God of War III Trilogy PlayStation 3

God of War III Trilogy Product Details

Released on 19/03/2010

• God of War eyeing multiplayer?

  How do you fancy Gods of War? If a recent job listing is anything to go by thanks for the spot, Gamasutra and Eurogamer Sony brilliantly brutal God of War series might be getting some multiplayer content.

  The ad in question announces that Sony Santa Monica looking for a senior online programmer to get to work "designing and implementing systems and tools to support networking needs (such as in-game communication, client-server, match-making, leaderboards)".

  Sony Santa Monica is the God of War developer, and that enough to have a lot of websites speculating as to whether the landmark action series is eyeing either competitive or cooperative multiplayer. It worth mentioning that, until now, the game has always been a single-player affair.

  That said, it always been a stunning single-player affair, with last year PlayStation 3 exclusive, God of War III redefining the kind of spectacle and action that gamers demand from hack-and-slash games. With a rich classical storyline and plenty of skeletons, ghouls, and monsters to chop into pieces, we can wait for more from Kratos and that regardless of whether the game opts to allow for more players.

• Kratos returning in 2012?

  The ancient Mayans had a feeling that the world was going to end in 2012 and that maybe because they knew their ancient brethren Kratos from over the seas was going to return and tear it to pieces. According to new reports, then, God of War IV is on the way next year.

  The rumors although they seem to be fairly concrete come from the new issue of PSM3 magazine (thanks for the spot, Eurogamer), and theye attributed to an anonymous tipster who orks closely with the God of War universe.Maybe it Zeus?

  With the magazine suggesting that the game is down for a September 2012 release, Eurogamer been mulling over the fact that a job ad from last month suggested the developer might be adding a multiplayer element a first for the series.

  God of War III erupted onto the PS3 last year, and was the prettiest, bloodiest, all-action blockbuster wee ever seen. Kratos unleashes his wrath on most of the gods of Olympus, and in between set-piece boss encounters and some truly epic fights, there was time for a little platforming and puzzling, too. It a bit of a classic.

  God of War IV will be a PlayStation 3 exclusive if it actually is on the way.

• Star Trek beaming onto consoles early 2013

  The crew of the USS Enterprise will be making a long overdue return to consoles in early 2013. The new game will fill in the blanks between the 2009 reboot movie and its upcoming sequel, currently being filmed by JJ Abrams.

  The game, teased to a select few websites at E3 last year, is a co-op adventure, casting players as Kirk and Spock. Each will have their own approach to the game's action, with Kirk favouring direct engagement and bold decisions, while Spock tends towards more considered, tactical options as well as using his iconic Vulcan neck pinch as a stealthy takedown. Characters will be able to fight back using phasers, but will also gather information by scanning the environment with tricorders.

  Developer Digital Extremes also brought us the excellent Darkness II, released last week, while the script will come from God of War's Marianne Krawczyk, working in conjunction with Hollywood scriptwriters Alex Kurtzman and Bob Orci. Actors Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto have been asked to provide the voice work.

  Star Trek will be published by Namco Bandai early next year, on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

• God of War III - Review

  
  

  

  Hero Quest

  From the spectacular opening set-piece through to its earth-shattering final moments, God of War III wants to be the biggest, bloodiest, brawliest game you're ever likely to play. The fact it manages all that and more besides is little less than a miracle. If you think you can take the pace, you owe it to yourself to check out this astonishing action game

  By the Gods

  Picking up right where God of War II left off, Kratos' latest adventure sees him dead set on getting revenge on everyone who has ever wronged him. Since that includes all of the gods of Mount Olympus - including Zeus, the big daddy of the ancient world - he's got his work cut out for him. And so do you, as you guide the raging Spartan on a blood-soaked rampage through the classical world, handing out all manner of two-fisted justice to everyone he comes across.

  

  It's an incredible ride, taking you from one huge set-piece to the next as you climb all the way from the vile pits of Hades to the gleaming columns and temples of the city of Olympus itself. Every 20 minutes or so the game flings another huge boss at you - it's generally a god, and it generally results in a frantic punch-up with a devious twist or two thrown in - and even when you're simply mowing through armies of skeletons, slicing open centaurs, or battling the odd harpy, it's handled with such grim spectacle that you could be mistaken for thinking you're watching the world's most expensive action flick.

  Yep: the game's beautiful to look at, pushing the PS3 hardware into realms you might not have considered possible as the screen fills with huge arenas, flaming wreckage, and arcing splashes of gore. And yet SONY's machine is up to the job, with smooth action, and a steady frame rate throughout. This is simply the best looking game we've ever seen.

  If someone asks if you're a god... You say YES

  But it's smart as well as pretty, with a brilliant combat system that sees you chaining combos together with blood-soaked abandon, and revelling in some really gruesome weapons as you slowly piece together your god-killing arsenal. Flaming arrows? Check. Metal boxing gloves shaped like growling lions? Check. Electrified claws perfect for popping gorgons' heads off? Double check. Expert pacing means that the game never bogs itself down with mere brawling - instead, each fight remains a real event, as you take on the hordes of Hades against some spectacular backdrops, using skill and timing to emerge victorious from some of the most brutal battles you'll ever witness.

  

  And now and then, there's a puzzle to keep you on your toes. They're pretty simple for the most part - although one of the last ones is brilliantly devious - and, if nothing else, they allow you to have a well-earned breather and take in just what a beautiful world SONY's designers have conjured up, whether you're plodding through the rippling halls of Poseidon's home, or climbing the vast Chain of Balance that connects the underworld with the home of the gods. With an itinerary like this, even a dodgy double-jump that will see you falling to your death a few times too many won't really both you much.

  There's no multiplayer, and not much in the way of bonus combat, but when the core experience is this good, none of that matters. So if you're looking for a stunning fighting game, or eager to catch up with one of SONY's greatest franchises, or even if you just want to show your friends what the PS3 can really do, you simply have to check out God of War III. Kratos is waiting for you - and you don't want to make him angry.

  GAME's Verdict:

  The Good:

  • Stunning looks
  • Brutal finishers
  • Massive Bosses

  The Bad:

  • Platforming can be fiddly
  • Wish it was longer
  • Don't want to wait for the next one

  Published: 18/03/2010

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