God of War III

The God of War games have always been brutal, violent, difficult, and fantastic. The third console title and fourth game in the franchise is no exception. It's got blood, guts, and outstanding visuals. It also refines every possible aspect of God of War. From story-telling to visceral (and sometimes stomach-turning) combat to intense platforming and puzzle solving, God of War 3 really has it all, and that's the key here: refinement. God of War 3 may be viewed as if it takes no chances, but really, it doesn't need to.  
Kratos' vengeance ends here and now in the third game. If you haven't played the first two games, you don't have to, but they really shouldn't be missed. However, the introduction of the God of War 3 sums up the first two games well enough for you to get the story, and it is done in a very movie-like fashion which suits the games epic nature quite well. The story isn't complex: Kratos is very angry, and he wants to kill the gods of Olympus. Well really just Zeus, but if he can get to more, he won't complain. Now of course, at the beginning of the game you are betrayed and have to start all over from scratch and build yourself back up to the power to kill the gods. This includes killing a lot of lesser gods in the process and getting some really cool weapons. Not only are they cool, but they actually serve a purpose.  
That really brings up the first area of major refinement. The additional weapons in the first two God of War games were never very useful. There were a few occasions where they could be used effectively, but usually sticking to the main blades was the best bet. That is definitely not the case in God of War 3. The first idea that helps this idea is that each of the weapons is chain based like the Blades of Chaos/Athena/Exile, and thus the player doesn't have to relearn how to use a new weapon when they are a third of the way through the game. Also, the game makes sure the player will want to use the other weapons because a different magic is associated with each melee weapon. This will have you scrambling through the weapon choices(there are 4) to see what works best and where. There is also a whole new element to the game: items.  
This will get any veteran of God of War down right giddy to know: the bow in the game is no longer tied to your magic meter as was the case in the second game; it now has its own bar that refills itself in a short amount of time. This means that whenever there is a far away enemy, you don't have to contemplate whether or not you should save your magic for something a bit more intense. In other words every mechanic of the game is opened up for the player to figure out and play as he or she sees fit. In short, this is amazing.  
Now God of War is also known for puzzle solving, and while the third game refines combat, it doesn't abandon puzzle solving either. Although some of these puzzles aren't as memorable as God of War II's they are still very satisfying. Indeed nothing feels as good as that "Aha!" moment when you finally solve the puzzle that's been tripping you up for 20 minutes, and God of War delivers those in volume.  
Finally, the story elements in God of War 3 are great for fans of the series. Kratos shows an emotion other than anger or distress. You can actually feel for him for the first time in the series which was definitely weird to experience, especially at the end of the game. The story of the game wraps up somewhat nicely There are no loose ends, but since the developers have said this is the end of Kratos' journey, you can't help but be a little sad that this psychopath is been put to bed.  
God of War III is a must have for fans of the series and for PS3 owners in general. It is an unforgettable experience and a very fitting conclusion to the God of War series (although I hope it doesn't end here).