But rather than let the series recede from memory, culminating as God of War III in a PS3 debut as if it was the only game worth talking about, Sony has remastered the first two chapters in the Greek mythology gore fest, originally released for PlayStation2 in 2005 and 2007, by redoing the graphics in high def (720p) and pushing them along at top speed (60 frames per second).
Though not without some mechanical flaws, mainly in fixed camera angles that sometimes obstruct critical views, the collection represents both awesome hardcore gaming exclusive to the PlayStation brand and a whole lot of backstory on our man Kratos and his none-too-trivial skirmishes with gods and titans.
As for the visual upgrade, it all looks sufficiently spectacular enough to negate the fact that environments and characters often sport a roughly hewn, blocky look of less complex polygons painted with a whole lot of 720p lipstick. Still, that's some sweet sweet lipstick.
And that Kratos still swims like a toy boat in a pond, well, that's just charming.
Primarily, both games represent a bloody, gratuitously violent gore fest thanks to Kratos' proficient use of a pair of chain-tethered swords and a bit of bestowed magic from time to time. The Olympian chip on his Spartan shoulder also serves him well.
However, as the lot of it is based on Greek mythology, there's also a modicum of sex and intrigue to go along with that blood and gore, mainly boob shots and mini-game innuendo that passed by the public eye with little controversy simply for the subject matter. After all, the legends of Ancient Greece are rife with ultra violent acts of "The Gods" and not a little philandering and fratricide. Therefore, in context, God of War would seem wrong without the gracefully ill-fitting togas and what not.
Funny, and fortunately for Kratos, these immortal gods of otherwise established lore are only "mostly" invincible, and taking some of them out after a long run of dispatching Gorgons, Minotaurs and Cyclops and (seemingly) half the general populace of Greece itself manifestly modifies Greek mythology as we know it. But, no one's complaining.
At any rate, at just $40, the God of War Collection should not be missed by any PlayStation gamer - age 18 or over, of course. If you've played them before, the buff job makes them worth playing again, especially at $20 a piece, which is the same price as the old PS2 games individually these days, minus the improved graphics and newly added, task specific "trophy" awards if you're into that whole Nerd Badge thing.
If you've never played a God of War game before, on the other hand, and you're the "mature" sort itching to rip the head off Medusa because using a blade is too kind, by all means, grab this Collection.
;)
