items and weapons, as they all felt engrained within the progression of the story.
Kratos is as compelling as he is ruthless, and watching him bludgeon and destroy everyone and everything that stands in his path made his occasional moments of regret and sorrow feel that much more impactful. Terrence C. Carson's gleefully over-the-top performance makes listening to Kratos speak entertaining on its own, and it also meshes surprisingly well with the rest of the game's tone. My only real complaint about the game was that I didn't get nearly as much use out of the unlockable weapons as I did out of the unlockable items, as the only other weapon that I used consistently alongside the Blades of Exile was the Nemean Cestus. Other than that, though, God of War III was a really fun time, and if I somehow come across a PS2 or a PS3, then I'll try and play the other two games in the original trilogy as soon as I can.
Because this was my introduction to the series, I obviously can't judge how well God of War III connects to the stories of the previous two games, but as a blood-soaked and vengeance-fueled hack-&-slash game, it works really well as a standalone experience. The combat here is responsive and brutal, as Kratos rips and tears through his foes with a heavy dose of quick time events that somehow don't feel tacky or obnoxious at all. The finishers were both satisfying and vicious, and that especially applies to the horrific ways that Kratos kills the game's bosses. Along with the ferocious action, God of War III also features a lot of platforming and puzzles, and not only do they serve as good breaks in between all the hacking and slashing, but they're also fun in their own right, even if the combat was the best part of the game for me. I also liked how the game introduced its new items and weapons, as they all felt engrained within the progression of the story.
Kratos is as compelling as he is ruthless, and watching him bludgeon and destroy everyone and everything that stands in his path made his occasional moments of regret and sorrow feel that much more impactful. Terrence C. Carson's gleefully over-the-top performance makes listening to Kratos speak entertaining on its own, and it also meshes surprisingly well with the rest of the game's tone. My only real complaint about the game was that I didn't get nearly as much use out of the unlockable weapons as I did out of the unlockable items, as the only other weapon that I used consistently alongside the Blades of Exile was the Nemean Cestus. Other than that, though, God of War III was a really fun time, and if I somehow come across a PS2 or a PS3, then I'll try and play the other two games in the original trilogy as soon as I can.