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God of War III truly does continue the tried-and-true hack, slash and quick-time event formula of the previous iterations of the series, only this time with the full grunt of the PlayStation 3 behind it. This is not to belittle the experience, as the added graphical and processing capabilities take a proven formula to another level. For instance, during the demo, the gargantuan Perses can be seen climbing Mount Olympus while fending off attacks from the god Helios in the background while Kratos battles legions of the undead in the foreground; it’s a truly jaw-dropping moment that pushes the technological bounds of what we’ve seen this generation. Another thing fans of the previous God of War games will notice is that the number of onscreen enemies has increased considerably, from a maximum of 15 to up to 50. Obviously, this lends itself to some ridiculously high combo opportunities.
As Kratos, I had to negotiate an enemy-filled environment by dispatching them with an arsenal of moves and combos. It wasn’t long before I was confronted by a menacingly large centaur with some devastating attacks of its own. After administering a fair amount of damage (and receiving a fair bit in the process), I was prompted to begin a “quick-time event” with a mash of the circle button. These events see the gameplay deviate from the usual hack-and-slash element to a timed button-press sequence. Successfully pressing each button at the appropriate time will progress each stage of a rather brutal animation in which Kratos dispatches his opponent in gruesome fashion. In this instance, Kratos ends up disemboweling the centaur, its innards oozing onto the floor, and another sees you forcibly removing a cyclops’ eye. Failure to press the appropriate button during the small window that you’re allowed will give the enemy a chance to “break” the sequence, and you’ll be forced to wear down your opponent once again.
Speaking of these grisly animations, I’d be extremely surprised if God of War III doesn’t encounter some trouble from the Australian censors. Our poor friends across the ditch don’t have an R18 rating for games, and titles with much less graphic brutality have been refused Australian classification in the past. While it’s clearly animated and over-the-top, this game will surely receive an R18 rating in New Zealand upon its release. Sorry, kids – this one’s not for you.
The hack-and-slash with quick-time events formula could get old fairly quickly if not for the stunning and well-thought set pieces. God of War III’s visuals are among – if not the best – of this generation to date, and the unique animations for each battle keeps the gameplay engaging. Presumably, they’ll also be broken up by the occasional shift in gameplay. This demo, for instance, concluded with a high-speed aerial ascent up a narrow vent. Kratos, using his Wings of Icarus, must rocket upwards at high speed while avoiding rafters and falling debris. Upon negotiating this adrenaline-soaked section, Kratos bursts out of the vent and thrusts himself towards the colossal Perses, seemingly poised to attack,… and the demo ends abruptly, leaving gamers waiting for the game’s March 2010 release.
Although it’s a visual feast, it’s still to be seen as to whether God of War III adds enough to the overall gameplay experience to suitably distance it from its overwhelmingly popular predecessors. After all, it takes more than a visual overhaul to revitalise a franchise for a new generation. And while this demo is but a taste, it bodes well that God of War III will most certainly be one enthralling action rollercoaster.
