-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
God of War: Chains 'o' Olympus beaten in five hours? Too Short?
- Thread starter monkspider
- Start date
Mac the KNife
Member
Narag said:
Arrrghh! GOW2 needs to go GH already! JEEZUS.
Pristine_Condition
Member
Kobun Heat said:
Actually, it sounds like an opinion.
Am I just nitpicking now too? LOL
Kobun Heat said:
My question is why normal difficulty? Games have steadily become easier over the years to be more accessible to players. To me Hard is what normal used to be 8 years ago. I mean can you really tell how long a game is on normal? Or is that a rule that all games are reviewed on there default difficulty?
Segata Sanshiro
Member
Hey, you should be happy. It's been a while since you Anihawked so many people.AniHawk said:
Kobun Heat said:
I beat New! Super Mario Bros in 3 hours ON MY FIRST TIME THROUGH. Where was your article? Maybe you wrote one, I'd love to be wrong! When is it appropriate to nitpick the play time? I'll tell you when it isn't appropriate and that's in the case of a God of War game. Because they back that shit up with so much replay value. As did New! Super Mario Bros! Maybe you thought the mini-games mitigated it or some shit, but my point is you chose a really inappropriate time to decide this is magically a negative. So if you wrote articles about other games being too short, let me see them. I want to know (genuinely) when you decide to judge a game as 'too short.'
It's a handheld game with some of the greatest production values I can think of, in one of the best action series ever. And basically your argument is "guys it's pretty short." Well even putting aside the replay value with difficulty modes/unlockables, even putting aside the fact that God of War 1 can EASILY be beat in comparable time, and putting aside the fact that this is a handheld game where people typically extend their playthroughs by playing in short incremental bursts, and even putting aside that it's 40 dollars, it seems pretty fucking nitpicky.
Naturally, I expect to beat it in a short time. Just like how I beat God of War 1 in under four hours in my second time through. And the reason that happens is because you (and everyone else) has become very good at God of War games and thus overcoming challenges has become easier. I expect to beat it in speed too, considering how great I am at the God of War games. It's not RAD's fault for that, they can't really make the challenges dramatically harder without limiting much of the purchasing audience. That's why we have God mode though!
So my point is you're arbitrarily deciding when it's time to call something "too short", and it's no surprise you chose Sony's big PSP game as your pulpit. Do you have a double standard? Well I can think of an infinity high quality portable games that are super short that nobody really makes an issue of, so I hope your argument can someday be stronger than "well the console God of War game was 8 hours! A whole 8 hours!"
One of the things that has consistently been said by detractors of ALL the games were that they were short. And through the myriad of 9.0 scores and the people who played it, we roundly rejected that idea. Because these hours, 5 hours or 10 or 15, are pure fucking joy.
AlphaSnake
...and that, kids, was the first time I sucked a dick for crack
Is that skipping through the videos or not? :\
Kobun Heat
Member
Amir0x said:
Apple, meet orange. God of War doesn't have branching paths or warp zones or extra levels, it has one unbreakable path to the end. It is five hours of gameplay, straight through, on Normal.
In your view. For me, "replay value" is more levels, not just the same linear experience but the enemies do more damage. I'm not saying that's not appealing to you and many other people, and I never said that it wasn't there.
Nice try, but the burden of proof is on YOU to produce evidence as to your libelous accusations, not on me to produce evidence that shows I am not what you accuse me of.
My argument? What am I arguing? I said the main game takes five hours to complete, then backed this up with a screen of my clear time. I'm not using this as evidence to argue anything but the fact that it's significantly shorter than other games in the series to a degree that's actually surprising.
jaundicejuice
Member
Kintaro said:
Personally I think it's awesome that such a comparison can even be broached because Chains of Olympus is just so damn close to its console counter-parts.
Kobun Heat
Member
cateatingsomebody'shandastheymoveittowardspostreplybutton.gifspwolf said:
I'm curious as to what made you decide to post about GoW: CoO being short anyways? It's pretty common knowledge that both of the previous games were short as well. I beat GoW 1 in about 5-6 hours and GoW in about 6-7. There's been plenty of discussion of the length of the games on this very board.
Devil May Cry games are also on the short side.
Devil May Cry games are also on the short side.
Kobun Heat said:
Oh I see, so short is only bad when they have a different type of replay value. I got ya.
Obviously God of War isn't a Mario game. The comparison is apt because both games are extremely short. They're both short in different ways, but they're still short. I had completed ALL the levels in like 5~6 hours in New! Super Mario Bros. So after that, the replay value was all about collecting the coins in these same exact levels you had already been through. In God of War, it's about adjusting your skill level in increasingly harder matches through the rougher difficulty levels.
Kobun Heat said:
Except this doesn't make sense since if my argument is that you HAVEN'T produced any other articles about game length, obviously there can be no "evidence." Since articles that don't exist cannot be produced.
So, that's why I asked you to see if in your long history of writing you could pull an article that had anything to do with criticizing the length. And, because you and I both know what I'm implying here, bonus points if it's about a game from Nintendo.
Kobun Heat said:
Wait, is this what you're going to retreat to? Your argument is that it's short (this part is a fact), and that this shortness is a negative against the game (this is the opinion). That's your direct argument in summary.
And, as has already been mentioned, your comment here is already wrong to start - one of the other games in the series is NOT significantly longer. God of War 1 was a very short game, and I beat it in under 4 hours on my second time through. First time, add three hours to that. We're talking extremely short playthroughs. I didn't complain then, nor did most other people, because that would have been dumb.
Because the games are awesome from start to finish, and don't use fucking filler to extend their play time.
DMC4 was an easy 12 hours on either difficulty you play through first, an easy additional 6 or so on SoS, another easy 6 on DMD. It should also be noted that SoS and DMD both have entirely different encounters than the "normal" difficulties (I do not know if GoW does this also.) Not to mention joke modes like Heaven and Hell, Hell and Hell and Bloody Palace. DMC may be many things, but short is not one of them.Kintaro said:
That doesn't even begin to address the fact that DMC's combat system is deep enough that you're probably still figuring out shit at hour 30.
I endorse your right to disagree.
Is the burden on a handheld game to reproduce EXACTLY the length of a console franchise? This is the other side argument. I've always been of the opinion that, outside of RPGs, games typically tend to be on the short side on handhelds. Even RPGs on handhelds are generally shorter than RPGs on consoles.
There is a reason for that, and that's called portability. Short burst play throughs inevitably lead to shorter games. This is partially offset by the cheaper price point of portable games. God of War 1 retailed at 49.99 if I'm not mistaken, so given God of War: CoO 40 dollar price point, making a distinction between an hour or two of gameplay makes even less sense given what platform it is on.
There is a reason for that, and that's called portability. Short burst play throughs inevitably lead to shorter games. This is partially offset by the cheaper price point of portable games. God of War 1 retailed at 49.99 if I'm not mistaken, so given God of War: CoO 40 dollar price point, making a distinction between an hour or two of gameplay makes even less sense given what platform it is on.
Draft said:
I wasn't saying it's not deep. However, it's not long either. If you're fresh to DMC4, sure, I can see 12 hours. If you're coming DMC 3 and you know the series, it's going to be a weekend romp at 8 hours or so. Not isn't saying it's not awesomely replayable. That doesn't mean GoW isn't either. I've replayed GoW on multiple difficulties as well.
Either way, I get my money's worth.
DMC 4 isn't the best example to use for length either in this discussion since it's backtracking hell topped with ass.
I am not fresh to DMC4 and it took me 12 to beat it on Devil Hunter. Puzzles to solve, secret missions to attempt, getting lost, figuring out bosses, etc.Kintaro said:
I agree it's not a great example as the backtracking is a clear example of padding a game's length artificially, but DMC gets a pass because the fighting's so good, I would play it if it was just wire figures in a MGS virtual room tearing each other to shreds.
Kobun Heat
Member
Amir0x said:
Um, yes! Exactly! That's exactly right! If you as a player just want to play through God of War once to experience the levels and story, it will take you five hours, which is significantly less than previous games. This is hardly about telling people not to buy something, it's about helping them make an informed decision based on their tastes.
You're actually making it too difficult on yourself. All I asked is for you to produce some evidence that would lead you to what I assume is your view: That I do or have ever criticized games based not on their intrinsic qualities, but by the company that made them. For length or any quality whatsoever. If not, I will simply assume, probably correctly, that you invented this out of whole cloth because I have been more critical of Sony's business than Nintendo's.
Even if it takes you the same amount of time to finish Chains as it took me, which from your obviously extensive play time at harder difficulty levels I assume that it will not, you're still saying that GoW is 40% longer than Chains of Olympus. Significant.
You beat that strawman! You beat him good! He deserves it, sitting all there looking so smug with his straw! You show him.
EDIT: Anyway, I love you Amirox and this is the most fun I've had all day, but I have to go home now.
Kobun Heat said:
But all the God of War games are short. Are you suggesting you've brought up a new point here? If a God of War fan is buying a God of War game, they're not going to make a big distinction at all between 5 hours and 8 hours, being generous here with completion times.
AND REMEMBER, this is talking about you and I. Most gamers are not going to beat it in 5 hours. They're not as good as we are. They're going to beat it in 8 hours, or 9 hours. They're going to die a lot, which will also extend their play time. The point is, this distinction is not really doing much informing since it doesn't take into account a myriad of variables like skill level, the franchise (which is contained of all short games), the handheld factor, etc.
I think there's plenty of good reasons to say that it's nitpicking.
Kobun Heat said:
Well actually! It's from all the stories that you get into heated "in-defense-of-Nintendo" arguments when you get drunk!
But more seriously, yes, it is because you've been more critical of [insert any other company] than Nintendo. I don't think it's surprising. You wrote books, and a large part of this was them. Thus there's an inherent connection to their business.
I just think you're being disingenuous here. At the very least, you pick your targets carefully and deliberately.
Kobun Heat said:
At gameplay times like 4-7 hours, even THIRTY MINUTES seems extensive from a percentage standpoint. But if you look at it as it actually is, it's a very small difference. Sure, if God of War II was the standard length of the entire series I'd agree with you that maybe they could have done a little more, but it isn't. I suspect, and this is just shit from my ass, that God of War III will be very short too. That's just going from how short many high budget next-gen experiences have been so far, from Gears of War to Halo 3, and the series history.
I also think the other part you're overlooking, that people generally play handheld titles in short bursts which extend the life of these games and makes them seem longer, is a valid argument as well.
Kobun Heat said:
Oh come on, I think you're mischaracterizing my statement here.
Kobun Heat said:
<3 That's ok I have to leave too, so it's a good place to end. I've already been here longer than I wanted!
VegaShinra
Junior Member
Totally agree with that statement.otake said:
I see no problem with the length of the game, honestly. This is a handheld God of war title that carries ever essence of the console counterparts. To capture everything from the console titles, except for length, is nothing short of amazing. Ready at Dawn pushed the PSP and, more than likely, filled the UMD with content.
Plus, many people will have sex with the women in the game for a few hrs and revisit the game just for that. :lol
Honestly, for a handheld game, I don't see any problem with a 6 hr God of War game. We can all agree that the game will be one of, if not, the biggest PSP game of this year aside from Crisis Core.
TAFKAA said:
what's "lol" about Ninja Gaiden DS? It's supposedly 4 hours long, but specifically designed for multiple plays. That puts it almost toe to toe to GoW in terms of quantity. It may even weigh in heftier if subsequent plays change things up enough (other than bumping up enemy aggressiveness/energy meters in the artificial measures GoW uses for difficulty.) Not bad all things considered.
oh and the control and gameplay will kick the shit out of GoW, but that's subjective and I'm not here for flame wars :lol
5hrs sounds about right for a handheld game if you ask me... Granted, I haven't touched a portable game machine in about 12 years. But still, you're paying less than the console counterparts, right? And it's fucking epic action game, not a low budget dungeon crawler or puzzle.
DevilWillcry
Member
God of War always has replay value, I pitty any one that skips any GoW title.
WickedLaharl
Member
it's too short for any game. will make a nice rental tho.
MWS Natural
Member
I can't believe people play their handhelds for that many hours. Drawn to life is stretching out a bit long for me:lol
5 hours of awesome sounds perfect in bursts.
5 hours of awesome sounds perfect in bursts.