Kratos searches for his brother Deimos through the realm of Death, and the Flames of Chaos refresh the gameplay nicely. Ready at Dawn arguably delivers the PSP's most beautiful game; that level of intensity remains unmatched elsewhere on the system.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player18+
Description
Japanese edition of God of War: Ghost of Sparta, following Kratos as he seeks his brother Deimos, taken by the gods in their childhood. Published by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, released in Japan in February 2011. Brutal real-time combat, new weapons including the Flames of Chaos, epic settings, intense orchestral soundtrack. Japanese title of this Ready at Dawn episode.
God of War - Rakujitsu no Hisoukyoku 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.
Still colossal, the music combines unleashed choirs and a titanic orchestra to magnify Kratos's struggle. Each confrontation rises into a sonic deluge of unheard-of power, even on the handheld. This epic breadth, overwhelming and grandiose, remains a peak of nomadic action music.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
This portable sequel pushes the excess even further: more brutal fights, breathtaking settings and cinematic staging that rivals the console episodes. Unleashing Kratos's wrath delivers an instant, exhilarating release. More ambitious, more generous, a peak of action on the console that has nothing to envy in big productions.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Unleashing Kratos's blades, stringing combos together and solving muscular puzzles sets a heroic rhythm where every arena cleared calls for the next. Upgrading your weapons and unlocking powers and secrets chains short objectives and rewards. The formula stays well-trodden, but the spectacular staging and the fluidity of the combat keep an intact pull on the handheld.
God of War Rakujitsu no Hisoukyoku, the Japanese version of Ghost of Sparta, the local pressing of Ready at Dawn's second portable entry under its own name on the Japanese market. This edition appeals to those completing the saga in its regional variants, in its original Japanese packaging. Its interest lies in this regional title nuance and a thinner local run rather than marked scarcity, in a niche of series fans.
Memorable bosses
More ambitious still, this adventure pushes excess up a notch: titanic many-headed sea monsters, world-bearing titans and bosses that fill the entire screen demand pinpoint combos and dodges. The dramatic progression mingles with ever more visceral executions. Constant spectacle and unabashed gigantism lift these clashes among the most memorable on the machine.
Is God of War - Rakujitsu no Hisoukyoku still worth playing in 2026?
God of War - Ghost of Sparta sends Kratos on a quest for his brother Deimos through the realm of Death, with Flames of Chaos pleasantly changing the gameplay. Ready at Dawn signs perhaps the PSP's most beautiful game, and such intensity is found nowhere else on the machine. An absolute peak.
