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God of War Master Collection 'currently' only for Germany
As much as we love writing about video games here at Joystiq, it pales in comparison to our real hobby: crushing hopes and dreams. If you were looking forward to playing through every single God of War game in the God of War Master Collection that was spotted on Amazon's German site, and you don't actually live in Germany, you're out of luck. When asked about the listing, Sony informed Joystiq that the Master Collection is "currently only slated for the German market." It seems a bit unlikely that such a collection would be exclusive to a single region, so we wouldn't be surprised to see it announced for other regions as well. Of course, we'll take all the dream crushing we can get, even if it is only temporary.
God of War 'Master Collection' spotted on Amazon.de
If God of War Collection didn't collect game well enough for you, we just might have some good news. A listing for "God of War Master Collection" has been spotted on Amazon Germany. The listing has no image or description, though it clearly states that the PS3 collection includes every single God of War title -- well, except for God of War: Betrayal. In case you've lost track, that's God of War 1, God of War 2, God of War 3, Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta. Given Sony's penchant for fancy collections these days, a new, complete God of War compilation certainly makes sense. We've contacted Sony for confirmation on the Master Collection. [Thanks, Josh]
Rumor: God of War PSP collection coming to PS3
The so-called "God of War Portable Collection" is headed to PS3 in Asia this July, according to a reported press release sent out by Sony Computer Entertainment Taiwan and posted by international gaming news outlet The Magic Box. While we could not locate the press release on the SCET website, it does appear to have been redistributed on additional news sites, including China Times, a major Taiwan-based media company. According to The Magic Box, the collection will include graphically enhanced versions of the two God of War PSP games, 2008's Chains of Olympus (pictured) and last November's Ghost of Sparta. The HD ports are said to include both Chinese and English language options and will be packaged together for release in Asia on July 7. It's not been specified whether the collection will be disc-based or digital (or both). Additionally, no development studio has been attached to the project. The PSP games were created by Ready At Dawn (Ghost of Sparta in collaboration with Santa Monica Studio). Last fall, Ready At Dawn co-founder Ru Weerasuriya said the team had moved on to an action-adventure game based on new IP. The original God of War Collection, an HD-ification of the first two PS2 games, was released as a single-disc compilation for PS3 in November 2009. A downloadable version followed a year later. We've contacted SCEA for comment on the Portable Collection.
Castle Crashers, Dead Nation and more discounted for PSN Spring Fever
PlayStation Network users recently had the opportunity to vote on their favorite of the platform's offerings as part of the PSN Gamers' Choice Awards -- the winners of which would be up for a 30 percent discount (50 percent for PlayStation Plus members). The winners were recently revealed: Best PS3 Downloadable Game -- Castle Crashers (Sale price $10.49, Plus price $7.50) Best PSP Downloadable Game -- God of War: Ghost of Sparta (Sale price $27.99, Plus price $20.00) Best PS3/PSP mini -- Age of Zombies (Sale price $3.49, Plus price $2.50) Best PlayStation Network Exclusive Game -- Dead Nation (Sale price $10.49, Plus price $7.50) The offers go into effect today to kick off the PSN Spring Fever promotion, and will be available until March 14. Other games will be marked down in the following weeks as the promotion continues -- we'll make sure to let you know when another price gets unceremoniously slashed!
Mass Effect 2 wins GOTY, RPG, storytelling awards at DICE 2011
Tonight's 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (i.e., the DICE awards) saw Mass Effect 2 cruise off with honors for Game of the Year, RPG of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Story. However, Red Dead Redemption ended up with more trophies, riding away with wins for Action Game of the Year and Outstanding Character Performance, along with Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction, Art Direction and Gameplay Engineering. The portable and casual categories were filled with rage, as God of War: Ghost of Sparta won the award for Portable Game of the Year, while Casual Game of the Year went to the ferocious fowls of Angry Birds HD. Check out the full list of award recipients after the break.
What if Kratos were in every game?
Okay, not every game, but this collection of photoshops featuring God of War's angry hero still demands your attention. Trust us: your life isn't complete until you've seen the madness that is Krayonetta. It, along with some of our favorites, can be seen past the jump.
'Kratos yourself' (or your cat) with God of War: Ghost of Sparta web app
PlayStation UK has created a handy web app that can transform a normal headshot of yourself (or your dog, cat, life-size cardboard standee of Burt Reynolds, etc.) into the spitting image of the Ghost of Sparta himself, Kratos. Perfect for seeing if you can rock that red, full-face tattoo you want.
PSN Tuesday: God of War bonanza
Kratos is committing bloody vengeance all over this week's PSN update. The God of War Collection is available for download on PS3 and God of War: Ghost of Sparta is ready for handheld brutality on PSP. If you're a PlayStation Plus member you also get a "full game trial" of God of War 1 and 2, which you can test drive for an hour apiece. Also, Trophies and game progress will roll over if you purchase the game after taking the blades out for a spin. While you're taking advantage of your membership, you should also check out the Vanquish trial. There's plenty of more stuff in this update, so head on past the break for all the details. Note: In addition to this week's update being really behind schedule, Sony is telling PSN users that, while all of the content is now live, it's not actually appearing in the PlayStation Store interface. You'll need to use the PS Store search function to find the new additions until the problem is addressed. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Ready At Dawn to reveal new original action game 'soon,' done with PSP
Ready at Dawn recently explained in an interview with Eurogamer that it's ready to make the leap away from the PSP platform that's treated it so, so well over the years. The developer is preparing to announce a new "story driven" action-adventure game based on original IP -- but Ready at Dawn co-founder Ru Weerasuriya confirmed that God of War: Ghost of Sparta is "our last PSP game." So, where is the new project going to end up? Weerasuriya explained that it's currently being developed using the studio's self-titled Ready at Dawn engine, and "right now our engine runs on pretty much anything that's available out there." So, then, 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, Gamecube, Xbox, DS, PC, Mac, iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Windows Phone 7, Game Boy Advance, car radios, iPod Nanos and Pokéwalkers -- but totally, definitely not the PSP.
God of War: Ghost of Sparta review: This Spartan stands tall
The past 12 months have been very good to fans of the God of War franchise. Nearly a year ago, we got HD versions of the original PS2 game and its sequel, followed by the excellent God of War III for PS3. Then came the revelation that Ready At Dawn, developer of the knockout God of War: Chains of Olympus for PSP, was returning to the system with a brand new entry, God of War: Ghost of Sparta. As great as Chains of Olympus had been, the idea that a portable God of War could satisfy after the epic PS3 iteration seemed, well, like it would take an act of ... gods. It's a good thing, then, that Ready At Dawn clearly drew on some otherworldly powers in creating Ghost of Sparta: a game that upholds the standard of quality in gameplay, storytelling and sheer wow factor of the series, while also -- like Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker before it -- blurring the lines between portable and console experiences with its amazing presentation.%Gallery-92258%
Japan gets God of War manga as Ghost of Sparta pre-order bonus
Tatsuya Egawa, creator of the risqué manga Golden Boy has been tapped by Sony to produce a short God of War: Ghost of Sparta manga as a pre-order bonus in Japan. It's intended to provide backstory for franchise newbies, but also gives Kratos an oddly proportioned head. Seriously, look at that thing!
Ghost of Sparta's 'Legionnaire' bonus costume revealed
Last week, we got a look at a hair-topped, alternate version of God of War's surly hero, Kratos -- recently, PlayStation.Blog showed off another "what if" concept of the protagonist. As in, "what if the dude wore more clothes" -- a query answered by Ghost of Sparta's "Legionnaire" pre-order bonus.
God of War: Ghost of Sparta includes downloadable Deimos for GoW 3
It must be really, really hard being the brother of the God of War series' surly protagonist, Kratos. Not only was the ash-covered warrior probably a brutal roughhouser in his youth, but his siblings more than likely get pummeled with guilt at family reunions: "Why can't you be more like your brother? He's killed like, twenty gods, you know?" You'll get to suffer these slings and arrows if you pick up Ghost of Sparta, as early, specially-marked copies of the game will include a voucher to download a character skin modeled after Kratos' bro, Deimos, for use in God of War 3. Deimos, who bears a strong familial resemblance to the titular Ghost of Sparta, isn't just more hirsute than his brother, he also comes with "enhanced combat damage and the ability to receive 4x the amount of Health, Magic and God Orbs," according to PlayStation Blog. The voucher will be available in early copies of the game, in the hardware-bundled Entertainment Pack and for PSP Go users who purchase the title from November 2–9 on the PlayStation Store. Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience to play through a God of War game with a full head of lustrous, waxen hair. Check out a new, extremely bald trailer for God of War: Ghost of Sparta after the jump.
God of War: Ghost of Sparta demo arrives on PSN tomorrow
Are you anxious to finally find out what new methods of dude-hurting have been introduced in Kratos' next outing, God of War: Ghost of Sparta? Put on your angry face, friends -- PlayStation Blog has announced that a demo for that ultraviolent romp through Greek history will arrive on the PlayStation Store with tomorrow's content update. We're not sure how many minutes of chain-swinging will be included in said demo, but we do know that it probably won't be enough to tide us over until Ghost of Sparta's November 2 release date. Unless, of course, we play it a thousand times. Man, we'd be so good at that one part.
God of War: Ghost of Sparta pre-order bonuses announced
If the recently announced God of War: Ghost of Sparta hardware bundle just isn't enough Kratos to satisfy your obsession, Sony's keen to remind you that you can deepen your devotion by pre-ordering the game. Your commitment will net you a bonus pack of extras; each of which will be individually highlighted on the PlayStation Blog over the following weeks. While only the Kratos PSN Avatar has been fully revealed, it's probably not too much of a stretch for God of War devotees to imagine what the other bonuses entail. Also included with a Ghost of Sparta pre-order: the original soundtrack, the "God of War Live" creative directors documentary, a Legionnaire character skin, and both a PS3 Dynamic and PSP theme.
God of War: Ghost of Sparta demo for PlayStation Plus next week
Now this is totally cooler than discounts on PS3 service plans: next Tuesday, September 7, those with subscriptions to Sony's PlayStation Plus service will score an early download of the God of War: Ghost of Sparta demo. No word yet on a non-subscriber date for the demo. We'll keep you posted.
Sony invites public to God of War documentary taping in Los Angeles
If you live in Los Angeles and love God of War, you're in luck. Sony is getting the directors of all of the God of War games so far -- that's David Jaffe, Cory Barlog, Stig Asmussen, Ru Weerasuiya and Dana Jan, for those of you keeping score -- together this Wednesday in the City of Angels to film a documentary extra for the upcoming Ghost of Sparta preorder bundle, and it's inviting the public to watch. Starting at 4:00 p.m. PDT on September 1, fans can arrive at the El Portal theater in North Hollywood, and the first 150 on the scene (which means you better show up early) will get seats to see the show. You can RSVP on the Facebook page (though it doesn't appear that you have to -- it's just first come, first served) and you must be 18+ or accompanied by a parent to enter. Sony's also promising "gifts and prizes for all in attendance," so if you make it in, you'll probably get to take something home, too. We mean besides the insight and wit of David Jaffe and company.
God of War: Ghost of Sparta special edition PSP revealed
PlayStation Blog released a few images of the special edition PSP, seen above, included in the God of War: Ghost of Sparta bundle. It just ... looks angry, doesn't it? Like, we rarely imbue inanimate objects with human emotions, but that thing looks like it wants to cut us while we sleep.
God of War: Ghost of Sparta coming Nov. 2 alongside PSP hardware bundle
Your next chance to brutally eviscerate mythological beasts without eliciting the concern of your peers will come on November 2, when Ready at Dawn's second handheld Kratosian adventure, God of War: Ghost of Sparta, hits U.S. store shelves. The PlayStation.Blog mentions the game's arrival as "just in time for the holidays" -- we assume they're talking about Thanksgiving, which, much like God of War's ashy protagonist, places a heavy emphasis on carving. Also announced were the game's pre-order bonuses, which include PSP and PS3 Themes and Avatars, the game's soundtrack, an in-game "Legionnaire Skin" and a video roundtable of the game's creative directors. In addition, a Ghost of Sparta PSP bundle will launch alongside the game, which comes with a red and black PSP-3000, a copy of the game, a download voucher for Chains of Olympus, Kick-Ass on UMD and a 2GB Memory Stick Pro Duo. It is, quite possibly, the most violent thing upon which you could ever spend $199.99.
New Ghost of Sparta footage teaches how to solve puzzles with murder
You know, we were just thinking about how tame ol' Kratos had become in the latter portions of the God of War trilogy. What happened to the days when he'd straight murder a Greek historical figure, unprovoked, just to solve a puzzle? Fear not -- those days will apparently return in Ghost of Sparta.
