God of War III

'God Of War III (2010)' picks up directly where it's predecessor left off and sees Kratos continue his quest to kill... well, everything in Olympus. I mean, this guy literally kills everyone. He's an angry, vicious warrior capable of tearing off a head with his bare hands. Jumping to the PS3 doesn't just allow the title to look and feel better, it also allows it to double down on its gore. Of course, violence is - and has always been - a part of the franchise. Here, though, you can actually feel it, especially when the game puts you in the POV of one of Kratos' victims. This entry is really where the storytelling starts to do some bold things with character. Essentially, Kratos is a villain. While you're playing, you're constantly wishing he would stop his quest for revenge. However, the only way that could happen is if you stopped playing and the thing is just too darn good to do that. The narrative goes out of its way to portray the negative consequences of violence - and vengeance, in particular - which begins to elevate it from pure hack 'n' slash entertainment. It does get caught on some of its own trappings, though. It kind of escalates the franchises' prior poor treatment of women and feels icky whenever it does. This is a small issue but it does have an impact. The gameplay, once again, consists of combat and puzzles. Both feel more refined than before, essentially the same but tweaked just enough to feel distinct. Your abilities build throughout the title - after an obligatory 'reset', of course - and it's very satsfying to master new techniques. The enemies provide a decent challenge and the bosses are all distinct. The end-game, in particular, is epic. A lot of the title is, though, as you clamber up walking mountains and defeat foes even larger than that. It's brilliant. It also has a tragic feel to it, bolstered by a ballsy and unexpected ending. The relentless killing of its gameplay mirrors the 'train wreck in slow motion' nature of its story, each justifying the other. It's a holistic, impressive and enjoyable affair throughout. 10/10