Sadly, my mom doesn't let me get M-rated games yet. Solution? Free demo downloads! This review may or may not be accurate seeing as I have only played a small portion included in the demo. However, the violence in this game is overrated. There is nothing here that a fifteen-year old can't handle. There is no dismemberment, evisceration, or any other form of graphic violence. You simply strike an enemy, and a puff of blood comes out and splats on the floor. There are some cinematic finishing moves, which are typically more violently explicit than the rest of the game. In one, Kratos stabs a basilisk in the head several times, then in the eye, and then smashes its head with a large mace. There is no gore in this, but quite a bit of blood. I have also heard of a non-explicit sex scene. Fun, creative, and great for older teens. But be advised.
Tools for this page
God of War: Chains of Olympus
(2008, Video Games - Action/Adventure, Rated M, Play it on: PSP)
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 17. -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Violence & sex make prequel off limits to kids.
Why We Rated This 
The good stuff
-
Educational value:
What to watch out for
-
Violence:
-
Sex:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of God of War: Chains of Olympus was written by Marc Saltzman
Parents need to know that this game is both violent and sexual. The violence makes up most of the game-play as you fight enemies using blades chained to your wrists. When you take on bigger boss characters, you can do even more to them such as smash their head in with a heavy chest or stab them in the face with a blade (note: with boss characters, the action plays out for you as you simply press the correct buttons at the right time). All the boss enemies you take on in this game are mythological creatures, such as giant beasts, but there are human victims, too. The game contains a sex scene (which is well documented on the web) involving a threesome with two almost naked topless women and lets players partake in the act -- off-camera -- by pressing specific buttons on the controller as you hear the sounds of the sexual act. The visual shown during this scene is of a candlestick holder shaped like a naked woman encircling a candle, which sits on a crate and shakes in time to the moans.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about whether this game is as controversial as, say, Grand Theft Auto and its "Hot Coffee" controversy, because it contains a sex scene. Do you think sex scenes should be allowed in M-rated video games?
More on God of War: Chains of Olympus
What’s the Story?
Sony's GOD OF WAR: CHAINS OF OLYMPUS on the PlayStation Portable (PSP) is the prequel to the two earlier God of War games. Once again, you play as Kratos, a Spartan warrior, who battles mythological creatures with the aid of a double-bladed weapon chained to your wrists. Since Chains of Olympus takes place before the events in the first game, Kratos has not yet achieved the status of a god after defeating the powerful Ares. Instead he must venture into mysterious dark environments to fight mythological creatures. In true God of War style, Kratos faces off against huge boss fighters early on in the game -- in this case, a huge fire-breathing lizard-like creature that attacks him on an elevated outdoor terrace; you must duck, roll, and jump to avoid it's claws and bites; leap over its fiery breath; and whack him silly with your chained blades. Eventually you'll be prompted -- with specific buttons you need to press on the face of the PSP, such as triangle, circle or square -- to pull giant columns down on its head to render him unconscious. As you play through this linear game, you will direct Kratos as he attempts to save the ancient world by destroying vicious monsters.
Close
Is It Any Good?
Take one gander at the graphics in Chains of Olympus and players might think they've booted up a console game. But this visually stunning, "Mature"-rated action-adventure hybrid is more than just eye-candy as the gameplay -- while on the short side -- is also extraordinarily good. Gamers will no doubt marvel at the size of the beasts you take on, how fluid the animation is, the slick "camera" angles, and the level of detail in both the characters and environments.
Puzzle-solving, however, is fairly basic, such as pushing or pulling crates and then jumping on them to reach high areas. Another issue is the relatively short gameplay at about 5 hours or so. The game can be played on easy ("Mortal"), normal ("Hero") or hard ("Spartan"), and if completed on any of these three difficulty settings you can access the very hard ("God") mode. Minor issues aside – namely, brevity, linearity, and puzzle simplicity -- God of War: Chains of Olympus is one of the most visceral and gratifying handheld games ever created, and one that pushes the PSP hardware to new heights. Just be aware this is a "Mature"-rated game with inappropriate content for players under 17 year of age.
ClosePublisher’s Details
Released on 03/04/2008, price $39.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: M (for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content)
ESRB rating: M (for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content)
Our Members Say
See all 6 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
Fun for older teens
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
NO SWEARING
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
HILARIOUS!
I can't even believe that a kid could even try to this stuff in real life!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
it's a good game. GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Do you play it? 
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
