9.0

Classics HD - God of War Collection Volume 2
(AKA God of War Origins Collection)
Chains of Olympus & Ghost of Sparta

Following the success of The God of War Collection 1 which remastered the first two games of this popular series in high definition for the PlayStation 3, Sony have done the same for both Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta, two God of War games exclusively for the PSP. Apart from improved visuals and audio, the gameplay on both titles have also been tweaked in order to cater fully for the DualShock controller and thankfully these remastered ports have successfully made the journey to the PS3. I know many God of War fans were quite disgruntled when these two games were released on the PSP but thankfully they can now conclude these two special chapters in the life of Kratos.

For the uninitiated, the story of God of War revolved around protagonist and anti-hero Kratos, a captain of the Spartan army who pledged allegiance and servitude to Ares, the God of War in order for him to be bestowed the power to defeat an undefeatable army. Unfortunately Ares wanted more from his servant and when he murdered Kratos' family, our anti-hero vowed to kill the god responsible. Kratos definitely kicked butt. However when Kratos went up against Zeus in God of War 2, he was sent to Hades, the Underworld where once again his blood lust fuelled his revenge against his perpetrator, Zeus.

From PSP to PS3

In terms of continuity, Chains of Olympus takes place during Kratos' servitude to the Olympian Gods where he is ordered to defend the city of Attica from the Persian Army and this kick ass hero is of course very successful. Unfortunately he is once again caught up in the game of the gods as he is tasked by the goddess Athena to find the missing sun god which has delved the world into perpetual darkness. Just like a Greek tragedy, Kratos embarks on an intricate and twisted journey through gods and monsters with the player controlling this force of nature in this entertaining third person action adventure with a healthy dose of combat.

Ghost of Sparta on the other hand takes place after the events of the first game where Kratos has taken the role of the new God of War but is still haunted by his past. Against the wishes of Athena, Kratos returns to the mortal plane in order to explore his past as he visits his dying mother Callisto to discover who is father is. Unfortunately Kratos is again caught up in the game of the gods as he fights ancient beasts, encounters Titans and searches for his missing brother Deimos.

Unlike the first PSP game, Ghost of Sparta does seem more epic as Kratos is now a god, however once again he is forced to rely on his blood lust to complete his own personal quest but when he learns that he was being played the puppet again, all hell breaks loose yet again. Both stories were quite riveting and help flesh out this popular PS3 character with scars and all. I just love the story of Kratos and so do many gamers around the world.

Gameplay

Gameplay is similar to the PS2 and PS3 games which has the player controlling Kratos as he explores the 3D environment, solve puzzles and importantly, fight a never ending hoard of enemies from Greek mythology. Kratos has access to basic attacks and blocks but as he progresses, he receives magical abilities that increase these attacks. As you defeat enemies and explore chests, you will find orbs that assist in upgrading your magic and health. It is vital to upgrade both these facets in order to face some of the tougher bosses later on in the game. There are also other orbs such as Green and Blue which replenish your health and magic metre. Sometimes your weapons are also used to solve puzzles and all in all, the gameplay comes together smashingly well on these remastered PS3 editions.

As opposed to the thumb pad on the PSP, the control system of both titles have received a much needed overall. This is not to say that both games controlled poorly on the PSP but rather, the DualShock controller is a far more a superior control system that does make the gameplay more fluid and enjoyable. As you block, access your magic and weapons, PS3 gamers should have no issues in mastering this control system, especially if you played the previous instalments.

The various locations that you visit are all inspired from Greek mythology as you explore familiar areas such as the river Stix, Sparta and the playground of the gods, Olympus. Given that, there are a variety of different enemies that you fight and some classic boss titles that are larger than life. However where the God of War Collection 2 works, apart from the kick ass protagonist and engaging story is the combat engine which will have you craving for more. It doesn't get any better than this and Sony should be commended for ported them over because the gameplay is literally quite flawless.

Graphics/Audio

Graphically, both games look good on the PS3, especially with the inclusion of high definition graphics and although it looks a little plain compared to the last God of War game on the PS3, the development team have done a decent job of porting this across. Even the texture details have been enhanced with better lighting and special effects. Best of all, both titles support 1080p graphics and run at a silky 60 frames per second that sometimes shuttered on the PSP.

Compared to other games, God of War Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta looks like a high-end PlayStation Store game. Given that, they almost look as good as the original God of War collection. Even more interesting is that you can even play both titles in 3D if you have a 3D compatible TV. With that said, I must admit that the 3D effects look rather special and it does enhance the overall gameplay. Audio has received a high definition boost as well which surrounds phenomenal through our surround sound system, especially the sounds of battles

Final Level

In the end, the God of War Collection 2 features two exciting PSP games, Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta, two God of War PSS titles that have been successfully ported to the PS3 with improved graphics and gameplay. Unfortunately there is little replay value for PSP gamers who already own these titles but for fans that don't have access to a PSP, this is a must have collection that really expands the amazing story of Kratos and his fight for justice. Add in trophies, 3D and the God of War Collection 2 is definitely value for money.

Brilliant!