God of War: Chains of Olympus By: Supafreak
THE GODS WILL PAY IF YOU DON'T TRY THE GREATEST PSP GAME EVER.
Sorry about the yelling. After spending the last few evenings playing through the latest adventure in the
God of War series, I'm battling the constant urge to scream out like Kratos. This is one of the drawbacks of this game and has been extremely awkward at work and the grocery store. Jokes aside, there are two things that
God of War on the PSP does scream: amazing graphics and smooth gameplay.
God of War: Chains of Olympus is the third installment in the God of War series. It's the first time it has debuted on the PSP and will be the last according to the developers (Ready at Dawn). The fact that there won't be another God of War on the PSP should be a crime in 43 states. One has to ponder that once the true success of this games slashes out, Sony will probably change their minds.
This was my first adventure in the
God of War series. I have never owned a Playstation 2 so I had never experienced
God of War/God of War 2. After playing
God of War on the PSP, I feel the urge to take on the ancient world in
God of War 2. When I decide to finally purchase a Playstation 3 this year, I will be looking for one that has some backwards compatibility.
General Gameplay Chains of Olympus is not a sequel to
God of War 2, but has it's own story line. I won't spoil the game for you by divulging any of the great storyline. The game is visually pleasing with smooth graphics and beautiful colors. Despite the great visuals there was no change in the battery life of my PSP. Many times I was really amazed that I was playing this great of game on my portable device. The combat was always enjoyable thanks to a great control scheme. The use of the left analog stick and left/right bumpers was spot-on.
The various levels send Kratos traveling through temples and cities in the ancient world. A great cast of enemies are spread evenly to keep the pace going. By collecting items you are able to increase your health and special ability capacity. Collecting red orbs from defeated foes, destroyed objects, or treasure chests gives Kratos the ability to upgrade weapons. My personal favorite of the obtainable weapons is the massive glove.
Slap.
The game can be played on Mortal (Easy), Hero (Normal) or Spartan (Hard). Completing the game on the Hero difficulty unlocks God (Very Hard) mode. Completing the game also unlocks the challenge feature of the game, and allows you to watch all of the In-Game videos in sequence.
Tech Specs
The visuals of this game are simply amazing and truly show off the power of the PSP. Even my wife was impressed at the quality of the graphics. There were times I found myself just enjoying the gleaming orange glow from Kratos' chains instead of focusing on the battle at hand. The cut scenes were just as impressive and were visually on par with the gameplay. I assume the entertaining cut scenes helped with the non-existent load times in the game.
While the game's emphasis is on the gameplay -- from scaling walls to defeating massive trolls -- the audio is truly icing on the cake. To experience the true quality of the audio I wore my Bose headphones. The sound effects of the slashing of the blades and whipping of the chains always made the combat more enjoyable. The music always set the tone and atmosphere of the levels.
Game Rage
There have been a few games on the PSP that sounded great, but the control schemes just don't work out. This is the first portable game I have played that has nailed down the controls. A few times the game locked up completely and I had to reboot my PSP. Other than a few lock ups, I have no complaints.
Butt Groove
The hacking and slashing style of Chains of Olympus were just too much fun to put this game down. If you have plans to sneak in a quick ten to fifteen minute break with this game, THEN YOU WILL BE DOOMED LIKE THE GODS. Sorry, there goes the yelling again. The story and action of the game flow as smoothly as Kratos' chains.
Bedtime Rating
Due to Kratos' temper, the need to rip foes into pieces, and the need to be friendly with the ladies, this game weighs in with a M for mature rating. There is a mini-game towards the beginning of the game that has some suggestive material.
Shh, don't tell Foxnews. Also there are a few images of nudity, but this is something that isn't new to the series.
Multiplayer
Chains of Olympus is a single player game with no multiplayer aspects.
Conclusions
This is a game that all PSP owners should purchase whether you are a fan of God of War or have never played a game in the series. The visuals are simply amazing for a portable device -- this game is very easy on the eye. The addicting hack and slash game style make this a hard game to put down once you start. The story can be completed on Hero difficulty in about 5 to 7 hours. However, playing through the game on God mode will take you much longer. Bonus content ranging from challenges to bonus videos also add depth. The games does cost $40 and I PROMISE YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED (I had to get one more shout in there).
Category Rankings General Gameplay 
Tech Specs Game Rage Bedtime Rating Butt Groove Overall Couch Count: 4.5 out of 5 
Dude, I haven't even gotten close to that point. I can't even lower her health past half way! If anyone has any tips on what I *should* be doing, at least then I can try to do it right!! hehe.. Thanks!