User Reviews
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 In The Beginning... |  4.3
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by  PangTong_Blademaster
from oxford, , england | Jul 23, 2008 |
PSP spin offs haven’t died out yet. When Ready At Dawn created Daxter for the PSP it was evident that soon we would be flocked with shoddy and half made spin offs, one of them about to hit our store shelves, Agent Clank. God of War is no dodgy spin off, it runs its own story still based on the console series and evens adds its own little features to the series. Whether these features may be good or bad is for you to decide but here is my review anyway.
Story
As in every other God of War game you assume the role of Kratos, once a Spartan captain who led the Spartans to greatness and then fell into the service of Ares but I’m sure you would have heard it all before if you have a nodding acquaintance with the series. Before you get too excited about Chains of Olympus, no it isn’t God of War III unfortunately, it’s a prequel but a good one at that.
You play as Kratos as he serves the Olympians when all of a sudden Helios, the sun god has vanished from the sky and Morpheus, God of slumber takes his shadowy hold on the world and there is nothing the Olympians can do about it. Instead they request that Kratos should find Helios and restore light to the world. The troubled and tempered Kratos accepts this task and advances upon the realm of the underworld to find the God of the sun. I personally thought that the story used in Chains of Olympus was a step down from the epic tales of the previous two titles. It feels rushed and tries to soak up the remaining characters of Greek mythology they haven’t already used such as Persephone.
However as you near the end of the game you start to appreciate how in depth the story really is as Kratos is faced with a decision that could potentially decide the fate of the Gods and the entire world. Again, expect to be seeing characters from the original console versions such as Zeus and Athena but also expect more creatures and characters drafted in from the pages of Greek mythology.
Gameplay
Surprise, surprise; the Gameplay is yet to be changed in the God of War series but do we care, no! For those of you who are entirely new to the God of War series, it is a hack n’ slash game meaning hours of button bashing, dismemberment and chain whipping. It may sound dull but which such high speed intensity and terrifying enemies it will keep you interested for the next few hours. I wont go into too much detail about what hasn’t changed in the game and will instead focus on what has changed.
Firstly there is a new weapon, the gauntlet of Zeus. It is basically a huge golden boxing glove and at first I wasn’t too sure about it, I thought you wouldn’t be able to cut limbs from someone with a ruddy huge glove but you would be surprised. The upgrade system is still there thank God with purchasable upgrades for all the new spells and of course the gauntlet and the blades of chaos.
Another new feature is the new spells that have been added. The first spell you earn is the Efreet magic, this spell summons a fire demon who pounds the ground and emit’s a fiery aura. Next you earn a spell very much like the other range spells used in previous titles such as Typhon’s bane. Instead this spell lets you throw fire balls and if you purchase upgrades for this spell you will be able to throw them at a faster rate which is great for taking out archers of just wearing down bosses. The final spell which is by far my favourite bit of God of War magic is the mask of Charon. Upon defeating the mythic being you receive his mask which I expect is supposed to be the substitute for the gorgon heads used in the earlier god of wars but instead of simply turning your foe into stone, the mask burns them in a torturous green flame that cripples them and makes them writhe, it even works in some of the boss battles.
For those of you wondering how God of War could convert its controls on a PSP it is quite simple:
Analog = Movement
D-Pad = Select spell or weapon
L = Block or reflect
R = Magic stance
Start = Upgrade menu
Select = Pause menu
Cross = Jump
Circle = Grab
Square = Light Attack
Triangle = Heavy Attack
L+R+Analog = Roll
It may sound a bit obvious but I never found any problems in using the controls, it runs smoothly and unlike some PSP titles it doesn’t cause wrist or hand pain which is a relief.
Design
When critics say that Chains of Olympus has stretched the PSP to its limits I don’t believe them. Yes it has superb graphics and I never encounter a single freeze or frame rate problem but when I compare the graphics to a title such as the monster hunter freedom series I don’t see what they mean.
Combat is very fluid and it doesn’t get choppy like in so many other hack n’ slash titles. CGI cut scenes are plausible but again, not really pushing the PSP to its limits I’m afraid. Chains brings back some of the original tracks from the previous games but also adds a few new and more sinister scores to suit the underworld theme of the game.
Voice acting is again spot on with original voice actors but you can’t help noticing that some of the dialogue is oozing a bit too much with dramaticness. The entire layout for the game hasn’t changed, menus still look identical to earlier renditions, the interface is exact and move sets are noticeably the same even in motion. However what really keeps the game interesting is its wonderful design, the vast and grim locations in ancient Greece which have you gasping in awe.
Conclusion
It may not be as good as the console versions but it sure did a hell of a job making a leap of faith onto the handheld. With so many other PS2 + PS3 to PSP titles being released such as Killzone: Liberation, Ratchet and Clank, Daxter, Agent Clank and now Resistance: Retribution, I think Chains of Olympus will be holding its ground as the number one spin off title.
Top three highlights:
1. Fighting Charon, the boatman of the Underworld.
2. Using the gauntlet of Zeus to pound away at bosses.
3. Fighting the Basilisk at the beginning of the game.
Graphics: 4.6/ 5.0 -- Good for a PSP title but not pushing it to its limits.
Gameplay: 4.5/ 5.0 -- Still the same as the previous God of Wars but that’s a good thing.
Design: 4.8/ 5.0 -- Looks wonderful, plays out even better.
Sound: 4.6/ 5.0 -- Excellent soundtrack and superb voice actors.
Story: 4.0/ 5.0 -- A bit hastily thought up to bridge the gap of Kratos’s past.
Lifespan: 3.5/ 5.0 -- Took about six or seven hours to complete, the challenges of Hades extend it slightly. |
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| Kratos is Back! |  4.8
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by  Jesh
from , PA, | Mar 9, 2008 |
THE GOOD:
This game is one of, if not, the greatest PSP games ever. The controls are simple, and allow you to get really involved in the gameplay. The plot is epic, and is masterfully executed with great cutscenes which allow you to get much more into the game.
The graphics in this game are amazing. I have honestly never seen graphics like this on a handheld system, you can see the change in expressions that Kratos has, and the fear when you're about to kill the enemies. THE BAD:
The only flaw I can find in this game, is the fact that it isn't suitable for children. There is too much nudity in it, although the nudity is tastefully done, it still isn't good for kids. There is a sex scene in the game, but you don't see any nudity in that part.
It is a little short, but with varying difficulties, that isn't too big of a problem. On easy mode, it only takes around 4-5 hours to complete, whereas God mode, would be around 20 hours to complete. SUMMARY:
Gameplay: The gameplay is awesome, controls are simple, but the game is just the right challenge. It has little Tutorials in the beginning of the game so that you don't get lost while trying to play.
Replayability: This game has a lot of replayability, coming with varying difficulties, and an awesome storyline.
Graphics: I could go on all day about the graphics, they are awesome. During the cutscenes, you can see every expression, masterfully designed. During the action scenes, it is still awesome, just as good, but you're not as close up.
That above is an action scene, the details are amazing.
Plot: The plot in the game is fantastic. You are a slave to the gods, so you have to help them, and they will rid you of your nightmares. You have to become the Ghost of Sparta and save the ancient world. It is set in ancient Greece, and has a lot of mythology tied in, so you might even learn something while playing.
Bonus Content: You can also unlock different costumes, or play the Challenge of Hades under the treasures mode. You can also watch gameplay movies, and all of the cut scenes in order.
Summary: I think this game would be a good game for anyone to get, except for young children. It is very fun, and is all around solid. The amazing graphics and great gameplay make this game great for the hardcore gamer, or someone who just wants to pick up a fun game to play. |
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4.55/5.0
