I have been part of an ongoing debate about the PSP for a while now. One side says that the system is unable to create high budget, impressive games. The other says that the system is capable, but developers are just lazy and aren't taking the PSP seriously. Chains of Olympus settles this debate. It plays nearly identically to it's predecessor and doesn't cut any corners. This game would have been right at home on the PS2 without any changes.
This game takes place before the original God of War, but follows a part of Kratos's adventures that is previously unmentioned. It fits right into the overall story arc becuase the original game implied that he had been serving the gods for a while but doesn't mention in what way. It plays nearly identically to it's PS2 counterpart, with the only execption of the missing second analog stick (damn you, PSP). This joystick handled all of the dodge-rolls on the PS2 and the solution for this system works well. Holding both shoulder buttons and using the joystick does the same thing. It is a little awkward at first for long time veterans of the series, but will soon become second nature. The magic abilities are handled the same. Holding the right shoulder button activates the magic and pressing the proper face button for the desired spell casts it. I would have liked if there was an onscreen reminder of which button was which spell like in the other games of the series. Just like past games, you collect red orbs to level up you abilities. Unlike past games, with a minimum of effort, you will have all your abilities maxed before the end. Some people may like this, but I was a little dissapointed. There were several occasion where I had to guess and cast every spell before I found the one I wanted. I also felt that the swimming and rock climbing moved a little slower than it needed to. Each time I had to do these maneuvers, the action slowed down dramatically. The combat system is starting to show it's age a bit. I used the square, square, triangle combo almost non-stop through the entire game. There was never really any reason to use other moves, other than to see how cool they look. Other games have implemented combo systems that encourage players to switch up moves, so it is dissapointing to see God of War so firmly planted in the past.
Other than the above mentioned problems, the game is completely amazing. The locations change often enough to keep things fresh. The checkpoints through the level are often enough that I never had to replay any large sections because of dying. Enemies fight smart and seem to do a good job of creating a challenge (asthough on four different occasions, I came across an enemy that just stood still and never moved). The story digs deeper into Kratos's past. It give you a better picture of what happened with his family and why he is so dedicated to the gods even though he clearly despises them. I would even go as far as to say that the plot is better than the original GoW, although the game ends rather abrubtly and clocks in at just over five hours of gameplay (though higher dificulties and unlockable bonuses extend the replay value). The main foe of the game, the god Morpheus, never even makes an appearance, which I thought was quite strange. His actions are just mentioned in cutscenes. I found it hard to put the game down; always saying, "One more checkpoint."
The game's presentation shows that it has really pushed the system further than any other game (other than possibly Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow, which is the only other game on the system thst I truly loved). The soundtrack is fit for a movie and follows the action well. The CG cutscenes, which are rare on the system, look amazing and really add to the atmosphere. The graphics are detailed and crisp. The in-game camera work is exactly what you would expect. It always gives you the best view of the action and will pull out to show off the scenery during certian sequences. The only time I had a problem with the camera was during the final boss fight. They had a tendency to fly in front of the camera and block the entire view.
After playing God of War, I wanted to write a letter to each and every developer for the PSP and tell them to quit being lazy. The system fully capable of epic storylines and intense gameplay. I am tired of the remakes and half-assed games. The system deserves better. It deserves more games like this one.
GAMEFURY Game Rating: 8.5
