Risking a major first party franchise on a cell phone endeavor is risky, but if God of War: Betrayal is an indication of the talent level at Sony Online Los Angeles studio, someone is due for a raise. There are no worries here as Kratos has made the transition from 3-D to 2-D miraculously well. This is one of the best mobile games you’ll ever play, and has truly made the format a relevant part of the current video game scene.
If God of War was crafted in the 16-bit era, sometime after Mortal Kombat ushered in a new era of violence, this is what we would have played. Kratos is depicted here battling between the two console iterations of the series, filling in a story gap leading up to his struggle in God of War II. This franchise loses almost nothing in this transition to a far weaker and limiting platform, and it’s how this move was handled that makes this mobile effort the stunner it is.
In terms of swinging the trademark weapon of the franchise, Athena’s Blades, the fluid animation brings Kratos fighting style to life in astonishing detail given this will only run up an $8 charge in your monthly bill. Yes, the combo system has been simplified, yet executive producer Shalom Mann and his small team has managed to infuse the sheer brutality and force God of War is known for within the confines of the platform. Taking to the air and whipping the blades around for ridiculously high combo numbers simply feels right.
To go with the dual blades, Kratos also brings with him a set of magic attacks. Due to the simplified nature of the combat, there is rarely a situation where they’re needed, or where the player will feel the urge to use them. Likewise, selecting them, which requires cycling through a full inventory, is a burden in the haste of a battle. As with the console version, everything has the ability to be powered up by defeating enemies and collecting their red orbs. The menu system is indiscernible from its PlayStation 2 counterpart, as is the title screen (complete with booming soundtrack).
Article comments