I generally only review games that interest me.  I’d love to do more than that to have more variety on this site, but I’m only one person and can’t play everything out there.  So when my brother Ben asked to review the new God of War game for this site, I said “Absolutely!”  It’ll be nice to have some variety here, so click here and read his review of the new God of War game, something that’s not really my personal cup of tea.  –Cary

Every once in a while, a game can be a work of art as well a product that everyone needs to experience. You’ve probably heard that this game is the greatest thing since sliced bread, and while that isn’t quite the case, there is a definitive reason why everyone is saying that. First of all, the game is beautiful, it runs smoothly, and it is dense. Details are extravagant and overabundant, making this game a visual masterpiece to behold. So this game is a treat for the eyes.

It’s also pleasant on the mind. The story is urgent, simple, and meaningful. Everything in this game is pushing you toward one goal, even if no linear direction is explicitly given. The level design perfectly compliments the storytelling. The cast of characters in this game is also relatively small and focused, and while a bigger universe is teased, the story focuses solely on the development of the characters you encounter along your path. This focus gives every single character huge importance. I’m specifically reminded of the Magnificent Seven/Samurai Seven storyline when thinking about this game. This is a distinctly different tone from the previous games, which are described as the “edgiest games of all time.” There’s hope in this game, and there is also the strong possibility of tragedy as well, making the twists and turns of the story, truly an interesting and unpredictable experience. Something I’m only used to seeing in movies or television series.

Kid Factor:

God of War is rated M for Mature with ESRB descriptors of Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, and Strong Language.  It has a mature rating for a reason. Blood, guts, gore, and nudity were once staples of this series in the past, and while that is toned down immensely (there is little to no nudity in this particular game) if the player ever gets curious about Kratos’ past, the previous games in the series are rife with nudity and extreme violence. The violence in this game is still prevalent, but you aren’t exactly killing things that bleed red blood as often as you were in the previous titles. Kratos is still extremely violent and brutal with the way he kills enemies, so that should be noted if you don’t want your kids seeing that. Also there is a dwarf in this game who drops the F bomb frequently for comedic effect. The subject matter deals with death, mythology, and child-rearing in a mature way. This game would not be uncomfortable to play with your high-school kid, as long as there was some guidance regarding certain subjects that are explored in this game. Middle-school might also be appropriate as long as it is supervised. Anyone younger than that though… should not be playing this game in my opinion.

The only critique I have for the game is enemy variety. It could use more enemies of varying types. This is a nitpick, and won’t really affect the final score because the game already surpassed my expectations.  –Benjamin Woodham

Tags: Reader Reviews!