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God of War Collection Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

God of War Collection Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

A Proper Revenge

Some will say there are very few reasons to remake a game that has already been done before. It seems like nowadays game companies are trying to outsmart gamers and raise their profits by taking shortcuts consisting of game remakes and short, low-budget sequels. However, there are a few exceptions to the rule; some really good games actually deserve to be remade to help them survive the pass of time.

God of War Collection screenshot

Many fans will agree with me in that God of War is one of them. Sony made a good decision when they chose to re-release the critically acclaimed God of War and God of War II for the PlayStation 3 in a single disc, with revamped graphics. Not only will it help avid fans with the wait until God of War III comes out in March, but it will also introduce the series to gamers who missed it the first time around. It’s about time for Kratos to take his revenge in HD!

As far as the story goes, everything remains the same. In the first God of War, Kratos is tasked by the gods to kill Ares, the God of War. It’s his way of helping out after the tremendous atrocities he’s participated in during the war in Sparta. He’s lost his wife and kid and has no reason to go on with his life, but the gods will make sure he keeps up with his obligations and deals with everything on his path, including numerous dangers and his very own blood thirst. In God of War II, you’ll see a tougher and more ferocious Kratos. He’s taken over the role of God of War. However, the gods find him to be blind with power and dethrone him from his dearly earned position. Kratos looks at this as a betrayal, feeling the need to take revenge in his own hands by any means necessary.

So you’re wondering – what does God of War Collection really have to offer? The answer is simple – You’ll get the original God of War game along with God of War II, packed in a Blu-ray disc, with a full visual overhaul (at least when it comes to gameplay). It doesn’t include any new levels or other bonus content fans may be looking for, but it already had plenty in the original PS2 discs, and it’s all included here (making of videos, artwork, cutscenes, etc.). Also, it offers Trophy support for both games, which is an added bonus for PS3 fans. The current price tag is $39.99, which isn’t a half-bad price to pay for two awesome, great-looking games for the PlayStation 3. Besides, they’re important pieces of gaming history. After what I’ve seen, I’m ready to dust off and sell my old PS2 copies and just own this one. But, is it really that much better?

God of War Collection screenshot

We all knew God of War looked gorgeous for its time. I’ve tried to play other games of the God of War era and was automatically turned off by the graphics, but this one just kept me going. What better proof of God of War’s original visual excellence than to be able to play it in 2009? Of course, now it’s been reworked graphically and that’s why it looks so good, but if it didn’t have a good base to start with, it wouldn’t have been that easy. When I was playing God of War on the PS3, I almost forgot it was a last-gen game. Of course, the visuals are not perfect; the environments are less detailed and you can see the textures don’t quite match today’s standards, but even still, the game looks pretty darn good. You’ll be surprised by its rich colors and sharp character textures during gameplay. It’s been reworked to shine on HD screens with 720p resolution and widescreen ratio. Not only that, but it runs with 2x anti-aliased graphics at 60 frames per second.

Surprisingly, the cutscenes look worse than the gameplay, especially in the first God of War. This is unheard of in a game, as they’re usually able to render better visuals when it’s just video footage, but in this case, the in-game visuals have been retouched and the cutscenes haven’t. They even look a bit blurry, stretched, and pixelated, plus the colors are all washed out as if it were an old picture. Too bad they didn’t work on this aspect of the game too! Then it would be a true remake from top to bottom.

God of War Collection screenshot

Luckily, in the case of God of War II the graphics look better all around. The visuals during gameplay are extremely sharp and shiny, just like most high-def games you see on the Xbox 360 or the PS3 nowadays. Again, the textures could be better, and there could be more detail in the environments, but GOW II really is very close to a current-gen game. Also, the cutscenes in this one look a lot better than in the first one. They’re still less refined than the actual gameplay graphics, but they definitely don’t detract as much.

God of War Collection screenshot

The sounds and background music, just like we thought the first time, are top-notch. It’s a movie-quality soundtrack that adds to the experience beautifully. Best of all, if these games look so good on the PS3 and they’re just an adaptation of the PS2 classics, just imagine what’s in store for God of War III! What I saw at E3 was definitely impressive, and I’m sure some of you who’ve gotten the chance to play the E3 demo will also agree with me. This adaptation of the first two is, without doubt, a great taster for those who are eager to play number three, even if they’ve played the other ones before.

Like I said, these games don’t look much different from current-gen games, except when it comes to details and textures, but where you might notice some differences when compared to modern titles is in its gameplay style and controls, especially in the first one. In the original God of War you’re presented with some serious hack ‘n slash right off the bat that’ll make your wrists sore in no time. Also, there’s some Tomb Raider-style climbing and balancing over narrow beams that isn’t polished enough for what we’re used to nowadays. We all know Kratos is no Prince of Persia, but still… he should be slick when he’s crossing over a gap! A few other details like this carry a bit of the game’s outdated signature, but the game is still very enjoyable and rewarding. More so is God of War 2. Running through the depths of hell and dealing some serious damage in the lands of Sparta was never this entertaining! The classic blood and gore found in the franchise looks even more accentuated in these reworked sequels – Definitely a visual treat!

Another welcome addition is the trophy support. PS3 fans can now rack up those bronze, silver, gold, and platinum trophies by playing God of War and God of War II. It’s a satisfying hors d’oeuvre for what’s to come in March! God of War III will be an amazing step up for the franchise, with controls that are well planned out, awe-inspiring visuals, and a lip-smacking conclusion for this superstar franchise.

God of War Collection screenshot

If you’ve never played God of War before, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of God of War Collection. God of War and God of War II are games worth playing if you’re a fan of action-adventure gaming at its best. Plus, the updated visuals make these games a lot more appealing for current-gen gamers. Now, if you’ve played the games before, you might also have to do yourself a favor and replay them in this new format, not only because it’s worth experiencing all over again, but because it will get you ready for the last chapter of the trilogy.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.5 Graphics
You thought God of War couldn’t look any better? Well, it does if you remaster it into HD graphics! Gameplay visuals look almost current-gen, and if it wasn’t for the old cutscenes, everything would just be perfect. 4.6 Control
It’s God of War the way you know it, with its combo attacks, special powers, and everything else mapped the way it should be. Be ready for a bit of button mashing and QTEs. 4.8 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
This game has a robust, movie-quality soundtrack, plus solid sound effects and voice acting. They really contribute to the cinematic experience. 5.0 Play Value
God of War and God of War II are must-play games of the last generation of gaming, and now that they’ve been revamped and you can get both of them for $40, there’s no excuse to not play them from beginning to end! 4.8 Overall Rating – Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • Experience the dark world of Ancient Greece through Kratos, a brutal warrior determined to murder the God of War and alter what no mortal has ever changed… fate itself.
  • God of War I and II on one Blu-ray disc.
  • Remastered at a resolution of 720p.
  • Anti-aliased graphics for 60 frames per second gameplay.
  • Full PlayStation Network (PSN) Trophies support for each title.

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