Playstation 2 - God of War II Highly recommended

Format
Playstation 2
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer
SCE Studios Santa Monica
Country of origin
US
Genre
Scrolling Fighter

God of War II CD Soundtrack

By David Rasmussen
17th May 07

One day, a few years ago, the sky opened up and from above the voice of Sony cried out “Let there be a button masher that DOESN’T SUCK!!”, and lo from the heavens fell our first copy of God of War (the original series), and the masses cried out it was the greatest button masher ever made.

Excelling past any other button masher before, God of War won many an award and earned many a 5 out of 5 rating from near and far. The game became a hit, and despite the fact that game was short it was impossible not to play the game over and over again.

But as time passed, and suddenly the people cried out against Sony as the heavens created an evil next generation console that was an overpriced, hefty paperweight that has yet to find it’s place (and the amount of games which keep people talking about the PS2 to this day) the heavens cried out “Let there be a SEQUEL to a button masher that DIDN’T SUCK!!”

Lo, that game had come to us, here in the PS2’ darkest hours… and that game be called God of War II.

How disappointing. God of War II may be the last great hoorah of what may be the ending days of the PS2, and yet God of War II also shows that the PS2 still has lots of life left in it (and should not be coming to it’s end of days anytime soon). Meanwhile the brand spankin’ (as in spankin’ you with it’s overblown pricetag) new PS3 is floundering in a deadzone of mostly underwhelming games which doesn’t bring it near to winning over old PS2 fans into the cult of the PS3, yet it supposed to have a long future ahead of it.

If anything God of War II shows that there is still life in the PS2... And this release, God of War II CD Soundtrack, shows one of the many reasons why God of War II rules… it’s beautifully rendered soundtrack music that bleeds perfection track by track.

If you haven’t reached the end of the original by now then you might as well have the ending spoiled for you, why not. At the end of God of War, Kratos (now in possession of Pandora’s Box) takes on Ares and ultimately finishes him, only to end up committing suicide off of Suicide Cliff thing but instead of going to Hades he ends up in Olympus with the new title of God of War. And that’s where this game picks up.

However as you enter the game you realize that the once and former maniac depressive man is no less maniac depressive than he was in the original. Time has passed, he’s been God of War for awhile, but because the Gods of Olympus kinda left one little thing absent from their promises to Kratos for killing Ares (mainly the whole we’ll forgive your past and give you a mind wipe of your bad memories) he’s been a lot more moody than ever before (which is complimented well in the music presented here). However, now that he’s the God of War, he’s got a whole new way to express his anger management than he ever did before, becoming the god his Spartan bros always needed and leading them to march upside all over the Greeks (the people who worship the Greek Gods).
Yeah, obviously as this game starts he isn’t the most popular God on Olympus.

As Kratos heads down to deliver the death blow to the city of Rhodes it looks like Zeus has to take it into his own hands to put the brakes on Kratos, first by stripping him of some of his godly power (which leads you into the city of Rhodes which helps refresh your memory as to how to play the game, which shouldn’t be too hard since the game is like an old friend that you’ll pick up easily from the word go) before he drops the hammer on Kratos by tricking him in losing the rest of his godly might, and then killing him.

However all is not lost. Because Kratos still has two people to count on, one being (believe it or not) Athena (though her role is not really felt except for just a wee little bit she does for you), and the other (the important one) being the Narrator. She who talked you through the first game, and this game, has returned and her true identity now stands revealed as you (Kratos) are dragged into Hades. It turns out the narrator is Gaea, the Titan Earth Mother, and she wants you to kill Zeus and restore the balance.

To accomplish this you’ll have two things on your to do list.
First off you’ll start by stocking up on brand new weapons and powers, which not only replace the powers you had before in the original game but expands on them as well. Also, in the first few hours of the game, you’ll gain a new “Rage” power, this one being of the Titans which is just as good as “Rage of the Gods” from the original.

Second job? Take a wee little trip to the land of the Sisters of Fate (they who weave the thread that represents the span of human life… you remember the original Hercules Disney movie right?). Anyway they (two of them who look like they sometimes moonlight in the Valkryie Profile franchise) are the one you have to see if you want to kill Zeus. Don’t expect that to go well.

One thing you can expect to go well is the music.
Crafted by Geraro K. Marino, Mike Reagan, Cris Velasco and Ron Fish, the soundtrack of God of War II is a cross planet production. In San Francisco we have abit of Persian instrumentals by Nejad, as well as abit of Percussions by Mike Reagan, Ron Fish (who composed several of the tracks on this soundtrack apiece) and Jonathan Mayer. Then head over to London and we have brass tracks laid down there. Finally we head to Prague in the Czech republic for help from the Czech Film Orchestra String Players and Choir (Strings conducted by Tim Davies and Choir conducted by Jan Chalupecky).
Add to that three bonus tracks and you have the full score that is God of War II the CD Soundtrack.

The three tracks.
“Blood of Destiny”, by Shadows Fall.
“Junkie XL Colossus Remix” (remix of Colossus of Rhodes original track I think) by Junkie XL.
Finally “God-Like” by George “TraGiC”.

Put all of these elements together and you have the stirring musical soundtrack that is part of the solid cornerstones that is the gaming experience known as God of War II.
Solid perfect gameplay mechanics + solid graphics + solid voice acting and musical scoring equals a perfect game. One of the Best of 2007 in my opinion, from the base of it’s creation to the top of it’s bells and whistles. This soundtrack is part of that perfection, and a must have to be certain.

If you’ve played God of War II you already know how good the soundtrack of the game is.
If you haven’t? I’m going to tell you right now that owning both the game AND this CD Soundtrack should be high on your priorities for seeing out the last age of what was once a great console, the PS2.
God of War II the Official Soundtrack CD gets 5 stirring musical scores out of 5.

Next time?
We move from God of War II fully (game and soundtrack) to what is the next step of the franchise, yet it’s place in the franchise is as yet uncertain. From the PS2 we move towards the only present “console” of Sony’s that isn’t an overpriced game lacking paperweight, aka the PSP and the coming of God of War PSP and our first look at this upcoming handheld iteration of the franchise… but not here. Check out my future review of this at www.animeboredom.co.uk and www.gdefine.com for more information on it.

And then… a discussion in the later part of 2007 (after the conventions) of the possibility of God of War III. Yes, we are presently debating the coming of a God of War III, but where will be come to pass? That is a discussion for the future… one of these days. Stay tuned, because it is most certain that God of War is NOT done with you yet (not by a long shot).

-- David Rasmussen 17th May 07

Playstation 2 God of War II Images