Great game. The story was very cinematic. I liked how lots of the story elements were revealed over time, like why Kratos' skin was white and where he got the blades of chaos. Very cool stuff. The combat was a lot of fun as well. I'm pretty sure I didn't even use some of the combos and moves I could have.

The annoying gameplay mechanics I was worried about when I first started playing did rear their ugly heads in a couple of spots as I pressed through the game. Most notably, there were parts when I had to jump around and the camera angle would change mid-jump, making it tough to land in the right spot. And at the end of the game there were some super-annoying sections where I had to walk across thin platforms and climb these huge pillars with spinning knives. Frustrating.

There were definitely some innovative gameplay elements though, like the "finishing moves" for certain enemies. If I hadn't already played Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, I think it would have seemed fresher. God of War definitely introduced this first, as far as I know.

Finally, the graphics were good, especially for a PS2 game. It doesn't compare to Gears of War by any means, but considering the relative power of the PS2 compared to the 360, it's incredible what the development team was able to do.

All in all, a great game. I am psyched about God of War II coming out soon. Hopefully within the next couple of months.