Saying Goodbye to Playstation 2
God of War II is in my possession
This week has been… interesting. The NCAA tourney has been competitive, but a year after the George Mason miracle as well as about 48 other upsets, it’s been pretty straightforward. This would be the time when the NBA season drags on, but Kobe changed everything. We’ve got Kobe-related material from everyone. I was looking forward to putting up one of my non-basketball Friday fun pieces, like the graphic novel I wrote about Khalid the Eagles fan. Right now it’s Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe, and I understand that. But you know what? This following post will never be timely or even .000000001% meaningful on any level other than at this very moment right now. It has nothing to do with basketball, but if you are a gamer, you might enjoy it. Here goes.
In 2002 I worked at the U.S. Open for two weeks. I didn’t get paid much, but the money I made all went to one place (rapper style!). The purchase of a Playstation 2. If you’ve been coming to this website over the years, you know I love me some Madden, NBA 2K and Live, baseball, Grand Theft Autos, Shadows of the Empire, all of the platinum hits. But there is one game that stands above the rest. GOD OF WAR. The pinnacle of video game perfection for the PS2. (My favorite video game of all-time is Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time for the N64)
The creators of God of War are animals. David Jaffe, you genius/sadist! For those of you willing to really nerd-out, David Jaffe is the Shigeru Miyamoto of God of War. A genius beyond casual understanding. The plot twist in God of War (a video game!) is one of the most messed up things I have ever encountered. If you have played it yourself, you understand. If you have not, I can not make you understand. You just have to live through the never-ending frustration of the quest to obtain Pandora’s box, and the resulting shocker. God of War has the graphics, storyline, violence, soundtrack, playability, replayability, escapism, realisim, the scale and size… It’s the perfect video game. But don’t take my word for it. These are rave reviews of the highest order.
When I first found out about the PS3 finally being street legal, my first question was “Are they making God of War II for the PS3?” If so, I would have bought one. Instead, they chose to make it the last great game for the PS2. I haven’t been playing video games much these days, and my PS2 has been accumulating dust. This weekend will be the beginning of my final journey into the world of PS2. My girlfriend is going out of town. Other than a party I’m going to, some elite 8, and some other stuff I’ve got to do, it’s me and Kratos this weekend.
Spartans are big right now thanks to 300, (Check out this Gilbert blog post, paying attention to what he wants his son to be like) and Kratos, your character from God of War, is like King Leonidas on whatever they used to smoke in place of crack back then. Leonidas had a sword, spear, and shield. He knew a few battle tricks. Kratos has the blades of chaos, which are two huge swords at the end of chains that are burned into his flesh. The decapitations are grotesque as you might imagine, only bloodier than that image in your imagination. He has other weapons and magic too. What’s that, you need a preview? Ok, your wish is my command.
The reviews I have read say the sequel is better than the original. My first reaction is to say impossible. But the raves about the first one were dead on. I have no idea what to expect, other than the war to end all wars, and I like that kind of intensity. Once I have conquered this game, after what should be who knows how many hours of frustration, I retire my PS2 forever. I’m getting emotional just thinking about it. Oh the hours/months/years I have spent sitting there with that little black box! I could list my greatest achievements and moments with that thing, but the depth of that list would be the most depressing and least interesting thing ever. Just know that I am sitting in my chair with a big smile on my face.
What is next for me? PS3? Wii? A more neutral Xbox 360? I do not know. What I do know is that without putting anyone on blast, some of these companies have been making half-hearted PS2 games and amazing PS3 games to try and force a guy like me to buy the next gen console. You might have won.
So, with that enjoy your weekend of college ball. We will know the Final 4 on Monday. And Kobe will probably have scored 120 more points by then.
21 Responses to “Saying Goodbye to Playstation 2”
Mar.23 at 5:34 pm
Andres David says:
I liked the article even though I prefer going out into the real world to find my battles. I’m cosigning on this and giving you the benefit of the doubt. I dunno why smash brothers wasn’t mentioned, cuz my man Kirby has some moves of his own.
Mar.23 at 5:55 pm
Rob W. says:
Kobe and GOW II are similar, they’re both unbelievable. If I were to tell you that a perfect game (GOD) got even better, how would you react? Just like if I told you a week ago, Kobe would average 58 over the next three games. Believe the hype.
Mar.23 at 6:05 pm
Max Airington says:
PS3 is supposed to drop by $100 soon, making it only a forearm and a leg.
Mar.23 at 6:14 pm
scott says:
Hey Sam, I just copped a PS3 down here in Oz…damn son…40 player online deathmatch on Resistance!!! And I usually HATE 1st person shooters, can’t wait to get NBA 2k7 with the whole “shooting a free throw with the controller gimmick”.
Mar.23 at 6:15 pm
scott says:
Oh yeah in OZ the PS3 is like $750-800USD or something….
Mar.23 at 6:55 pm
jbn74sb says:
Kobe might drop 120 tonight.
Mar.23 at 8:00 pm
Foghat says:
Get robbed a PS3
Mar.23 at 8:09 pm
jone40 says:
I must say that the GOD OF WAR 2 surpasses the 1st one… incredible as it seems its true… i never really tought that they could top the oroginal but i was wrong… the twist… the cenemetography… the battles… new monsters… new weapons… equals the best game in the world… hail Kratos… hail to the last hoorah for the PS2.
Mar.23 at 9:43 pm
Decs says:
buy a 360 and play gears of war. you wont regret it. and just wait for assasins creed, if you havent heard about it, got to ign and read on.
Mar.23 at 10:27 pm
Billy Blanks says:
God of War II has officially taken over my college life and forced me to skip THREE EXAMS this week! Everything about the game is amazing. I was playing God Mode on God of War I and threw my controller in frustration over those flippin Kratos clones. Even with Rage of the Gods full, and all my weapons maxed, the clones respawn so fast and your family is so weak that u just have to get EXTREMELY lucky to even get to the clones with the Artemis blades. I will attempt it again, but must complete God of war II before that is a reality. Sam, do yourself a favor and get this achievement, and prepare to be mesmerized by the button animations especially.
Mar.23 at 11:10 pm
Bernie in Phoenix says:
Just picked up a copy of God of War II yesterday. This game is unreal. It actually is better than the original as hard to believe as that may be. Gotta go, Kratos is calling.
Mar.24 at 12:37 am
PIMPN says:
isiah thomas is a fuckin genius. he signed randolph morris, fuckin genius. i was wondering if any nba gm was smart enought to make that move.
Mar.24 at 2:18 am
Young Chris says:
Cop Twilight Princess for Gamecube if you liked Ocarina of Time, Sam. It’s official.
Mar.24 at 3:08 pm
vinny says:
damn, why does the graphics on tv looks like smeared shit on a screen? I thought ares was the god of war, according to greek mythology…..whatever im not gonna go all nerdy on yo asses so nm
Mar.24 at 3:13 pm
vinny says:
nm what i just said i take it back, and sam just get a damn 360 man! Christ Sakes!
Mar.25 at 10:36 am
bs on you says:
my 360 got stolen and then i got a ps3, but last night someone stole it to
Mar.25 at 3:55 pm
Troy Dallas says:
Hey did anyone else hear about Artest possibly retiring at the end of the season? I was shocked when I found out.
Mar.25 at 9:00 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Someone stole your ps3 last night? I feel your pain.
I didn’t really get to play much this weekend cause I was running around too much, but when I did… Oh my God this game is better than the original. Impossible but true.
Mar.26 at 8:09 am
GCM says:
i’m already battling the first sister of the fates… nuff said…
Mar.26 at 9:45 am
SkyDubai says:
finishing GOW II in Titan Mode is actually somehow easier than God Mode in GOW I. That was my only complaint. But still, every facet of of GOW II is so much better than GOW I. The fight sequences are a lot smoother, the puzzles are integrated better and the overall plot fits in seamlessly. Just be prepared for a ‘brutal’ (Cliffhanger style) ending that is going to make you scream for GOW III. Think of how you felt when Matrix 2 ended…
Mar.26 at 10:10 am
Sam Rubenstein says:
I hope to catch up to you someday. Right now I’m way early in the game. Just got the barbarian hammer. The battle with Theseus and the violent ending to that battle made my heart rate go up 200 bpms.