vicious!
My son (15) had been after me for what felt like months about some game called God Of War, which looked initially like just another fighter game, only set in the rich mythology of Greece. I repeatedly blew him off in a gentle, fatherly way, because my son tends to want any game that looks remotely interesting. He does not discern the subtle differences between quality gameplay and dull, repetitive, noisy mechanisms that in my childhood required quarters.
My gaming website of choice, GameSpot, had a review of God Of War last week when it released, and it made a 9.3 out of 10, a superb rating, and one of the highest scores in some time. In fact, it has received more than its fair share of impressive reviews, so much so that I was inclined to buy the game for myself. And even before buying it I had the clear impression that the game was far too violent for my son. But that was when I hadn't planned on playing it.
Last Thursday I purchased the game, and I can safely say that it is one of the most amazing displays of virtual fun I have ever played in the course of, oh, the last twenty years.
It is also one of the most violent and ferocious creations I have played. And that sword has two sides, and they are equally sharp.
On the one hand, after the first thrilling level, you are treated to a cinematic display of an intense, gory kill-spree, including some nastiness I don't want to try to explain here. I found this to be a highly exhilarating sequence, setting me (as a gamer) up for an unparalleled ride. As a father, however, my mind was reeling at the thought of my son EVER seeing this. There is no way on Earth I would let a person under the age of, say, 27 anywhere near this game. But I only have to worry about the 15-year-old who's going to be salivating when he sees the game box on my shelf. He's my responsibility.
On the other hand, the game is incredible fun, very challenging and beautiful to look at. It is a real feat of genius on the part of it's designers, especially since this is no Xbox exclusive...this is a PS2-only game. And the PS2, by comparison, is not known for it's mechanical prowess.
And there you have it...the conundrum that is a creative, powerful, engaging and intensely enjoyable game that you cannot, by any means, share with your junior gamer-spawn. That "M" rating has never been more acutely accurate.
That said...God Of War is sweet. Sugar cane. Vicious!
My gaming website of choice, GameSpot, had a review of God Of War last week when it released, and it made a 9.3 out of 10, a superb rating, and one of the highest scores in some time. In fact, it has received more than its fair share of impressive reviews, so much so that I was inclined to buy the game for myself. And even before buying it I had the clear impression that the game was far too violent for my son. But that was when I hadn't planned on playing it.
Last Thursday I purchased the game, and I can safely say that it is one of the most amazing displays of virtual fun I have ever played in the course of, oh, the last twenty years.
It is also one of the most violent and ferocious creations I have played. And that sword has two sides, and they are equally sharp.
On the one hand, after the first thrilling level, you are treated to a cinematic display of an intense, gory kill-spree, including some nastiness I don't want to try to explain here. I found this to be a highly exhilarating sequence, setting me (as a gamer) up for an unparalleled ride. As a father, however, my mind was reeling at the thought of my son EVER seeing this. There is no way on Earth I would let a person under the age of, say, 27 anywhere near this game. But I only have to worry about the 15-year-old who's going to be salivating when he sees the game box on my shelf. He's my responsibility.
On the other hand, the game is incredible fun, very challenging and beautiful to look at. It is a real feat of genius on the part of it's designers, especially since this is no Xbox exclusive...this is a PS2-only game. And the PS2, by comparison, is not known for it's mechanical prowess.
And there you have it...the conundrum that is a creative, powerful, engaging and intensely enjoyable game that you cannot, by any means, share with your junior gamer-spawn. That "M" rating has never been more acutely accurate.
That said...God Of War is sweet. Sugar cane. Vicious!
posted by scn at 2:35 PM
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