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With the recent release of God of War: RagnarÓ§k, we figure it’s a great time to look back at where it all started, 2005’s God of War for the Playstation 2. From a technical and creative standpoint, it makes sense that a console’s most impressive titles would be released toward the end of its popularity, and that seems to be the case here. Developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony, this hack and slash classic is not for the faint of heart. It features over-the-top violence, sexual themes, and a generally dark tone. It’s combat system is one of the highest regarded in gaming history, helping to set new standards for hack-and-slash gameplay.
The player assumes the role of Kratos in a story that serves as a new take on Greek mythology. Once a ruthless Spartan leader, Kratos found himself in servitude toward Ares, the God of War. After an atrocious act in a failed effort to make him the perfect warrior, Kratos decides to seek his revenge on Ares in a bloody, rage fueled campaign filled with mythical characters, heaps of enthralling close-range combat, and well thought out boss fights often in the form of astonishingly large creatures.
Despite being a late PS2 release, the game was hugely successful and even saw its first sequel just before the PS3’s launch. It went on to spawn several more games before the series experienced a complete overhaul and renewed public interest with the highly acclaimed 2018 reboot, followed by 2022’s God of War: RagnarÓ§k.
