At every end, there’s always a new beginning. Following the conclusion of God of War III, many fans thought that it would be the last game in the series. However, on November 2nd, Kratos will be back in a new PSP game set between the events of the first and second God of War games that were released on the PlayStation 2. Developed by the same people who brought us Chains of Olympus on the PSP, Ghost of Sparta is an all new God of War game that gives us an inside look into Kratos’ early childhood.
Compared to Chains of Olympus, Ready At Dawn’s Ghost of Sparta is a huge improvement and fans will be happy to find out that Kratos is indeed back. Does Ghost of Sparta justify purchasing a PSP? Let’s take a look at the HOTs and NOTs of the game.
HOT
Learn more about Kratos’ Story
Of the four games that were released on the various Sony platforms, players have gone through the epic journey of Kratos as he tries to claim the title of God of War. Following the events of the first game, a long lost brother named Deimos appears to Kratos in his dreams and seeks his help. As Kratos once again defies the will of the gods, he will set off on an adventure to unravel the mystery of the dreams that haunt him and attempt to reunite with Deimos.
Presentation
Ghost of Sparta feels more like a true God of War game compared to Chains of Olympus. The animations and the action are much smoother and playing it on a small portable screen feels like a PS2 title. The graphics are somehow upgraded, but only minor thing can be noticed. The voice actors that lend their voices to the three console games are back, giving life to our favorite characters in the game. As always, Gaia, one of the Titans, will be the narrator. Throughout Kratos’s epic adventure, Ghost of Sparta will take players into new locations, from Kratos’s home city to the vast underground volcano where his challenge awaits.
New Abilities
While Kratos still holds the Blades of Athena, new abilities will be available in Ghost of Sparta. As Kratos goes on a quest to find answers to the dreams that haunt him, players will be able to find five new abilities that will aid him. As always, these new abilities will come from the characters that Kratos encounters. Without spoiling anything, some of these characters will include a Titan from whom Kratos will receive an upgrade to the Blades of Athena that covers them in flames. The upgrading process remains the same as previous God of War games: collect red orbs following the defeat of enemies, which can be used to upgrade weapons and abilities. Some of the abilities from God of War III, such as the Hyperion’s Charge, will make an appearance in the game.
Extras to Unlock
Similar to the past games, players who finish the game will unlock several things from the Extras menu. One of these unlockables is the infamous Challenge mode, where players will go through a series of challenges in an arena. For players who wish to watch the memorable cut scenes in the game, the Theater menu will allow these scenes to be replayed. Wish to play the game again on a harder difficulty? The God mode allows players to play on a much harder difficulty.
NOT
Same Old Experience
After the four games that were previously released, playing Ghost of Sparta gives no excitement to me at all. The same hack and slash action will be done throughout the game with some added extra abilities. Without a good story to back the game up, Ghost of Sparta feels like every other God of War game we’ve ever played. Players have already seen the end of God of War III, and making a new one just feels like the company wants to milk the series once again.
VERDICT
For hardcore God of War fans who wish to see Kratos one more time on the PSP, Ghost of Sparta is a must-buy. However, the repetitiveness and the recycled gameplay from the four games in the series is a sure turn-off, as Ghost of Sparta offers nothing new. Compared to Ready at Dawn’s Chains of Olympus, Ghost of Sparta looks and feels smoother, offering players the same experience on a console.
