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> Results: God of War II
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The ESRB Found:
Blood & Gore: GamerDad found lots and lots of it, but it's very cartoony. The movie scenes are pretty graphic though. Intense Violence: Oh yes, lots of special kill-animations too. The game revels in brutality to an exaggerated degree. Strong Language: Lots of oath swearing and cursing, which mainly means lots of use of "damn" and such. Nudity & Sexual Themes: We found at least one sex-minigame featuring two topless ladies in a hot tub. The camera discretely moves away but there's no mistaking what these three are up to. Lay your eyes on video game graphics that rival the PlayStation 3 ﾖ without shelling out up to $600 for the new machine ﾖ by picking up "God of War II" for the 7-year-old PlayStation 2. Miraculously, the game makers at Sony Computer Entertainment America's Santa Monica studios have created a seemingly high-definition experience out of the aging PS2 console. And yes, the game is as fun as it is gorgeous. "God of War II" serves as the sequel to one of the most critically-acclaimed PS2 titles to date. Once again, players assume the role of Kratos, a Spartan warrior who achieved the status of a God after defeating the powerful Ares. But sitting upon the throne of Olympus did not quell Kratos' appetite for destruction ﾖ until the goddess Athena, disturbed by his actions, reminds him she was the one responsible for his lofty position as the new God of War and punishes him by reducing him down to the size of a regular human. Now, back on Earth, in the ancient Greek city of Rhodes, Kratos must prove he still has the goods to stay alive by fighting mythological creatures. In fact, the first major battle is a gripping fight between Kratos and the giant statue of Colossus, who Athena brings back to life to teach Kratos a lesson. You must dodge his giant fists, catapult boulders (and even yourself) to launch attacks against his huge head and use the twin blades chained to your wrists to simultaneously fight off his minions. Eventually, after two lengthy combat sessions against the Colossus, he will fall back into the ocean and throw you into a ruined temple to continue your fight. Other mythological beasts you'll encounter in the game include Cyclops, Medusa, Cerebus and aerial combat scenes riding on the back of a flying Pegasus and Gryphons. Fun moves to execute include throwing enemies up in the air and chaining attacks together, climbing up vertical surfaces such as the side of a mountain, swinging across great distances using a magic grapple and unleashing powers based on nature's elements. Green orbs found in chests, crates and other areas will replenish your health while blur orbs refill your magic meter. But it's not just brutal melee action that will keep players glued to "God of War II" -- puzzle-solving plays an important role in this sequel, such as figuring out how to open locked gates or navigate through deadly underground caverns. Some can get a bit tricky, though, but a bit of trial and error will get you through them. At the risk of gushing over the graphics, "God of War II" not only offers highly-detailed and smoothly-animated creatures to fight against, but also impressive art direction with enormous environments that vary greatly between locations (unlike the first game), along with cinematic camera angles and clever use of lighting and shadows. The non-interactive cut-scenes sequences are also stunning. Unlockable content ranges from bonus games, including an arena fighting mode and mini-game challenges, to extra Kratos outfits to behind-the-scenes media to compliment the second disc, which is already packed with documentary videos, photos, music, interviews and more. "God of War II" is a highly intense, beautiful and gratifying action/adventure hybrid for mature players ﾖ and it proves there's still some life left in your PlayStation 2 after all.  
The original God of War was one of the most violent, sexual, and intense old-school beat ﾑem up games ever made. Lots of fun, but filled to the brim with content not appropriate for kids. God of War II carries on this tradition proudly. Parents beware: your kids know about this game and they want it. Trust me, they're aware and they want it. Be careful and maybe rent it first to get a feel if this kind of arcade-style but visceral violence is something you want in your home. I mean, it's hardcore stuff. Kratos often performs horrible fatalities like ripping limbs off and stabbing people with their own swords. Also, there's a return of the ménage a trios sex minigame. This time Kratos finds two topless wenches in need of satisfaction in a hot tub. A series of button presses and joystick turns (and moans) results in extra "experience" points for our hero. Oh, and there's a giant "boss" monster which is basically a giant old fat woman covered in naked breasts. I'm serious.
Kid Factor by Andrew Bub
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