Relentless combo-based brutality. That's what it was all about. And we devoured it, just like we did its predecessor and its follow-ups years later. The original God Of War may have scored higher in certain areas of the press, but put them next to one another and it's obvious that the sequel is the more impressive title. Thunderously aggressive in that most wonderfully overwhelming way, God Of War 2's violence was elegantly balanced with its cheesy but intriguing narrative to keep pushing you onward. SCE Santa Monica had taken the two years since the original to really get to grips with Sony's hardware and were squeezing incredible things out of it by 2007 - God Of War 2 is undoubtedly one of the most astounding pieces of full-on hardcore action gaming to come out of the sixth console generation.
6. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - Sony PlayStation 3 (2009)
Like Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes back and The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers, 2009's Uncharted 2: Among Thieves also contained a colon in its title. But that's not all they have in common - all three have the enviable pleasure of being the middle child in their respective trilogies. What difference does that make? Well, as the bridging episode, these Part 2 releases don't have to worry about setting the scene or tying up any loose ends. Uncharted 2 gets stuck in right away, dishing up Indiana Jones-esque set pieces one after the other, and doesn't let up until the credits role. There are barely any weak spots here: the combat is tight and slick, the exploration elements are intriguing and the story is delicious in that most corny Hollywood adventure style. Uncharted 3 may have improved on certain aspects of the gameplay, but it was Among Thieves which enchanted us most from start to finish.
Game-obsessed since the moment I could twiddle both thumbs independently. Equally enthralled by all the genres of music that your parents warned you about.
