While playing through the God of War franchise, it's easy to forget
these games really aren't that old. The original debuted late in the
PS2's lifespan (2005), while God of War II came out as the shift to HD
consoles was well under way (2007). So perhaps it shouldn't be so
shocking that this HD re-release looks as good as it does ... but still
... it does. These are PS2 games, and seeing them in crisp 1080p, it's
amazing they look as good as most current-generation releases.
GoW and GoW II certainly play as well as current-gen action games,
having practically perfected the action-platformer in their day. The
only knock you can really make on God of War's gameplay is that it does
get repetitive, even moreso if you play the two games back-to-back, or
if you've already dabbled with the original games on PS2 or the PSP
releases. There is a clear-cut GoW formula, and if you've grown tired of
swinging those chains and tapping through QTE boss battles, I doubt the
HD re-skin is going to do much to reignite any excitement for these
games.
That said, if you never played the originals to completion or if this is
your first time seeing them at all, you're in for a treat as both games
hold up remarkably well in 2011. Even moreso with widescreen HD to show
off the incredible level designs and art direction going on outside of
the action. These are epic levels that cover tons of environments, with
well-considered pacing as you alternate between combat heroics and light
puzzle-solving. The overall storyline is surprisingly impactful in the
series debut as Kratos' personal history is unveiled. There are clear
and dramatic motivations for the insane violence you unleash on the
world.
Unfortunately, the plot quickly loses steam in the sequel as it's clear
the developers had to come up with something to justify an additional
game rather than tell any sort of necessary story. The sequel also feels
more like brainless bloodlust than any sort of compelling personal
vendetta like the original, which can eventually grate you as a player.
It can be tiring to play a mindless butcher who lashes out at everyone
and everything, even moreso when the combat mechanics eventually start
to wear you out and the storyline isn't doing much to propel you
forward.
All things considered, the God of War Collection is a brilliant idea as a
package and a total steal at only $40 (new). I can only hope other
classic franchises receive the HD compilation treatment in the near
future.
