PS3 Review – God of War III
Levels are designed masterfully and are massive in scale. Some of the backdrops are breathtakingly stunning, and thanks to dynamic lighting and some realistic textures, the environments take on a life of their own. Kratos will traverse through the depths of hell, brain-bending labyrinths, and more, and even the Titans become landscapes for Kratos to conquer. Puzzles are scattered throughout the levels as well and always fit the situation. You won’t find a puzzle in the middle of combat; rather, they are used to provide a much needed breather after many prodigious battles. Puzzles can range from obvious to difficult, with only a small few leaving you scratching you head.
Graphically, the game is a powerhouse, raising the bar in every way possible. The amount of detail that went into every aspect of God of War III is astounding. Muscle striations are clearly visible in Kratos’ chest, and you can see his intercostal muscles move as he breathes in and out. Blood stains Kratos’ skin as he fights, and during close-ups, you can see the pores in Kratos’ war torn face. Textures and lighting take the level of realism in video games to new heights. It’s evident that the development team put extra care into getting the lighting just right, setting the mood perfectly for many of the game’s dark and ominous environments. Even Kratos’ Blades of Exile leave a glowing streak of devastation with every swing and swipe. As fictional as the setting of mythological Greece is, the level of detail and polish brings the world to life.
The game’s colossal score and effects sound magnificent in full 7.1 surround. Hearing the devastation from all angles heightens your sense of immersion, and despite being filled with growls, grunts, cries, and clanging of blades tearing through flesh, it’s a fantastically fulfilling feast for your ears. Sound effects put the finishing touches on every movement. Ghostly howls follow every slash of Hades’ Claws. When Kratos’ blades hit the ground, or you forcefully push open massive concrete doors, the bass will rattle your bones. The score itself is befitting of an adventure of this scale, teeming with thunderous orchestral tones.
The storyline, while a continuation of the previous titles, still feels fresh and unpredictable. Kratos is on a mission of vengeance, aimed at killing his father, Zeus. Zeus is no pushover–as the King of the Gods, taking him out is no simple task. Kratos will need to harness a power strong enough to annihilate Zeus, a power that strikes fear into the heart of the Gods themselves called the Flame of Olympus. To find it, Kratos will journey through the depths of hell to the peaks of Mount Olympus, facing a never-ending gauntlet of danger. The story serves its purpose of unfolding this final chapter in God of War III but the gameplay really steals the show. You’ll be so consumed with thirst for more combat that you’ll barely take notice to the lack-luster plot. God of War III is the culmination of Kratos’ fight against the gods of Olympus. Every chapter in Kratos’ saga is wrapped up without question.
Since the story is about one man, Kratos, and his journey to remove the Gods of Olympus from power, the core of the game is the 8-10 hour single-player mode. Fear not, however, on top of a few modes being unlocked after your first playthrough, the game is so fun and gratifying the game irresistibly compels you to play again and again. If you’re confident enough you can try your hand at ‘Chaos’ difficulty or one of the game’s many ‘Challenges’. The Challenges pit Kratos in fierce battle with stipulations attached, such as defeating a horde of enemies without using any weapons or letting a Gorgon freeze you in stone 10 times in the midst of a full-scale enemy onslaught, all without failing. If you discovered any of the game’s many hidden collectibles, on your subsequent playthroughs you can unlock special attributes that affect the way the game is played.
God of War III is the ultimate climax to the most highly acclaimed franchise ever to grace PlayStation consoles. Kratos’ legacy of brutality and chaos ends with a remarkable bang. The game is brimming with unforgettable, jaw-dropping moments that will stay with you forever. As good as the previous God of War games were comparing them to God of War III is like comparing Mount Olympus to a single grain of sand. Kratos’ final journey is the crowning example of why we play video games. If you own a PlayStation 3, you owe it to yourself to play this game. If you don’t yet have a PlayStation 3, this is the reason to get one.
PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score
Top-notch visuals and sound Epic in scale and scope |  |
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36 Responses to “PS3 Review – God of War III”
5 out of 5….was there any doubt
Cant believe its almost here
Great write up Sev. I’ve been waiting for this all weekend. And thanks for not divulging too much info and no spoilers!! PSLS FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only one more week to go!
ahhhh…. I knew I shouldn’t have read this. There is a minor spoiler, when you tell us how he gets his new blades. Anyway, I’m really not sure why I read this, I already knew this would be a 5/5. or 11/10. or whatever. The Shizznit.
this is what we like to call LEGENDARY
Anyone that doesn’t give this a perfect score is a poopy head
Was there any doubt? Looking forward to this. Too bad we never got the SE in Canada.
Thanks for the review
I’m surprised this didn’t get a 6/5.
Peace,
VG
Great review sev. I personally can’t wait till the 19th!
Great review Sev… thanks for answering my question from twitter (st_huberthound) … how long is the game play… 8-10 hours is what i was expecting.
CAN’T.WAIT!!!
~funkyellowmonkey(ps3 id)~
This is sparta!
No seriously, great review. I love this series.
I just wet my pants in anticipation…seriously though I can’t wait for this game. I think for those of us who knew they had to buy a PS3 when it was still very expensive compared to its competitors it was the thought of missing out on an amazing game like God of War that justified every cent we spent…and of course we have been rewarded handsomely with many other great titles throughout our wait for GoW III.
Awesome review.
GOW III is Epic …. awesome review
the best game of the year
Great Review Sev.
Glad your review is out so soon.
“Each boss battle is more monumental than the last, and many will go down in history as some of the most marvelous moments in gaming.”
That’s what I like to hear.
[...] PlayStation Lifestyle – 5/5 [...]
i can’t wait until my “Ultimate Edition” gets here next week.
NOW THAT is the way you give a rating to a epic game. Those IGN idiots gave GOW 3 a 9.3 rating. God Of War III is a 5/5, 10/10, A+, 100% rating game. Thanx PSLS
Great review! I cannot wait to get my hands on the game,and finally see kratos have his revenge.”In the end,there only will be chaos”.
[...] out the official PlayStation LifeStyle God of War III review, and find out why we think this game is the reason to buy a PlayStation [...]
Great review Sev! cant wait for this behemoth!!!
this game is truly amazing only problem is the save thingy but that still dosent effect giving it a 100 out of 10
Awesome review for a awesome game!
Awesome game but I felt it was a 10/10 but really short.
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[...] time. It received top marks from major game review sites, including PlayStation LifeStyle, which awarded GOW3 a solid 10. Leave a comment Related PostsNo Related Post No comments yet. You must be logged [...]
It´s a really awesome game! i loved it like all the god of war series… but as everything it´s not perfect.
It´s short, i really made an effort to make it last playing a couple of hours every day.
It´s too easy, even on the hardest mode.. unlike previous gow games which were really hard.
It leaves you begging for more… Couldn´t believe this was the end of the game series, but luckily a new psp release is coming.
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Good game, was definately worth the wait and the money, but I have some complaints about it. But overall definately worth it.
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[...] gave God of War III a perfect 10/10, and recommend this title with full authority. If you decide to pick this up, let us know what you [...]
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