By Justin Grote on May 22nd, 2008

God of War: Chains of Olympus is Sony’s first God of War offering on the PSP, and it delivers on the great expectations that come with such a high profile title. From start to finish, Chains of Olympus is an intense and brutal homage to its PS2 predecessors. Don’t get too caught up in the title however, Kratos isn’t the God of War just yet. The PSP installment of the series takes place prior to the original God of War and leads us up to the events that take place in the first game. It chronicles a significant time in Kratos’ servitude to the gods in which he carried out their will. The game translates well to the PSP and stays true to its roots.

You will see all of the classic God of War gameplay elements you have come to know and love, like the special attacks that are triggered with appropriate button combinations. Puzzle solving is back as well and remains a crucial component to completing the game. The fighting and magic systems work almost exactly as they did in the previous installments, requiring you to collect orbs for leveling and learning new maneuvers. As a gentleman with above average hand size, I found myself laboring through some of the more complex control schemes. None more apparent than during the love-making mini game, where my inability to match the control combos in a timely fashion proved doubly frustrating as my Valkyries lay unsatisfied. Dodging attacks with the left and right bumpers while pushing the control pad was a bit strenuous at times, when multiple evasions were necessary or a quick move to the attack button was needed. Often I had to hold my PSP in unorthodox positions to perform the required button function to complete a combo. Gamers with hands more suited to the compact control set of the PSP will have an easier experience overall.

"Chains delivers on the great expectations that come with such a high profile title."

The graphics on this game are spectacular! Chains of Olympus is easily one of, if not the best, looking game on the system. Vibrant color schemes and a crisp picture combine with the excellent cinematic presentation of the environments to create a stunning visual achievement for the PSP. Clever camera movements help immerse you in massive areas that inspire awe. The enemies are standard fare for Kratos and are easy to familiarize yourself with. By the time you discover a particular enemy’s weakness you are usually greeted with a new wrinkle such as new armor or reinforcements to keep you on your toes. Puzzles are sprinkled throughout the landscape accordingly and are generally simple.

Altogether, Chains of Olympus was relatively short. I was able to complete the story mode on normal difficulty in about 8 hours. The length left me wanting, but the game could take 20 hours and still do that. There are some additional features that can extend game time and replay value. For instance, the Challenge of Hades mode is a series of battles that requires Kratos to defeat enemies while meeting specific criteria like not taking damage or using a certain attack. Beating the game allows you to play God Mode which is an insanely difficult version of the story mode. Completing these extra tasks unlocks playable costumes, bonus art and videos.

Fans of the God of War series and action titles alike will find a very satisfying experience in Chains of Olympus. Pulse-pounding action, mind-blowing visuals, and a well-told story more than makes up for a somewhat short game. My appetite for God of War was satiated and my anticipation for the planned God of War 3 has only grown after learning more about Kratos’ troubled past. If you have a PSP, you are simply missing out if you haven’t played this game.