When you aren’t spilling blood by the gallons, there is a fair bit of platforming and puzzle-solving to be done. The puzzles are understandably fewer this time around, with the focus squarely on the excellent combat. But what they lack in quantity, they more than make up for in quality, especially a couple in the latter half of the game. They are never overly complex to become frustrating, yet the scope and scale of some of them makes for a very satisfying experience. There are some genuinely good ideas at work here composed of the mundane tasks of moving blocks and turning cranks, and apart from a shameless and atrocious Sony-sponsored contraption that serves as a Guitar Hero-esque puzzle, they mostly deliver. The fixed camera works well during the platforming segments, and aside from a couple of times where it decides to brood over the meaning of the universe, life and everything, it does a good job of making the way forward clear by highlighting the appropriate platforms and grapple hooks.
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All this action and adventure comes packaged within eye-popping visuals and a frame rate that doesn’t stutter during even the most intense segments of the game. The level of detail on Kratos and some of the environment is phenomenal, though some of the other characters in the game haven’t received the same amount of love. The awesome graphics bring to life some of the beautiful renditions of the Greek mythos, be it the Gods, the titans, or Olympus. The game also features the best lighting engine I have seen in gaming. Each source of light, be it the standard torches, the glow of the orbs, or the flashes of the blades of exile, have a perceivable effect, and the game shows it off proudly, especially in areas that are pitch dark. Given that this is Santa Monica’s first foray in this generation of gaming, I can’t wait to see just how far they can push the boundaries of what is thought to be possible.
The orchestral score makes a return, rising and falling, sometimes even haunting. The sound effects also do a great job of immersing you within the experience, be it the slicing of the blade when you spill the guts of a centaur onto the floor, or the meaty impact of each blow of the Cestus. And when it all comes together, it turns into an unrelenting, awe-inspiring and ‘un-put-down-able’ experience that bashes the face of any competition into its own head by throwing one spectacular set piece after the other, threaded together by some fast, addictive and very responsive gameplay.
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That’s not to say that everything is all peachy. There are a couple of technical hitches here and there. For example, you need to be in a specific position or space to access the save point. There’s also a heartbeat of a freeze when you exit the pause/weapon upgrade screen. But none of these stand to take away from the experience. It’s one hell of a ride from top to bottom (or in this case, bottom to top) and when it is at its best, no other game comes close to God of War III.
Conclusion
God of War III is not innovation. Neither does it walk too far away from the shadow of its predecessors. Instead, God of War III is redefinition. It redefines our understanding of scale in video games. God of War III is restoration. It restores the meaning to a word we reviewers often throw at the drop of a hat – epic. It is the most beautiful violence you have ever seen in a video game. In all its moments of brilliance, you will revel in delicious bloodlust while the blades of exile are on song, and your most primal instincts will scream with delight. Pull out your most wicked smile for this one.
(+) The single most awesome and explosive opening ever
(+) Great combat system. Sticks to the roots, but adds enough to feel fresh
(+) Well thought out boss encounters, set pieces and puzzles
(+) Top quality graphics, phenomenal lighting
(+) Excellent musical score and sound effects
(+) A fitting conclusion to the series
(-) The pacing is a bit off around the middle
(-) Some technical issues here and there
Title: God of War III
Developer/Publisher: Santa Monica Studio/Sony
Genre: Action
Rating: 18
Platforms: PS3 (Rs 2,499)
Reviewed on: PS3
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