What does it take to consider a game something for the hardcore elite audience? Does it take a dedicated development team that focuses on every element, from gameplay that won't grate on the nerves after an hour to graphics that truly state what kind of setting you're in? Perhaps it involves something where you truly work a game to its very core, exposing every feature and utilizing every weapon in order to just get ahead. Or maybe it's all the controllers you break trying to achieve something of a gaming god status as you find yourself facing a mounting difficulty, where enemies won't let up or won't fall to your mighty powers, and instead let loose with some of their own. It could just really be a combination of these things. But no matter how you look at it, hardcore gaming is defined in its own league, and clearly isn't for everyone. At least, not "Joe Gamer" who's getting a game system for the first time.

But we hardcore gamers know who we are. We've beaten the likes of Team Ninja's Ninja Gaiden after so many hours of powering up and studying boss patterns to proceed. And now a new challenge has arrived, a massive action title that's been a long time coming. So you best prep your thumbs, as God of War isn't a game that's likely to be taken over easily, not even in the lightest of difficulty modes.

Let me fill you in on a little history. The game itself takes place during mythical times, back when there were Greek rulers and legend spoke highly of the gods. You take control of a man named Kratos, a tortured soul who has seen more than enough bloodshed in his lifetime. He himself has been trained by the gods to become one of the world's most feared warriors, and indeed he's spilled the blood and survived the battles to earn that status, but he tires of it and looks to end it in peace. The beginning of the game actually shows him plummeting off a cliff toward his doom, but the narrator, voiced by actress Linda Hunt, tells us that it wasn't always this way, and flashes back to another time, where he begins his adventure by ending up on a wrecked ship in the Aegean Sea and facing off against unnameable enemies, all while some large aquatic monsters called hydras raise hell throughout the level.

Kratos has been given a task by the gods themselves. It appears that the God of War, known as Ares, is about to tear apart Athens with his demon army. They aren't pleased at all by his actions, as it stand to interrupt their godly nature. So they make Kratos a deal- if he can stop Ares and his demonic army of cyclops, minotaurs, and other unnatural beings, then he can go in peace. Of course, the journey will be anything but easy, and Kratos must use his battling skills to proceed, as well as get some occasional help from the gods themselves.

This help comes in the form of power-ups that Kratos picks up during his journey, from using tortured souls from Hades to take out enemies to acquiring the head of the demoness Medusa to use her gaze to freeze enemies to stone, only to have them become shattered by your main weapon, a pair of twin-bladed swords known as the "blades of chaos". These weapons come in handy, but Kratos really has to rely on his strength, through a series of defensive moves (like being able to evade and block attacks) and some sick-looking combos that he can pull off with his blades. As you proceed into one of these attacks, your blades light up with a fiery power and rip into enemies easily. If Kratos chooses, he can also engage in some grab moves that will either allow him to swing a foe around or simply rip them in half.

The gameplay is surely something to behold. Everything from the power-ups to the combos are executed perfectly, and even have a bit of drama to them. For instance, when you're about to pull off a devastating combo that results in you jumping in the air, ready to pound the ground, the action actually freezes up for a second, building up power until it is finally unleashed. Same with defensive moves- if you pull off a key block during, say, a boss battle, it again shows a quick, intentional freeze-up and gives you a key opportunity to strike back and take some of the energy away. The gameplay has no problems and utilizes the right analog stick for defensive moves perfectly, and the way you can combine quick and strong attacks into an efficient combo is very cool.

Another thing that the game uses is similar to Shenmue's Q.T.E. (quick time events) system. There will be times during a boss battle or fighting a stronger enemy that you'll see a button icon floating over their head. Hitting this icon will enter you into one of these events, where you have to hit the right buttons to pull off some moves and eventually finish off your opponent. Sometimes they'll even enter a challenging phase where you have to fiercely pound on the button to complete an action, like prying a hydra's mouth open when he's about to swallow you or struggling to finish off a strong minotaur who's not in the mood to be killed today. It's really quite well done and blends in with the rest of the gameplay like clockwork.

You'll need to have great gameplay to proceed, because God of War truly rises to the hardcore level that I was talking about. Its difficulty level is through the roof, unless you take the easy way out on "Easy", which is bearable for most of the other gamers out there. It features four modes in all, three available right from the get-go. Completing the game in hard mode unlocks the fourth, the almighty God of War mode, a mode that will truly put you to work as the enemies don't let up on any front. This mode is bound to make people lunge controllers into walls or through windows, so prepare yourself for it by starting with normal and ramping up. You can try easy if you wish, but you'll find that it may spoil the game for you.

The game also lets you collect different kinds of orbs. There are three in all- red orbs that allow your attacks to gain more power as you proceed further into the game; blue orbs that help power your meter that utilizes the special attacks that the gods provide you; and green orbs that replenish your crucial energy bar. You can check in chests scattered throughout each level by simply pressing the R2 button, and enemies will practically pour them out once they're defeated. No problem there.

God of War is also good at applying puzzle elements into the effort without losing a beat. Some rooms require some thinking to solve, like the whole Pandora's Box device, and others just require a switch to flip or timing in getting somewhere. Some are simply just opening a grate, with the constant tapping of the R2 button. They won't tax your brain but they are a welcome incorporation into the formula.

What really floored me, however, was the massive boss fights that the game contains. There aren't many (they seem to be scattered across so many parts of the game while you face normal foes), but the ones you encounter are really deep and multi-tiered, which means you'll need to work at them. Take the hydra from the Aegean Sea, for example. He's a tricky one, as you need to stop two smaller hydras before you even face him. After depleting their energy, you must step up on platforms and lower hooks onto their heads to make sure they won't get into the way. Then you climb to the top platform and face the even bigger hydra, who likes to howl fiercely at you and try to take a bite out of you. You have to work on its energy and eventually bash its head into the mast, forming some kind of stake you can drive its head into. And this is just the first boss battle, folks- just wait till you get to Ares. Wow. Talk about hardcore.

And the game also seems rather hardcore in its presentation. It takes its M rating seriously, and something tells me that some prissy Congressman out there will eventually bring it up for discussion in "games that aren't good for kids". Whatever, that's why it's slapped with an M rating. It's loaded with all sorts of carnage, especially in the story sequences that tell of Kratos' battle with his past, where he rips apart enemies and bashes their heads in without even an afterthought. The game also features mature themes with women, as most of them appear topless and beckon for Kratos' sexual prowess, and, in one awkward stage, he applies it. This sort of put a mild hokeyness into that part of the game, but it's minor and doesn't affect the overall feel of the game.

The graphics themselves are unbelievable. The stage layout is massive, from the sprawling city of Athens to the war-torn seas of the Aegean. Animation is superb, right down to Kratos pulling out his blades and preparing for battle, and the graphic detail never lets up, as the levels themselves are loaded with all sorts of hidden nooks and crannies you can bash apart. There are also platforms to be crossed, which requires a good deal of balance. If you fall, though, not to worry- some tapping of the X button will pull you right back up to safety. The camera is perfectly placed throughout, so you can see what is going on without getting frustrated. There are moments of occasional graphic hiccups, like during some slowdown and the occasional detail gone amuck, but it all passes by so quickly you might not even notice. This game looks wonderful overall, cinemas and all.

As for sound, it too comes through with flying colors. Along with Hunt, the game contains rock solid voice acting, especially from Kratos, voiced to perfection so that his torment can be found within his cragged tone. The soundtrack is truly awe-inspiring, packing great orchestrated, thunderous music that you can actually download with a purchase of the game, and I can't recommend it enough. The sound effects round everything out very well, from the squeals of the mighty minotaur to the ripping apart of barrels and buildings. Credit director David Jaffe (the director of Twisted Metal Black) for paying attention to great details, even if he lets the occasional line of ridiculous dialogue get away. I'll forgive him.

In fact, you can also credit Jaffe for some impressive extras. Although the game doesn't contain any kind of two-player co-op mode (I couldn't see the purpose of one either- who in the hell would help Kratos aside from the gods?), it does have its numerous difficulty levels and several other featurettes, looking back at the old-school mythical days. It also contains a "deleted levels" feature, where Jaffe points out the cool stuff that got out of the game during its development time, and a mini-game can also be unlocked to help you work out your skills with Kratos. The "Making Of" special is very comprehensive and shows the dedication behind this team, and the fact you can download the soundtrack is a nice touch. Shame you have to download a new player to do it, but it's worth the struggle.

So should God of War be deemed any kind of hardcore effort? I'd say so. It's right up there in the leagues of Ninja Gaiden in quality, and perhaps even beyond. It carries with it a story and a character that are memorable, and then backs them up with the kind of dreamy graphics, sound, and gameplay that will keep you coming back for more long after you've conquered Ares. It may not be for everyone (in fact, kids and those with weaker stomachs might consider, oh, I don't know, Sonic?), but those who are looking for substance to go with their style will certainly not be disappointed by this, an effort truly from the gaming gods. One only wonders if Jaffe's got a sequel cooking up in PS3 land, another test for the hardcore elite. Bring it on.

Our Final ScoreExcellent

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