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[Anasui Kishibe]

for that money it sure is short. I'd like my games to last longer when I spit out that amount of bucks

 

[RevenantKioku]

umm, what else does portable not mean but besides short playtime experience?

Besides, what else can hold up to GoW on the portable on both PSP and NDS?

none.

the end. now sell your soul to it for $40

*thinks about GoW's attack system*
Parappa?

 

[duffey]

As someone said, if it's filler free then I'm fine as I'm very likely to replay it with the different costumes and whatnot. Plus I can't really get enough of God of War to begin with, so any length is fine.

 

[Spike]

5 hours of awesome vs. 12 hours with backtracking?

 

[Madman]

5 hours of awesome vs. 12 hours with backtracking?

IGN said it was about 7 hours, which would make that comparison even more favorable for GoW.

 

[Narag]

The best course of action for fence sitters might be to let the early adopters report back clear times and their experience with the series and similiar games.

 

[Schrade]

Nice to see Chris Kohler's Nintendism is being called out on this.

Tiring it is.

 

[jrricky]

I see comparisons in this thread about GOW and DMC and I dont think its fair for GOW. DMC is so much more exhilarating.

But anyway, people arguing about the length, I thought the PSP was suppose to be a portable ps2, comparable in everyway (or so sony wants). So I dont think that arguing about it being a portable helps its side to make games shorter. Oh well.....

 

[dead souls]

for that money it sure is short. I'd like my games to last longer when I spit out that amount of bucks

Yep that's why I won't buy most action games for full price. They almost never become rare like many games I enjoy *cough* Atlus *cough*, so I'll just wait

Spoiler

for the PS2 version

.

 

[Mr. Pointy]

These kinds of games don't need to be very long. Short and sweet with nice replay value is all I need from GoW.

 

[Flynn]

Since Kohler's taking tons of heat here, I'm gonna step up and remind everybody that reviewers are on the hook to report this kind of stuff. It's a damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't situation. Mention that a game is short and folks will accuse you of nitpicking. Don't mention that it's short and you're the video game reviewing elite who doesn't pay for their games anyway and don't have the pocke-books of the consumer in mind.

I think we're on the cusp of a realignment when it comes to expectations for game length. The growing pains are hurt like a mother, though.

 

[OnPoint]

5 hours of awesome vs. 12 hours with backtracking?

Yes. I hate backtracking. This is what I'd like. If it's the best 5 hours on the PSP, who really cares?

 

[zoukka]

That is pretty short. It's still worth the pennies due to the lack of competition. (and remember USA prices are laughable)

 

[IzumiK]

I beat Portal in my first run in 45 minutes and people call that bs. But I suppose it depends on the player skill.

God of War is quite a short game but only if you are really good at it. Maybe Kobun played God of War so much that this one doesn't seem too long for him. But for 90% of other players, it'll probably take double time.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

I'm pointing out that this game is really, really short. Like, it's over way before you want it to be.

I think this whole argument could've been avoided if the focus was on that statement instead of a specific completion time.

 

[WoWcraft]

I think this whole argument could've been avoided if the focus was on that statement instead of a specific completion time.

Well that statement is quite subjective because any game could feel like it was over before you feel like it should be.

It all comes down to a very epic climax and a winding down conclusion to solve that problem. Since it is a prequel, it probably has problems trying to get that done.

 

[C- Warrior]

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.

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.

All I can say is I know my DMC, yet on Devil Hunter DMC4 took me about 15 hours.

And going with what Draft said -- I've put in about 70 hours and I'm still figuring stuff out. Just wanted to point that out before anyone starts saying DMC4 is short or a 'rental' type game, it really isn't, at all.

 

[monkeylite]

5 hours for someone else will be 10 hours for me. I will be taking my time.

It's not like I will play this in one sitting anyway. It is a portable game for christ's sake.

 

[TransTrender]

Is this game going to have the somewhat hardcore backlash afterwards like Daxter?

I must have missed that part. Could you fill me in?

 

[SRG01]

Quality, not quantity.

I gave up on FFXII simply because the game was too long and too boring. I stuck around with Uncharted (which was actually quite long for me), HS, GoW2, and so forth because the game was engrossing and I wanted to keep playing.

This whole "short game" thing is bullshit. Yes, the best case scenario is to have both a long and good game. But that's rare these days. So what's the next best thing?

 

[KyanMehwulfe]

I'd be fine with it even if it was on consoles, as long as it's an awesome 5 hours.

Action games rarely have a story that can carry it much longer than that. You need to go real heavy on plot if you want to go beyond 10 hours, and action games that do go that long always lag on too much imo. Rare exception for me is something like MGS; but GoW, Onimusha, etc -- I'd be fine with -10 hour marks.

I'm a massive supporter of 100+ hour RPGs, but I like my story-light action games around the 6-8 hour mark. It should feel like a good movie trilogy.

 

[Aaron]

I'd be fine with it even if it was on consoles, as long as it's an awesome 5 hours.

People keep saying this and ignore this quote from the article:

Yes, it's a very good game that perfectly replicates the feel of GoW's combat on the portable. But it's also hard to ignore that by the end of the game, any semblance of creative level design goes out the window, replaced with a never-ending gauntlet of big open rooms filled with enemies.

 

[sca2511]

maybe they sacrificed the length of the game for the superb graphics. 5 hours seems long enough and thats without replaying on hard etc etc.

 

[Kittonwy]

Want to back this up with anything? Please go back through the archives and find a time when I unfairly picked on a game because of the maker that isn't from your imagination.

I'm not "nitpicking." I'm pointing out that this game is really, really short. Like, it's over way before you want it to be. I don't want it to be "padded with busy work." I'm just saying that if God of War for PS2 is the perfect length, this is half that. Of course a short, constantly fun game is preferable to a long, uneven one, but every other God of War game has been twice as long AND constantly fun. It's not an either-or. It's a step down. It's an excellent game on its own, but it's missing big, big parts of what made the previous games so good, and it's five hours. That's a fact, not a "nitpick."

LOL

Yes, it's a fact that you're basically playing through the game having played through the first half on the preview disc already (according to your very own article) and using that as a standard to measure your playtime. Not only would that be an inaccurate way of estimating the playtime for most players who will be going through the game for the first time while NOT HAVING PLAYED THROUGH HALF THE GAME ALREADY, it's also rather fucking disingenuous and misleading.

 

[Lobster]

Its a handheld game. 5 hours is something I like for handhelds. I'll buy.

 

[C- Warrior]

As for it's length, 5 hours of gameplay is about ten - half hour shit dumps.

 

[zoukka]

Its a handheld game. 5 hours is something I like for handhelds. I'll buy.

I like handheld games that take forever to finish. But GoW:s genre allows it to be shorter.

Yes, it's a very good game that perfectly replicates the feel of GoW's combat on the portable. But it's also hard to ignore that by the end of the game, any semblance of creative level design goes out the window, replaced with a never-ending gauntlet of big open rooms filled with enemies.

That doesn't sound too sweet.

 

[Kiriku]

I heard this game has some rather lengthy cut-scenes that you CAN'T skip!? If true, that's not exactly suitable for a handheld game (or hell, any game I'd say).

 

[MrTroubleMaker]

Its a handheld game. 5 hours is something I like for handhelds. I'll buy.

me too.

 

[Haunted]

I hate it when mommy and daddy fight.


Let's revisit this discussion when the PS2 port comes out and it's still only 5 hours long.

Spoiler

oh snap? oh snap.

edit: and yes, 5 hours of awesome are better than 12 hours of backtracking, but worse than 8 hours of awesome (which the console GoWs deliver).

 

[Chris_C]

If that 5 hours is filler free, I'll be happy to replay it multiple times. I'm not so much concerned about the length of games, as the quality of the game while I play it.

WhatHeSaid

 

[Chris_C]

Uh not sure if I can talk about it. We of course have a Challenge of the Gods equivalent, and unlockable videos and costumes -- including my personal favorite costume in the series so far.

What I'd like to know, is what are the behind the scenes videos like? I suppose it's best not to expect something like GoW2's bonus disc (which was like getting a limited edition disc for free), but it'd be nice to get to know the folks who made the game.

 

[Kestastrophe]

As someone mentioned earlier in this thread, 5 hours isn't too bad if it is the default difficulty and filler free. COD4 took me about 6 hours to beat on the default difficulty and that was one of the most memorable campaigns that I've ever played. GOW games typically have good replay value, so if this one follows suit then I'll be happy.

 

[plagiarize]

i'd happily have paid $40 for portal... so... nope. not too short.

so long as it's all killer, now filler, 5 hours of awesome leaving me wanting more... will be about perfect.

 

[batbeg]

I must have missed that part. Could you fill me in?

Well I mean that Daxter generally got great reviews but a lot of people, such as here on GAF, didn't really enjoy it all that much. I know me and a few other Jak and Daxter fans didn't like it a whole lot either (not that it was a bad game, just different). There was even a Daxter depreciation thread a while ago though :lol

I'm just wondering if that's what is going to happen here, where GoW fans actually kind of resent the game.

 

[oneHeero]

Obvious Nintendo Fan calls out huge Sony franchise on being short, gaf calls him out on it, reveiwer tries to defend himself with some ridiculous stuff, ami eats him up, everyone else lol @ him when reviewer continues to defend his review.

Am I right? I mean come on guys, its Chris Koelher(excuse the spelling if I'm wrong)..:lol

 

[Fady K]

IGN said around 9, and Im not the kind of guy who finishes a game quickly - ill definitely be around 9-12 for this one - which is perfect for me.

Heck, I spent 17 on GoW2.

Im just thankful the game delivered as a GOW title. Cant wait.

 

[GeNoMe]

All of those who are bitching about the short length, should stop bitching and start increasing the game's difficulty!!

 

[Snah]

I heard this game has some rather lengthy cut-scenes that you CAN'T skip!? If true, that's not exactly suitable for a handheld game (or hell, any game I'd say).

You can skip the cutscenes in the demo, so I'm assuming you can for the final game.

 

[rezuth]

I beat Portal in my first run in 45 minutes and people call that bs. But I suppose it depends on the player skill.

God of War is quite a short game but only if you are really good at it. Maybe Kobun played God of War so much that this one doesn't seem too long for him. But for 90% of other players, it'll probably take double time.

You did not.

 

[Ynos Yrros]

There are conflicting reports on that, with Kobun being in the minority. Knowing that he spent his time with demo and preview code, he probably knew very well what and how to do, which probably affected his playtime.

 

[MWS Natural]

Wait....why are we having this conversion again?

 

[VonGak!]

I never finished RE4. Loved the game with its puzzles, exploration, polish like the president's daughter pointing out things, outstanding boss battles and even the shooting action (story and dialog sucked) but the game just kept dragging on and the damned gal kept getting kidnapped... It was almost like each chapter was a reset (pacing and balancing) where one played a game from scratch.

What I'm trying to say is that length can kill even good games (especially the story) with high production value.

So unless it's a free roaming title or RPG I prefer the games to be less than 10 hours with a tight story/pacing curve.
The same goes with movie, longer doesn't always mean better even though there's a lot of content added.