Common Sense Media Review
Excellent game is dark, violent, and for adults.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 20 kid reviews
Kids say the game is engaging and features a well-executed storyline that incorporates elements of Greek mythology; however, it is heavily criticized for its significant violence and sexual content, including nudity and gore. Many reviewers believe it's appropriate for older teens or mature players, but some warn that younger children may not handle the intense themes and explicit scenes well.
- violence and nudity
- mature audience
- Greek mythology
- engaging storyline
- inappropriate for children
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
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?
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.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
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?
Game Details
- Platform : PlayStation 2
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Sony Computer Entertainment
- Release date : March 22, 2005
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate