God of War: Chains of Olympus

Keep the arena under control

Kratos’s chained blades make it possible to reach several enemies without standing beside each one. The useful question is where a combo will leave him when the next attack arrives. Combat arenas alternate with traversal and environmental puzzles, giving the action a clear forward pace. The spectacle is effective, although the prescribed finishing prompts leave less room for improvisation than the ordinary exchanges before them.

Learn the defensive controls before spending upgrades on a long attack sequence. Keep enough space to recognise an enemy’s preparation, and use the quieter traversal sections to reset after a difficult arena.

An earlier chapter for Kratos

Sony’s North American launch announcement dates Chains of Olympus to March 2008 and credits both Ready at Dawn and Santa Monica Studio. The story is a prequel to the original God of War. It brings the series’ combat, puzzles and staged encounters to PSP as a new adventure rather than a port of a PS2 campaign.