God of War III

God of War III is the fifth game in the God of War action/adventure franchise and the third game in the main console series. Like the previous two titles, God of War III follows the story of Kratos, a soldier in the Spartan army who is betrayed by the Greek gods. Angered by his fate, Kratos travels throughout the wondrous and dangerous world of Greek mythology attempting to end Zeus' reign. God of War III features bloody and satisfying combat, interesting puzzles, and some truly amazing spectacle. Whether you're a fan of the God of War series or not, God of War III is a fantastic game that deserves to be experienced.

Main Game Features

• Brutal combat with a new magic system
• Dozens of bosses and unique enemies
• High-resolution graphics and impressive scale

Story

God of War III picks up immediately after the end of God of War II, with Kratos and the titan Gaia scaling Mount Olympus. Hellbent on revenge for Zeus' misgivings, Kratos fiercely battles against all that stands in his way. After an exciting fight against Poseidon and a failed attempt on Zeus' life, Kratos falls off the mountain and plummets into the Underworld. Despite this setback, Kratos vows to have his revenge and slowly begins the trek back to the top of Mount Olympus. Even when compared to the past two God of War games, God of War III has some exceptionally cool characters, bosses, and moments. Many of the most popular Greek gods like Poseidon, Aphrodite, and Hades are big players in the story, as Kratos attempts to kill each one of them. Your adventure takes you far across the fictional world of Greek mythology, extending the lore and universe within. Kratos' journey sees him locating Pandora's Box, exploring a dangerous labyrinth, and battling against countless foes. There's an impressive amount of drama and great closure to Kratos' story, resulting in a satisfying trilogy.

Gameplay

Apart from a few improvements, enhancements, and new mechanics, the gameplay in God of War III is very similar to past games. Playing as Kratos, you'll swing and smash through hundreds of enemies utilizing your wrist-bound blades. Levels are mostly linear, but there are plenty of hidden secrets scattered around to reward exploration. Chests often contain power-ups such as phoenix feathers and gorgon eyes, which improve your magic and health. As you progress through the adventure, you'll also discover new weapons that can be used for both combat and Puzzle-solving. Each weapon also has a dedicated magic attack, offering a bit of strategy.

Although the gameplay is exceptionally strong and the story is impressive, it's the flashy graphics and set-piece moments that really tie God of War III together. Right from the opening moments of the game, the sense of scale is truly impressive, as Kratos is dwarfed by the gigantic Titans around him.

The high-resolution graphics offer clean and evocative environments, as well as exciting action encounters. God of War III is just as fun to watch as it is to play, thanks to its smart use of mythology and undeniably cool visuals.

Pros

• Excellent storytelling and world-building
• Bonus challenge mode
• Awesome powers and items

Cons

• Puzzles can be confusing at times
• Occasionally frustrating combat

As one of the most beloved action series of all time, the God of War series has become mainstream again due to modern releases. The games that set up the current titles, though, are comfortably some of the best on previous PlayStation consoles. For example, God Of War III was, at the time, seen as a technological and gameplay marvel.

Building on all that came in the first two titles, God Of War III managed to provide a frightful conclusion to the end of a dramatic, often traumatic, story. A story of corruption, betrayal, and taking destiny into your own hands - God Of War III is the climax of one of the most exciting game series ever made on PlayStation. How does it hold up today, though?

An exhilarating adventure through cataclysm

God Of War III takes place not long after the end of God of War II. Our ‘protagonist’ is Kratos, a man who served Ares, the God of War, and managed to slay his own family during his bloodlust. Swearing to never serve Ares again, Kratos eventually paired up with other Gods to remove him from the table and become the God of War himself.

Still not freed from his visions, though, Kratos set about on a destructive journey where he aimed to wipe out the entire Pantheon of Greek Mythology. The third title starts as Kratos heads to face off against Poseidon, riding atop Gaia, one of the Titans who wish to also destroy the Pantheon. What takes place is one of the most exhilarating set-piece action games on the PlayStation 3.

God Of War III takes many of its cues from its clearest inspiration, Devil May Cry. By the third title, though, the gameplay is smooth and the action feels outstanding even today. Slaughtering the armies of the Pantheon – and anyone else who stands in your way – is an incredibly enjoyable experience. So, too, is watching Kratos move further and further towards his ultimate goal of wiping out the Gods no matter the cost.

A spectacular action romp, even today (9/10)

While God Of War III might lack the emotional depth of its successors, when you put yourself in control of Kratos it is easy to understand his bloodlust. This is a grieving father and husband who has spent three games trying to atone for his mistakes, and who sees the Pantheon for the corrupt and destitute nightmare it really is.

Pros

• Incredible combat and action experience that feels fun from the start until the end
• Rapidly moving plot ensures you never feel too much time passes before a plot twist
• Hectic gameplay that ensures you always feel involved; God Of War III is never boring

Cons

• Can feel a touch dated when compared to more modern action titles, though only slightly