God of War (M)

Excellent game is dark, violent, and for adults.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Played the game? Review it
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details
  • Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
  • Genre: Video Games - Action/Adventure
  • Release Date: 03/22/2005
  • Platform(s): PlayStation 2
  • ESRB Rating: M
  • Price: $44.95

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is an extremely violent game (cut scenes show severed and exploding heads, spears thrust through enemy throats, and buckets of blood). There are topless goddesses and an implied group sex scene. Also, the game centers around a complicated protagonist, a ruthless Spartan warrior haunted by his past actions.

Families can talk about whether Kratos's ends justify his vicious means. Do you agree with him, or is there something troubling about this view? He kills innocent people; is this ever an acceptable thing to do?

Message

Social Behavior:

Kratos is an extremely complicated protagonist -- a power-hungry warrior cursed by memories of his brutality. His mixture of good and bad motivations may make him too complex for younger players to fully comprehend.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Empty wine jugs imply drinking, but no one actually shown drinking.

Educational Value:

Players are likely to learn the names of some Greek gods, even though God of War takes some liberties with the mythology

Violence

Suicide, genocide, violence against women and children, rewards for killing innocents, and buckets of blood and gore. God of War has it all.

Sex

The game opens with Kratos kicking two naked women out of his bed after an implied group sex encounter. Also features a bevy of topless goddesses

Language

No obscenities during gameplay, but included "making of" video features some foul-mouthed game developers.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Aaron Lazenby

In GOD OF WAR, players control Kratos, a warrior and commander of one of the most feared platoons of the Spartan army. He pledges allegiance to Ares, but is double-crossed -- and he vows to make Ares pay for the countless people he's killed in the god's name. Top-notch combat features dozens of special fighting moves and inventive magic skills allow players to turn enemies to stone with the power of the Gorgon or throw Zeus' lightening bolts. Puzzles require some inventive thinking, asking players to assess the environment for clues and solutions, and the platform elements require good timing and jumping skills to navigate creative settings like the Cliffs of Madness and the depths of Hades.

Is it any good?

4

Based on the library of Greek mythology, Sony's action platformer takes a really great idea and stretches it to its limits -- both in terms of high-quality gaming and stomach-turning violence. The result is a beautiful, compelling game that is, sadly, too graphic for even the most mature teens.

The game's creativity serves a dark, amoral hero who lives in a world of explosive gore and relentless brutality. The game shows no restraint when it comes to violence. Additionally, Kratos's total disregard for the innocents that share his world is very hard to accept, even though the game goes to great lengths to explain the reasons for his brutality. Add to that a casual sexual encounter with a pair of women and you have a game that's wholly inappropriate for kids.

How to play

  • Playability: Medium – Enemies can be tricky to defeat and the variety attack options can get confusing, but God Of War doesn't take too much getting used to.
  • Graphics: High – Expansive, mythic vistas and Herculean detail make GoW's graphics a sight to behold. One of the best looking games available today.

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 26 reviews.

3


Posted on 03/25/08 by Aqua Teen 2435 Kid contributor, age 9

fun!

Kind of bloody, not too rough on swearing, fun for people 15+
5

Posted on 03/24/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

it was awesome!!!

i thought this game was personally awesome but i thought it had a lot of blood and gore!and it had a sex mini game but you only see boobs.and there is no language if you don't watch the making of video.it is the best adventure game i've ever played.it's way better then britney spears blackout.buy if 17 or older.p.s. i like boobies. kiss kiss suck suck
5

Posted on 03/10/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

awesome game! good puzzles.

Awesome puzzles for your brain but too much violence, little nudity, and reccommded for smart brains.
5


Posted on 02/19/08 by metalhead6656 Kid contributor, age 10

a must for hard core hack and slash players everywhere

this is a great fun game not for 17 or under though it has pretty good graphics for the ps2 and with kratos and mythical gods you get some good educational value with it it does have a lot of blood and nudity it is a must have david jaffe really hit it off if you have not played this game and own a playstation rent or but it NOW
3


Posted on 11/10/07 by UltimateMom Adult contributor
1

Posted on 11/03/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Average players need not play

This game should be rated experienced gamer only. That way, all of us "average" players would not have bought it. If Sony is going to put out games, they need to remember that not everyone is an expert. For the most part, I found the game very well done. Just thought some of the challenges, though seemingly simple, were actually just the oposite. Bottom line, I do not recommend this game for anyone not a serious gamer. It's not worth the headache. I won't be buying 2 or 3.
5

Posted on 08/14/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

great game for an older adolescent or an adult

God of War is a good game, but to be honest it is not for kids under the age of about 14-15. The game is very bloody,gruesome and is drastically violent, the violence goes from decapitating,disemboweling all the way to beating people with their own chopped off arm!In only one part of the game, there is implied *ex between the main character and two women.It is not what you think parents and/or kids, all of this is shown off screen but you could hear **xual sounds.Parts of the game show only tops off of people nothing below the stomach, this includes men and women.This game is good as i said before but from my word and men from game stores i prefer you not to buy this for kids especially if there is younger child in the house. Parents i will warn you that this game is possibly not going to be liked by you after you witness the countless contents in this game you will have a grin on your faces!!!
5

Posted on 06/18/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16
5


Posted on 03/25/07 by Crapo Kid contributor, age 13

Amazing game

Anyone who is interested in ancient greece will love this game. The violence and nudity might be a little much but it still has a good story board, great graphics, and even some awesome looking weapons. This game also gives historical facts on greek mythology. I loved this game and am thinking most people would too.
5


Posted on 03/24/07 by AmR Kid contributor, age 15

Violent, but educational

I actually learned alot of Greek mythology stuff from this game. It is a very educational game. It has gore that I've never seen that intense in my life. And yes, there is nudity, but you don't have to be immature about it. It's there, so what, don't pay attention to it? Same with the violence. The story of Kratos is complicated, he isn't really a hero really, he's just looking out for himself, but at the same time trying to get his wife and child back by making a deal with Ares. I learned alot, but you should just be mature about some of the elements of the game.

See all 26 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 13 reviews.

5

Posted on 03/24/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

it was awesome!!!

i thought this game was personally awesome but i thought it had a lot of blood and gore!and it had a sex mini game but you only see boobs.and there is no language if you don't watch the making of video.it is the best adventure game i've ever played.it's way better then britney spears blackout.buy if 17 or older.p.s. i like boobies. kiss kiss suck suck
5

Posted on 03/10/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

awesome game! good puzzles.

Awesome puzzles for your brain but too much violence, little nudity, and reccommded for smart brains.
3


Posted on 11/10/07 by UltimateMom Adult contributor
1

Posted on 11/03/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Average players need not play

This game should be rated experienced gamer only. That way, all of us "average" players would not have bought it. If Sony is going to put out games, they need to remember that not everyone is an expert. For the most part, I found the game very well done. Just thought some of the challenges, though seemingly simple, were actually just the oposite. Bottom line, I do not recommend this game for anyone not a serious gamer. It's not worth the headache. I won't be buying 2 or 3.
5


Posted on 03/21/07 by Chubs Adult contributor

Greek Mythology at it's BEST!!!

BEST GAME EVER!!!! All of the traditional greek beasts are there. Gorgons, Cyclops, Sayters ect....Nudity was a natural part of the greeks they highly valued the human body.
4

Posted on 03/20/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor
5


Posted on 02/11/07 by ryan212 Adult contributor

great game for adults

16 i say i would make it 17 cause hight amot of nudiy and grafic bloody killings but you learn geak gods and 20very hard puzzles per leval so it makes you learn alot langues there is hell and dam real iusu in the game is sex and violince nudiy is not sexual the first boobies seen is in bed only sexual others topples eval vilens now blood is like keckup boss battles press a button and kill bloody like swerting keckup so in the end of the day if nudiy is the only bad thing you buy when 16or17 but you whant kids to learn puzzles and greek gods no mater what about of blood or boobs yes i bout for my 15year son for a quees he got A+ he had great fun i have great fun any 17year old kid will love this game and a must have so bye bye
5


Posted on 11/30/06 by spiderman Adult contributor

Ancient Greece has never looked so good

This is one of the best playstation games ever and it is a really good game with it's grahpic violence and gripping story. Kratos is one of the best game charactes ever. This game is definatly not for children becasue of the violence levels but it is good for adults who want to get rid of their frustration and anger by beating monsters to a bloody pulp.
4


Posted on 09/22/06 by MikeM Adult contributor

An excellent kill-frenzy action packed game

Due to the nature of this site (and to save myself time), I'll simply comment on the content issues rather than the quality of the game itself. BLOOD AND GORE: God of War is a very violent, bloody, and gory video game. You're constantly ripping 'things' to pieces and it can get a bit graphic (even though the gore flies away quickly and only remains on screen for about 1.5 seconds). SEXUALITY/NUDITY: There is a cut scene of the main character throwing two naked girls out of bed after having implied sex. You see their breasts and the scene lasts approximately 10-20 seconds. There is one part of the game where you find two topless girls in bed together. The game allows you to jump into bed with them and perform sexual acts on them (All of the sexual acts are performed off-screen and the game tells you what buttons to press. However the audio/sounds that the girls make off-screen does get pretty graphic [moaning, etc]). LANGUAGE: None that I could hear. DRUG/ALCOHOL/SMOKING: None that I could see. Hopefully this review helped.
5


Posted on 07/27/06 by krazybeef101 Adult contributor

a crazy game but crazy violent

its an amazing game with theatrical stuff its the best for a ps2, but its content is very bad. Kratos has group sex with 2 women and there is a sex mini game, poeple slit throats, decapitate, bash heads into peices. stmachs cut open, impalings, lots of boobs. tis a good game tho
See all 13 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 13 reviews.

3


Posted on 03/25/08 by Aqua Teen 2435 Kid contributor, age 9

fun!

Kind of bloody, not too rough on swearing, fun for people 15+
5


Posted on 02/19/08 by metalhead6656 Kid contributor, age 10

a must for hard core hack and slash players everywhere

this is a great fun game not for 17 or under though it has pretty good graphics for the ps2 and with kratos and mythical gods you get some good educational value with it it does have a lot of blood and nudity it is a must have david jaffe really hit it off if you have not played this game and own a playstation rent or but it NOW
5

Posted on 08/14/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

great game for an older adolescent or an adult

God of War is a good game, but to be honest it is not for kids under the age of about 14-15. The game is very bloody,gruesome and is drastically violent, the violence goes from decapitating,disemboweling all the way to beating people with their own chopped off arm!In only one part of the game, there is implied *ex between the main character and two women.It is not what you think parents and/or kids, all of this is shown off screen but you could hear **xual sounds.Parts of the game show only tops off of people nothing below the stomach, this includes men and women.This game is good as i said before but from my word and men from game stores i prefer you not to buy this for kids especially if there is younger child in the house. Parents i will warn you that this game is possibly not going to be liked by you after you witness the countless contents in this game you will have a grin on your faces!!!
5

Posted on 06/18/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16
5


Posted on 03/25/07 by Crapo Kid contributor, age 13

Amazing game

Anyone who is interested in ancient greece will love this game. The violence and nudity might be a little much but it still has a good story board, great graphics, and even some awesome looking weapons. This game also gives historical facts on greek mythology. I loved this game and am thinking most people would too.
5


Posted on 03/24/07 by AmR Kid contributor, age 15

Violent, but educational

I actually learned alot of Greek mythology stuff from this game. It is a very educational game. It has gore that I've never seen that intense in my life. And yes, there is nudity, but you don't have to be immature about it. It's there, so what, don't pay attention to it? Same with the violence. The story of Kratos is complicated, he isn't really a hero really, he's just looking out for himself, but at the same time trying to get his wife and child back by making a deal with Ares. I learned alot, but you should just be mature about some of the elements of the game.
5

Posted on 02/18/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

awsome game

its awsome
5


Posted on 12/16/06 by beck13 Kid contributor, age 13

Violent, but useful!

I loved this game, so you should buy it! This game puts in the shoes and tells you of the hardships of Kratos's life. How he was forced to do the dirty work of the gods, until he eventually kills himself.
5


Posted on 10/12/06 by arsh arora Kid contributor, age 11
5


Posted on 08/24/06 by Sam_Fisher Kid contributor, age 16

It's after playing games like God of War that I wish game developers would sometimes lighten up on the lack of appropriateness typically found in some of the best of games. I just don't find much justification in violently ripping people to pieces or jumping in bed with two twins (it is off-screen, but the audio clues are descriptive enough). Why does it always need to be in some of the best games? What purpose does any of it serve? How does it further the game? Definitely a game only for the most mature teens the the least, if not adults only. But, if you are looking for a great game, look no further. God of War nails pretty much every aspect of it, with good action (something, as demonstrated by the LOTR games, that doesn't require gratuitous blood and gore), smart puzzles, intuitive controls, engaging storyline, and fantastic graphics. If you are mature enough to handle the serious ethical issues (I'm talking an older teen at the least, and probably an adult), than play this game.
See all 13 kids reviews >
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