As Kratos, you are a mortal servant of Ares, the Greek god of war. The first scene shows Kratos jumping off a cliff in an attempt to end his life, but the gameplay begins three weeks earlier battling hydras on a ship. What has caused Kratos such pain and why does he want Ares dead' It's the setting for an epic tale of mortals and gods and one unbelievable game.

I know it's cliche to say, "this game plays out like an interactive movie," but the phrase has been redefined by God of War. This game is better than most movies, and a lot of it has to do with presentation. Graphics and animation are tops for the system. For once, and hopefully not the last time, I don't have to complain about bad transitions between character animations. Everything is presented in 480P widescreen, for which we are truly grateful. The music is wonderfully composed. Every sound effect fits seamlessly within the game, all the bones breaking and bodies crashing. Then there are the cutscenes, a mixture of in-game and CG. Many of them late in the game gave me chills, they were so good. Not just in their artistic vision but in the content as well, whether they were emotional or full of rage. The way some of the scenes looked like 2D oil paintings before they became rendered in 3D and started animating is truly a sight to behold.

You'll be happy to know that you aren't just watching a 12 hour movie as God of War has gameplay in spades. The story will drive you, but you'll be more than happy to play through the levels to earn that next bit of info. The fighting is unparalleled and is some of the smoothest I've ever seen, giving a passing nod to games like Devil May Cry and Soul Calibur. Kratos uses the Blades of Chaos, two swords chained to his wrists that he throws around like toys. Later on, you'll acquire a giant broadsword that turns his actions from Maxi into Nightmare.

I think the comparisons are appropriate. Every move in Kratos' arsenal can be linked with nearly any other move. So, if you make a mistake in a combo, you might just accidentally uncover a new one. It's unbelievably smooth and feels a lot like Soul Calibur. There are juggle combos and air combos abound. Pretty much, if you can dream it up, you can probably execute it.

Kratos will eventually have access to other special powers granted by the gods. Poseidon, Hades, and Zeus all give you a special ability, and like the classic Clash of the Titans, you can even use Medusa's head to turn people to stone. It takes magic power to use the active abilities, and for most of the game, the bar is too small to use them often. In hindsight, it was really well balanced that way. Health and magic can be replenished from defeated foes and chests scattered throughout levels.

The powers of the gods are acquired along with the storyline, but everything can be upgraded by spending experience points. Experience points can be found in abundance from all enemies and many chests. From the pause menu, you can upgrade any weapon or ability. Each has its own level, and when you reach the next level they'll become more powerful. Some levels unlock new moves for your weapons or magic.

Puzzles and platforming play a surprisingly large part in God of War, but they only add to the compelling gameplay. A huge part of the story takes place within Pandora's Temple, a place designed by an architect gone mad on orders from the gods. For the most part the puzzles are really smart. If you can't figure something out, then you just haven't noticed the visual clue that's been left for you. Nothing for me was guess work. Sure I was frustrated at times, but then I'd notice the moveable statue or piece of rope hanging from a rafter and have an "AHA!" moment.

Platforming can be wearisome because of two things, the fixed camera and instant death. The fixed camera is really superb and one of the best views for an action game I've ever seen. The only problem is when you are retracing your steps and running into the camera. It makes jumping over moving saw blades on to moving platforms five times harder than going away from the camera. Then there's the slip/jump/hit/throw/fall off of a platform to your death. You'll have your share, trust me. Somehow it never really bothered me though. The game has a knack for creating a checkpoint right before you have a chance for instant death. So, you jump twice, die, and try again within a matter of seconds. It could have completely crippled the game if you had to go back to a save spot and play half a level just to try and possibly fail at the same jump.

God of War is the complete package, and I believe it's the best game on the PS2. The gameplay is gripping and the story is so good, my wife wouldn't let me play through the end of the game without her present. Playing through it is now one of my fondest gaming moments. I can remember specific encounters all throughout the game like it was a part of my past. All in all, what I've written here can't do it justice. Find a way to play God of War.