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  • $49.99
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God of War II (PlayStation 2)

common sense media says

A cinematic but brutal action-adventure hybrid.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this extremely violent and gory fighting game with sex and nudity goes a few steps beyond many M-rated games. This game earns a high star rating as a well-made product, but it also earns our rare "Off" rating for 17+ for its adults-only content. Starring a bloodthirsty Greek god with incredible powers, it shows body dismemberment and lots of blood splatters. It also features nudity and sexual themes, including a Mini game that involves pushing buttons to make topless women in a hot tub moan and reach their climax.

Educational value: While this game doesn't teach Greek mythology, many of the recognizable characters are in the game.
Positive messages: Stars a bloodthirsty Greek God who uses his powers to kill and dismember others in extremely gory ways.
Positive role models: The protagonist is a complex character who uses his extreme power in a bloody, ruthless manner.
Ease of play: Not applicable.
Violence: Fighting is extremely graphic and gory in nature. Players can do everything from rip the eye out of a Cyclops to twist the head off a Medusa to slice arms off of enemies with the chains strapped to your wrists. This game is not for the faint of heart.
Sex: This game has a sex mini-game, featuring topless women in a hot tub. During the "game," you press one of the four main PS2 buttons when indicated, which causes the women to moan louder, helping them to reach their climax.
Language: While the ESRB warns of strong language, we couldn't find any.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on God of War II

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about how this game uses Greek mythology as a setting. Is this how you would imagine the world of Greek gods to be?
  • Is violence in a fantasy world such as this less disturbing than in games that mimic the real world? What interests you more in this game: the combat system or the storyline?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In GOD OF WAR II, you assume the role of Kratos, a Spartan warrior who achieved the status of a god after defeating the powerful Ares. But sitting upon the throne of Olympus did not quell Kratos' appetite for destruction -- until the goddess Athena reminds him she was the one responsible for his position as the new god of war and punishes him by reducing him to the size of a human. Now, back on Earth, in the ancient Greek city of Rhodes, Kratos must prove he still has the goods to stay alive by fighting mythological creatures. In the first major battle, against Colossus, you must dodge his giant fists, catapult boulders (and even yourself) to launch attacks against his huge head, and use the twin blades chained to your wrists to fight off his minions.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

God of War II not only offers highly detailed and smoothly animated creatures to fight, but provides impressive art direction with enormous environments that vary greatly between locations (unlike in the first game), along with cinematic camera angles and a clever use of lighting and shadows. The non-interactive cut-scene sequences are also stunning. Unlockable content ranges from bonus games, including an arena-fighting mode and Mini game challenges, to extra Kratos outfits to behind-the-scenes media to complement the second disc, which is already packed with documentary videos, photos, music, interviews, and more. One of the Mini games is a sex game that takes place in a hot tub with topless women.

God of War II is a highly intense, cinematic, and gratifying action-adventure hybrid for mature players -- and it proves there's still some life left in your PS2 after all.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: PlayStation 2
Not available online
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment
Released on: March 14, 2007
Price: 49.99
ESRB Rating: M for blood and gore, intense violence, nudity, sexual themes, strong language

This review was written by Marc Saltzman
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13

Most useful reviews by all members

-_-
kid, 11 years old
 
so gory that it should come with a barfbag

haloodst
teen, 14 years old
 
im a 13 year old and i say Game ON i mean why do parents get so up tight about a video game

damilesguy
teen, 14 years old
 
13+ = Not a problem.
First of all, please ignore miles5501, thats my old account! Review: Even though this game is excessive blood and gore, thats not all, there are also puzzles to solve, and hidden features. This game would be perfect for 13+ and is not that inappropriate. However, there is a sex minigame, in which you approach two lesbians, an immediately start having sex with them both. (Sex is not shown, but you hear moaning, and see a statue of a little boy peeing into the sauna jiggle around as you have sex, the moaning gets louder and louder. (It is possible to skip this sex minigame, but you will not get as many points as you would have.

Ignis Graecus
teen, 15 years old
 
Not exactly what I expected for the sequel, I found this a lot more challenging than the first. I hear a lot of people complaining about the violence, but seriously, its not that bad. People here just have weak stomachs. The only true problem I found was the hot tub, which, thank-fully, neither of my brothers or little sister discovered. Other than that, this game is fine, I would say this would even be good enough for eight year olds.

KrazykiD Girl
kid, 12 years old
 
On for 17 year old teens from he rating.
When I was 7 my dad played God of War all the time. It seemed little cool but besides one thing it is violent because Ive seen the main character fight the bad guys with a sword and blood gushes out of the bad guys head. At one point the main character was allowed to buy and drink whiskey.= $50.00

miles5501
teen, 15 years old
 
Puzzle
I strongly disagree with the people who think this game is not for kids. I am 12 years old, and i enjoyed it! On the plus sides: This game will really get the greek gods names into your head. It's hard not to remember them. Puzzle gameplay. Even though it's known for its violence, God of War 2 is actually mostly a puzzle game. Down sides: there are very graphic, brutal, and bloody scenes, including Permetheus getting eaten alive by a bird, and a Horsekeepers head getting repeatedly jammed in a doorway by the main character. (You.) There is also a sex minigame, in which you approach to lesbian girls, and immediately start having sex with them both. (Sex is not shown. but you hear moaning, and see a statue of a baby peeing wiggling around as you have sex with the girls. Both women are shown topless.) (Both breasts visible on each girl.)

Henry Hurwitz
teen, 15 years old
 
god of war 2
Very Beautiful, but too violent for most kids.

MizztaSquiggles
kid, 12 years old
 
Cool
Really cool and epic game. Keeps players on the edge of their seat. Just remember to bring a barf bag along when you play.

ssrex
teen, 15 years old
 
I don't think it was as good as the first, but equally epic.

 
GREAT SEQUEL
God of War 2 delivers an even better experience than the first game. The storyline is great and so is the gameplay. Violence is once again a great issue as there are even more ways to kill enemies and more moves so therefore any child under 15 should not play this game *cough cough kids below my review* there is also questionable nudity in the game but its optional but younger audiences shouldn't be exposed to this. Anyone that doesn't like this game obviously doesn't know how to play a game like this as it was one of the top games when it came out and when God of War 3 comes out it will easily be the best seller. Oh by the way the replay value is very high as it will push you to your gaming limits on the harder difficulty levels, I was able to beat it on titan mode after a couple of broken controllers. Parents do yourselves a favor and dont buy this for your kids if their under the age of 15

Audiophile
teen, 16 years old
 
Same as the last one with better fighting.
Thats pretty much it.

Gameaddict
teen, 14 years old
 
i want to play
Haven't played it yet but my sister told my mom you have to do that minigame but my mom says to have my dad do it and this sounds like a M version of age of mythology looking forward to playing this and man up a little -_-

robot kid
kid, 12 years old
 
I have not played it
This is just my guess. I have not played it, but I want to. Will someone give me a full reveiw? Oh and can you skip the cutscenes if there is sex or something?

 
Great game. My 12 year old little brother plays it and he isn't traumatized. This game is awesome and it has really extensice game play. Saying that this is off for kids really says that your kids are probably the ones who eat lunch by themselves. Either that or there the ones who end up whores in high school.

Codfan4life
teen, 15 years old
 
Great game just a little bloody
You people are all retards! This game is a fun game that everyone loves. I mean sure its bloody and gory but still. This guy he fights monsters for the good of greece and its optional to kill civilians, he's a good guy just does it in a violent manner. and the sex scene i mean what the... they fuzz everything out so you can't see it. i like it because it teaches you about greek stuff and the controls are easy to use.

natedogg
teen, 16 years old
 
it is stupid
this is the stupidest game ever and there is a scene of farting in it. yeah farting

Did_Cavemen_ha ...
teen, 15 years old
 
Terrible (18), Not entertaining
I only played the god of war 3 demo once (though i could not find it on this site, i had checked it out with the district 9 blu-ray demo) and absolutely despised it. In the case of the sex minigame (naturally, as a boy of 13, i'd look it up on Youtube), it's at least bringing another person in this world. But it is an extremely gory and bloody game, people decapitate enemies' heads, and blood is an issue in my opinion. I disagree with the parents who are so leniant about the age. For anyone, i don't think it's appropriate. I don't like it much.

 
One of the top games on the PS2 - but not for kids
This is one of the best games for the PS2, the graphics are amazing and the controls are fluid. However, this is not recommended for kids due to the extreme violence. If you are adult and are looking for an engrossing gameplay experience, you owe it to yourself to pick this up.

Plague
parent
 
God of War ll
Fantastic game for ages 11+. Epic battles and cool graphics makes this one great game.

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age