Yesterday I received an envelope in the mail. (See picture at the left.) It contained a long-awaited demo version of the new PSP title God of War: Chains of Olympus. The cover states that an ESRB rating has yet to be assigned (“RP”). However, I can virtually guarantee after playing it through that it will be a mature title. This is not incongruous with the two previous God of War games released on the PlayStation 2.

First, allow me to say that this is not a game for children. Having said that, young adults may find this a truly entertaining title. It’s an action adventure that puts the player in the shoes (sandals?) of a spartan warrior with unearthly power who has been charged by the gods (polytheistic  intended – think ancient Greece) to wreak vengeance on their behalf. The graphics are truly impressive for a handheld gaming system. Although, I believe that the PlayStation Portable has continued to shine in this area. Sadly, it is usually at the expense of loading times.

With that aside, the only minor disappointment with the gaming experience was the occasional slow-down. I don’t know if this will be corrected in the final release or if this is just the best that the system can handle. Either way, it isn’t a deal-breaker. The fact is that Chains of Olympus looks extraordinary. The environments are rich and vivid and the battlefield gives you a real sense of enormity. Though it’s definitely a more mature title, I’d heartily recommend this for the older members of your family. The developer, Ready at Dawn, appears to have truly captured what the console originals offered in a portable form.