10 Perfect Video Games That Actually Lived Up To The Hype

5. God Of War II

Many middle-children of their respective trilogies tend to get things just right - that perfect middle bowl of gaming-porridge that fixes the mistakes and refines certain elements from a first instalment, whilst not overstaying their welcome and dragging things out into a strained third instalment. For GoW II that's precisely the case, although thinking back they're almost near-indistinguishable from each other, thanks to Kratos' penchant for ripping the eyelids off everything and stuffing them into the mouth of whatever's still breathing nearby. This first sequel was the last to feature original creator and Twisted Metal-head David Jaffe, and showed his team getting the balance just right between Kratos' motive to destroy the Gods, without going so overboard with the "Imma kill ya 'cause I'm ANGRY!" approach he had towards all and sundry in part three. From opening the game with a supremely slick boss fight against a giant reanimated statue, to pounding the action button to enact a certain head-in-door quick-time event, everything about this second instalment perfected what was laid out in the first.