It seems that sequels, more often than not, tend to fall short of their precursor's glory. This especially holds true when the second-go follows such a groundbreaking title as the original God of War, a game that garnered numerous year-end awards and accolades. With the bar set so high, it appeared there was little room for improvement. However, God of War 2 dodges such fate, delivering one of the few fully realized gaming experiences of this generation.

The success of this franchise is surprising to no one. Consider the source material - droves of folklore and poetry, a fully formed (and formidable) cast of characters, narratives and motives, ad infinitum. The creators obviously had a lot to work with. Dropping Kratos, the embodiment of vengeance, into a messed-up mixture of all things mythology is a no-brainer when it comes to eliciting action of epic proportions. The story begins where the first game left off: Kratos is riding high as the God of War, having recently defeated Ares. His luck quickly takes a turn for the worst, however, as he is stripped of his seemingly insurmountable power in a duel with Zeus. Without spoiling the plot any further, things get very bad for Kratos, and very good for us.

Starting from scratch is half of the fun, after all. Upon being laid to waste, Kratos begins his journey with only his blades and bloodlust. At the outset, there are a good number of combos at Kratos' disposal. You can quickly pummel baddies into the ground, then follow up with a grapple. Or even send them spinning into the air, just to bring them back with the stick of your blade. Combat is fluid and intuitive and linking combos between enemies is manageable; however, enemy saturated quarters do encourage button mashing. It is an easy habit to form in the beginning, but as the game progresses, it becomes necessary to master the combat system. Thankfully, the leveling system further promotes calculated combat. Various weapons and spells become available to Kratos, which can all be upgraded via the use of red orbs, a sort of skill currency. Said upgrades increase range, damage and/or potency, depending on the weapon or magic. This element of character customization provides a well-implemented dose of strategy to an otherwise visceral combat system.

God of War 2 is not all action, though. The mayhem is carefully broken up by numerous puzzle segments, which range from simple block-and-switch maneuvers to complex environment-based puzzles that test your reflexes, as well as your cognitive prowess. While many require the use of collected items, the developers never resorted to fetch quests; rather, the keys become available at the defeat of a boss or by use of a recently learned skill. The brilliant intertwining of combat, puzzles and item collecting never feels contrived. Instead, the combination of these elements contributes to a cohesiveness that is matched by very few games.

The epic scale of God of War 2 also sets it apart from most other titles. Olympus is among the most awe-inspiring locales around. Close quarters reveal distinct architecture and fantastic character design, though the game shines as the camera pans out. The sheer genius and scope of the level design is simply breathtaking. Peering down a drawbridge at a newly resurrected Phoenix, perched behind a recently impaled Kraken, is awesome. Crossing a massive strand of chain-links, to pull the blinders off a foursome of massive, machinated horses, and then watching them drag an entire island through the sea is equally exhilarating. In fact, there are far too many of these moments to make mention of in one review. The grandeur is simply unparalleled.

When it was announced that GOW2 would release on current-gen hardware, fans were perplexed. Nonetheless, it hit the Playstation 2, though with a graphical fervor that surpasses even its predecessor. Watching Kratos tear, tug and trample his enemies to their demise is a thing of unbridled beauty, albeit excessively gory. Animations and character models are top notch, as are the lighting and particle effects. The CG sequences look gorgeous, carrying the masterful art style seamlessly from in-game. And the aforementioned landscapes are unrivaled, with little to no draw. To top it all off, the game formats to widescreen and runs in Progressive Scan. While textures can at times appear blurry, God of War 2 pushes the PS2 like no other title.

The sound design is equally impressive. Again, the developers did not skimp - the soundtrack and effects are of the highest quality, comparable to those of any blockbuster action film. The music swells as tension builds and explodes in an orchestral flurry during heavy moments; then, when the proverbial smoke clears, a hushed ambience remains, coaxing Kratos forward to the next ferocious encounter. As expected, the sound effects are also spot-on and superbly EQ-ed. From the crystalline clang of Athena's Blades to the Colossus' thunderous ground pound, the range of sounds is dynamic. Finally, muting your television during usually scenes is unnecessary: a nearly flawless delivery by the game's voice-actors rounds out a satisfying auditory experience.

Some may find the brevity of the game a point of contention but it feels as though GOW2 actually ended at just the right time. The difficulty ramps enough at the end to make you work for the win, but the satisfaction of fighting Zeus makes you yearn for more game play. Though the game will take average players about 10-15 hours to complete, there are a slew of features to keep you playing. Masochistic gamers will want to take on God (and eventually Titan) mode, continuing with all of Kratos' skill upgrades. In addition to increased difficulty, there are a number of collectibles to gather to unlock new content. In short, the developers did not try to extend gameplay via frivolous segments or unneeded backtracking; rather, the brilliant combat and beautiful scenery encourage repeated play.

God of War 2 is a landmark title, and a befitting swan song for the Playstation 2. This game is wholeheartedly recommended to any and every adult gamer, assuming you can stomach the gore and some nudity. Those looking for a first-rate title to entertain them through the veritable gaming wasteland that is the summer release schedule need look no further than Kratos' latest adventure.