Wednesday, May 5, 2010

God of War Critique (part 6 of 6)

Ok, here's the last part of the critique. Time to tie things up and move on to the next game. I was originally going to pounce on the rest of the God of War series ('cause I want to rip them to pieces and burn the remains), but I'm going to deconstruct Halo 3: ODST instead.

APOTHEOSIS

With his victory behind him, Kratos returns to his statue of Athena to receive his prize. His service to the gods completed, he asks that the nightmares of his past be erased. Athena grants him forgiveness, but asserts that nobody could ever forget such terrible deeds. In sad acceptance, Kratos’ head drops. In all his despair, knowing that his past can never be wiped away, he journeys to the Suicide Bluffs to end his misery. Alas, upon hitting the water, Kratos is magically lifted back to where he leapt. Another statue of Athena lays in wait. Athena tells him that for having done such service to the gods, he cannot be allowed to die by his own hand. As a reward she grants him status as the new god of war. The narrator returns, saying that all wars for the rest of time would occur under Kratos’ watch. And lo, the story of God of War comes to a close.
Well, you did good the first time around.

In conclusion, God of War is one of those self-sufficient stories that end without being found wanting. The player gets to see lots of awesome and memorable events, absorbs a hefty and well thought-out story, and is then rewarded with a satisfying ending, all questions answered. Kratos is forgiven for his past, gets his revenge, and becomes a god for the rest of time. Pretty closed-ended story, right? 

Well. The first time I finished God of War, I thought about how happy I was with the game and how much fun it had been (except that part in Hades). I wanted a sequel, thinking I could have another great dose in another adventure. So I anxiously waited for God of War II, and God War II is what I got. Oh, what a fool I was.

I could whine for a decade on the abomination the sequels concocted. Like the Body Burner, I attempted the great temple that was "two". To what twisted creation have I been led, I wondered. Like him, when I returned I felt dead and confused. What fevered mind thought these were good ideas? Like him, I am bitter, tasked to burn the dead.     --


Works Cited
God of War. Foster City, CA: Sony Computer Entertainment, 2006. Computer software.
O'Connell, Mark, and Raje Airey. The Complete Encyclopedia of Signs & Symbols: Identification and Analysis of the Visual Vocabulary That Formulates Our Thoughts and Dictates Our Reactions to the World Around Us. London: Hermes House, 2006. Print.
 

2 comments:

  1. "Another statue of Athena lies in wait." lol. lofl.rofl. roffl. roflmfartfo.

    ReplyDelete