Kratos descends into the underworld to halt Eternal Sleep, and Ready at Dawn wrings PS2-grade sequences out of the PSP. Brutal combat, riddles and showy QTEs; one of the greatest action games ever shipped on a handheld.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player18+
Description
Japanese edition of God of War: Chains of Olympus, following Kratos into the Underworld to free Helios and prevent the world's extinction. Published by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, released in Japan in November 2008. Devastating real-time combat, mythological puzzles, spectacular QTEs, orchestral soundtrack. Japanese title of this Ready at Dawn-developed episode.
God of War - Koutan no Kokuin review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
More outsized still, this entry unfurls titanic settings, dantesque clashes and breathtaking panoramas. The cinematic staging gains in scale and controlled violence. This visual extravagance, dark and grandiose, closes the PS2 era on a dazzling technical demonstration.
Powerful and martial, the music unleashes ancient choirs and warrior percussion to accompany Kratos's fury. Each battle rises like a Greek tragedy, sustained by an orchestra of overwhelming intensity. This epic grandeur, sumptuous on a handheld, rivals the console entries with ease.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Carving up mythological hordes with the Blades of Chaos, chaining bloody combos and triggering spectacular executions: the epic fury of the series fits in your pocket without losing any of its grandeur. The frantic pace and grandiose staging grab you from the first arena. Brutal, sumptuous and visceral, a technical and gameplay feat.
God of War Koutan no Kokuin, the Japanese version of Chains of Olympus, the local pressing of Ready at Dawn's portable feat under its own name on the Japanese market. This edition appeals to those collecting the saga's regional variants, in its original Japanese packaging. Its interest lies in this regional title nuance and a thinner local run rather than sharp scarcity, in a niche of informed fans.
Memorable bosses
A technical feat on a handheld, this descent into Greek mythology chains outsized guardians that Kratos finishes off in brutal, well-timed executions. From the ferryman of the underworld to fallen deities, each colossus imposes a violent, readable choreography. A grand scale, the hero's cold rage and a bloody staging make these duels a concentrate of the saga's intensity.
Is God of War - Koutan no Kokuin still worth playing in 2026?
God of War - Chains of Olympus sends Kratos to the underworld to prevent the Eternal Sleep, and Ready at Dawn pulls PS2-worthy sequences from the PSP. Brutal combat, flow-integrated puzzles and spectacular QTEs make for one of the greatest portable action games. Faithful art direction, controls adapted perfectly to the format. An absolute peak to bring out today.
