Games: God of War III

(44.99, PS3)

Perhaps the bloodiest, most epic revenge story ever told via a series of games, the God of War saga has delivered thrills and excitement on a grand scale. With the latest version all the key elements that made previous instalments so popular have been intensified.

It picks up where the last game finished; with Kratos and the Titans scaling Mount Olympus to wreak revenge on the corrupt Zeus. From the word go you are thrust into the action, the screen alive with drama and colour. It offers the kind of thrill-packed set-piece Hollywood directors could only dream of.

As you battle through the Underworld and up the labyrinthine mountain, collecting orbs to level up weapons, spells and special abilities, you can't help but feel you've been here before – but you'll be enjoying yourself too much to care.

Aesthetically, this is a superb showcase of the raw power PlayStation 3 is capable of. From the detailed visuals to the intricate textures, everything about this game screams "big budget". Best of all, this isn't simply window-dressing to distract from a weak game.

While God of War III doesn't reinvent the wheel, it plays to its strengths and delivers exactly what fans expect of it, which is the hallmark of any great sequel.

This Article was first published in The Scotsman on Saturday March 27, 2010