by Garry Keown

Created on: August 17, 2009   Last Updated: August 18, 2009

I am fairly new to the world of the PSP, but I know enough about the world of gaming to understand what it takes to create a really great game. Now when it comes to third person action games, there has only ever been one for me. Never before did I think that anything could rival the Resident Evil series. That is, until I made one of the best purchases of my life.

God of War is a series of games that had been making waves on standard consoles, and I thought that it would be a good place to start my PSP journey. The only title that has been released so far for the handheld, is Chains of Olympus. It is, more or less, a prequel to what has gone on in the other games. The main character is Kratos, the ghost of Sparta, who pledged himself as a champion to the gods. He became the god of war. The gods gave him power and strength beyond that of mortal men, but in return he was sworn to serve the gods. Initially he was happy, as it allowed him to forget the life he left, and the sins that he had committed. However he soon became tormented. You see, he had left his daughter behind. Calliope haunted his every move, but he could not return to her. In ever-lasting torment, he served the gods religiously. At the start of Chains of Olympus he is sent to save the city of Attica from the invasion of the Persians, but when there he sees things that should not be happening. He follows on, to find a more sinister plot that causes the sun to fall from the sky, and the lands become plagued by some of the most fearsome creatures in Greek mythology. He travels to the underworld, Hades, and eventually to the gates of elysium where he meets Persephone, who tells him he can be with his daughter in elysium only if he sheds his powers and becomes pure. He does this readily, as it is his one true desire to be with his daughter again. When Persephone reveals it was a plot to force Kratos to shed his powers, Kratos must choose between life with his daughter, or the end of the world. He makes his choice. He is the god of war..........

Gameplay in this game is set in the third person, with great camera work, and depth to the game. The levels are beautifully crafted, and the camera follows you in such a way, that you always see what you need to see. One thing that strikes you about this game, is the level of detail. Backdrops are amazing. For example, the shadow you cast is ultra realistic, as are the light reflecting off marble floors. You really get drawn into the game. The movement of

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