As PS2 approaches the end of its lifecycle, we look back on its past and find ourselves reminiscing about the great games that were released for Sony’s little technological marvel. Many games come to mind, but the one that has stood at the forefront of conversation in recent months was Sony’s very own God of War. Released to much fanfare and critical acclaim, the game earned a reputation for gorgeous graphics, solid control, brutal action, and some of the most amazing boss battles to date. All of these fantastic elements are wrapped up in a story right out of Greek tragedy, filled with murder, insanity, and fratricide which made the game one of the PS2’s most successful titles.

Despite its success however, the original God of War was far from a work of divine inspiration. The game suffered from a lack of focus, with awkward, meandering gameplay and level design, as well as uninspired puzzles and cheap deaths.

Nonetheless, these flaws did not keep many gamers from adding the game’s sequel, God of War II to their must-play lists. After sitting down with the game from start to finish, this reviewer can honestly say that the fans’ faith did not go unrewarded.

With the release of God of War II, the Sony Santa Monica team has proven that their success with the first game was not a mere flash in the pan. Many of the aforementioned flaws from the original were addressed and improved upon, resulting in a much tighter, and more satisfying game.

Players begin the game back in a very familiar saddle, as they control the newly minted God of War, Kratos. Despite the change in job title from vengeful murder machine to godly murder machine, not much has changed. Since his ascension to the heights of Olympus, Kratos has wasted no time in reveling in his duties as city after city fell to the armies of his beloved Sparta. Needless to say, the other gods were less than pleased, resulting in his subsequent fall from grace at the hands of Zeus. Stripped of his divinity and cast down from Olympus, Kratos begins yet another journey of revenge against the powers that be. And, to be sure, it is quite a journey at that.

Gameplay remains in many ways the same as the original, though much refined, having shed many of the weaker elements that plagued the original series. Gone are the annoying water puzzles and traps, as well as the excessive platform jumping and death drops of old. The game’s camera is much better compared to the original as well, for the most part safeguarding players from the embarrassment of accidentally jumping to their doom. Instant drops to one’s death are more clearly visible this time around, and thus much easier to avoid.

Level design in this iteration is also much improved. Rather than the generic Greek buildings and stygian pits of the original, this new addition features some of the most breathtaking and imaginative designs thus far. The levels, ranging from timeless ancient temples and mechanical monuments, to the bodies of fallen titans are simply astounding. Each level features its own unique style, and possesses such distinct personality, that they can be considered characters in their own right. At the same time, the designs all share a semblance of similarities, creating a more unified world for the player to travel. This is most evident in the Steeds of Time level, which seamlessly segues into the gorgeous and deadly Isle of the Sisters of Fate.

Action in the game remains the same as the original, with combat being as brutal and visceral as ever. The game’s combat engine largely depends on players mashing out light and heavy attacks to create huge combos both on the ground and in the air. Much like traditional fighting games, the game emphasized precise timing and controlling distance to place players in the best positions to deal out the most damage possible. With a few simple commands, players can string together huge combos as they crush their enemies.

Some might say that the monsters in the game are a little too easy, however. Simple tactics like repeatedly launching an enemy in the air can be applied to most enemies in the game. But on the whole, the game’s enemies serve their ultimate purpose: to be maimed and slaughter by players. Adding to the fun is the return of the reaction command fatalities that made the original game so unique in the first place. With a few well-timed button presses and motions, players are able to execute their enemies in a variety of ways, from tearing their eyes out, to decapitation, or even impaling them on their own weapons. Speaking of weapons, God of War II sports a variety of weapons ranging from a lightning fast spear to a gigantic spiked warhammer, and many more. Despite the variety, players will find themselves rarely using the new weapons, and instead relying on Kratos’ signature weapons; a whip-like pair of curved swords attached to chains known as the Blades of Athena.

The fatality system is made even more impressive in the game’s boss battles, which are some of the most exciting and impressive moments in the entire game. From crushing a giant Kraken alive with an extending bridge to felling a colossal monster from the inside, there is no shortage of incredible bosses to slay. Discovering how to down these sometimes gargantuan beasts are among the standout moments of the game. These bloody puzzles are short, sweet, and when at last solved, incredibly satisfying.

This brings us to what is perhaps the game’s weakest point; the puzzles. While well done for the most part, they don’t really fit with the style of the game, with its focus on combat and action. Some of them are in fact rather tedious, and do nothing to really add to the game. Ultimately, most of them are time wasters designed to add on more gameplay hours to an already short game.

Visually, the game is stunning, and given the looks of the original, this is to be expected. Graphics are sharper and more refined than before, but effectively utilizes great art design to maintain a rough, brutal feel that would be expected from something like Conan the Barbarian. The only major complaint about the graphics is the animation of blood, which looks more like a bizarre cross between red kool-aid and motor oil.

Soundwise, God of War II is very similar to the first, featuring a strong orchestral score with powerful, ambient pieces ringing through the game. Attacks and other sound effects are excellent, and add an immersive element to the already impressive combat system. Rounding the story is the game’s voice acting with features some of the top professionals in the business. They all do their roles well, but special credit goes to TC Carson, the voice of Kratos, who imbues his character with a grizzled, enraged tone that we have all come to associate with the Ghost of Sparta.

Overall, God of War II is a fitting bookend to the PS2 era, with its great graphics and gameplay, coupled with some of the finest presentation ever visited on a video game. For those who are still holding out before making the move to the next generation, God of War II is an excellent reason to be reminded of why you bought a PS2 in the first place.