I have to commend you for taking the time to play through the first two instead of just jumping into the third. Lesser men would've gotten caught up in the hype and skipped right to the newer game, and they'd end up missing two really fun games along the way. I'm actually doing the same thing you are. I beat GoW1 about this time last year, but didn't have time to get to the 2nd one. So I went back and beat GoW1 for a second time at the beginning of this month, and I am now about 8 hours into my first playthrough of GoW2. You are pretty close to the end. All you have left is to get through Hades, which is relatively short depending on how you perform during certain parts (vertical spinning blade pillar), and then you are at the last section with the final boss fights. Though I haven't beaten GoW2 yet, everyone says it is a few hours longer than GoW1. Judging by GoW1 playtime, I'd estimate GoW2 will last you 12-14 hours. How did you feel that the GoW games didn't live up to the hype? I consider them top tier action/adventure games.
This Combat Arena video shows quite a lot of the new moves/weapons/magics <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QMvOkuGvttg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QMvOkuGvttg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>
Also have to say that this game may have the best graphics I've seen on a console as well. After the beginning part... Spoiler You get dropped into the Styx River... Wow, best water I've ever seen in a game.
As said previously, you're almost done with GOW1. I thought GOW2 and GOW1 were about the same length. The second has more boss and mini-boss fights, and some of those can take you longer. If you play at normal difficulty you should breeze through in 8-10 hours. If you play on God mode (2nd most difficult), tack on another 4-6 hours. A few of the fights are a major pain the ass (Theseus, Protect the Translator, Cerebus room) if you play on a harder mode.
It took me around 10 hours to beat GOW1 and around 13-14 hours to beat GOW2. I played the first one on hard and the second one on normal.
I feel like your estimates may be on the low side. Either that, or I am further in GoW2 than I thought I was. I am over 8 hours in and am at the part right before Icarus. I can't imagine that I have less than 2 hours to go? I beat GoW1 in ~10 hours the first time. Slightly under 9 hours the second time. Also, it is of interest to note that (I believe) the in-game timer does not count time elapsed if you die. I noticed this when my save file said it only took me 13 minutes from the save point right before the final bosses to the one in Olympus. The 24 hour clock said ~45 minutes had elapsed though.
You're correct about the timer. Maybe I was underestimating low. You still have about a 1/3 of the game to go. It seemed like it didn't take that long. I was cruising through my last playthrough a month ago and barely died the entire game. Of course I had previously beaten the game on Titan and was playing this time around on Normal. Then again, I don't sleep much and my sense of time is shot.
I admit it. I'm like 4-5 hours in on both GOW 1 and 2 (1st time playing), but that didn't stop me from putting in GOW 3 last night and getting in a good hour and half on that.
Wait...are you telling me that you are playing all 3 of the games for the first time simultaneously? If so, I have never heard of this practice, and I must ask why? Video game ADD?
That's probably it. I can see beating GoW2 in a subsequent playthrough in 8ish hours. It's my first time through it though, so I'm taking my time looking for treasures and solving the puzzles. I haven't died much though; most parts in these games are too easy for me on Normal mode.
Man thats pretty hardcore. I would caution though that the story has a lot more gravity going through them in order. I think the wait is worth it. If you can get your hands on the PSP game, thats a good one too.
Yeah, something like that. I really just don't have much time to play video games, so it would take me forever to get through a game. Just to give you an idea.. I have had MW2 since release day and I play that the most currently out of my games... I'm only at level 49. No prestige.
Just beat the game and loved every minute of it. Spoiler The ending was a bit wack though. Why make it a cliffhanger when you're supposed to end the story?
Downloadable content baby !!! Stop people from selling their disks and holding onto them while you download more content. Trying to kill the used game sales at EB Games. DD
Apparently, they had a really awesome epilogue all planned out, but they had to cut it because of time constraints. It sounds like there is a strong possibility that it could be released as downloadable content at some point though.
About 3 hours in. The game is truly epic. If you read IGN's review its actually on par with what I have experienced so far. (And IGN's reviews are usually crap.) Anyhow, the scale of the game is just massive. I don't want to give a long review but in all honesty, if you own a PS3, do yourself a favor and get this game. Worth every bit of $59.99 + tax. I do want to make one small point. Everyone seems to be comparing GoW3 to Dante's Inferno. I own both. I beat Dante's on the hardest difficulty and I thought it was fantastic. Of course it had a few flaws but the graphics were phenomenal and the story was incredible. Personally, I love both games. I recommend trying them both.
While I haven't read IGN's review, as I didn't want any spoilers, the 8.5 for presentation is just ridiculous for this game. I can't name one single game with a better presentation than GOW3. Everything about the game oozes quality. I just don't get that. Maybe, that's why Chris Roper was laid off 2 days after his review... IGN doesn't approve of anti-Kratos hate!
I finally got to play this last night, and one hour in, I have to say this game looks amazing. I was enjoying the fighting, but I'm curious how it will play now that I got my skill stripped down. Very curious to see how the additional weapons, magic, and items handle. DD, so far the facial animation looks pretty damn good. Some of the best I've seen.
Concur. How it didn't max out is crazy. I think some reviewers are judging pretty ridiculously due to the build-up for it.
