The God of War 2

Platform: PS2.
Verdict: It rocks.
Rating: 4/5
When our ancestors were granted with opposable thumbs, not only did it allow them to emerge as a dominant species and a master of tools, it allowed for the future creation of the iconic joypad and the subsequent need for blister covering thumb plasters.
The God of War series seems solely based around the punishment of your unsuspecting thumbs, requiring them to tap buttons like an uzi with infinite ammo and the latest instalment is a trip to Hades for them in more way than one.
Continuing the story of Kratos, God of War 2 sees him stripped of his powers and embark on a quest from the dead to slay the god Zeus with the aid of the mighty titans.
With his trademark chain weapons, Kratos rips and sunders his mythological enemies with claret spilling ferocity and a brutish disregard for life amongst exotic and fantastical locations.
Easily earning its age rating, God of War revels in its on screen carnage but aptly so - war is sick and brutal so its god must surely lead by example.
Kratos easily lives up to his title, slaying his way through Greek mythologies finest and GoW2 provides updated combos, new attacks and new weapons to create deeper combat and bring more variety to the admittedly repetitive action of its predecessor.
As well as the wanton carnage and thumb burning button combos, GoW2 is laced with puzzles. Giving you time to rest and a chance to flex some cranial muscles instead, GoW2’s puzzles are often satisfying and simple to work out.
Unfortunately some can be so subtle that the answer can be staring you right in the eye when your progress has halted in frustration.
Boss fights can slow progression too with some unfair difficulty spikes but each generally just requires learning attack patterns and keeping calm amidst a flurry of button presses and curses at the screen.
Like an Epic Metal record cover come to life, God of War 2 is loud, brash and a graphical swan song for the aging PS2.
It’s also what thumbs were made for.