Returning to a landmark title after two decades can be a sobering experience, as one reader discovered upon revisiting the original God Of War on the PlayStation 2. Released in 2005 by Santa Monica Studio, the game that introduced the world to Kratos remains a compelling, if often infuriating, piece of gaming history.
The Enduring Allure of a Greek Epic
Inspired by mythological tales like Jason and the Argonauts, the game's high level of polish and atmospheric realisation of Ancient Greece is still striking. From the opening battle with a giant Hydra in the Aegean Sea to the besieged city of Athens, the artistry holds up. The core combat, centred on hacking and slashing with the iconic Blades of Chaos, is deeply satisfying, making every encounter something to relish.
Kratos's journey is packed with content. Players collect red orbs to upgrade weapons and magic, green orbs for health, and blue orbs for magic. Finding Gorgon's eyes and phoenix feathers extends these capabilities. The arsenal includes memorable magic attacks like the Army of Hades, a fiery demonic swarm obtained late in the game. The epic quest spans stunning locations, from the Temple of the Oracle to the desert of Lost Souls, all in service of quelling the Spartan's haunting nightmares.
The Waking Nightmare of Dated Design
However, the adventure takes a sharp turn in Pandora's Temple, where the game transforms into what the reader describes as a "waking nightmare." Modern players consistently highlight several brutal difficulty spikes that have not aged well.
- The notorious jump over a specific lava pit.
- The unforgiving time limit in the infamous spike room.
- A desperate dash past spinning saw blades to reach the Architect's Tomb.
- The treacherous Challenge of Hades, requiring precise double jumps on narrow planks while avoiding invisible rotating blades.
For this player, the fight with the Pandora Guardian surpassed even the dreaded rotating spike towers as the peak of frustration, largely due to punishingly fast Quick Time Events (QTEs). Research revealed a niche control method—pinching the left analogue stick's edge—was needed to succeed. The final battle against Ares required holding down every face button on the DualShock 2 in anticipation of fleeting prompts, a "messy and botched" solution.
Missed Opportunities and Lasting Strengths
The reader also notes missed potential. Medusa is reduced to a mid-level boss, a far cry from her iconic, tense battle in Clash of the Titans. Furthermore, the awe-inspiring moment of boarding the Titan carrying Pandora's Temple is handled via a cutscene, not interactive gameplay.
Despite these criticisms, the game's strengths are undeniable. It presents a fearsome bestiary from Greek myth, eerie underwater domains, and a masterful use of scale where Kratos shrinks to ant-size. The epic score perfectly complements the onscreen chaos, though the most beloved sound may be the angelic chime of a save point.
In conclusion, the reader cannot wholeheartedly recommend the 2005 original, comparing parts of it to "deliberately slamming a door on your hand." Yet, for those with a penchant for classic monsters, swordplay, and high adventure, Kratos's debut remains, for the most part, a brilliantly realised classic—a testament to its impact, even when viewed through the lens of two decades of gaming evolution.
