It follows the formula and doesn't stray much from it. If they deem that enough of a criticism to warrant dropping a star then sure; it is true after all.
 
Not sure if I agree 100% on the actual score (despite it being very good), but Ryan's review was pretty spot on.
 
Edit: Though, unlike a lot of other people, I enjoyed it immensely from start to finish...so there's that.

" It follows the formula and doesn't stray much from it. If they deem that enough of a criticism to warrant dropping a star then sure; it is true after all.  Not sure if I agree 100% on the actual score (despite it being very good), but Ryan's actual review was pretty spot on. "

Because a 4/5 obviously means the game is crap and the reviewer has no clue what they're doing. 

" Because a 4/5 obviously means the game is crap and the reviewer has no clue what they're doing.  "

Look at your avatar.

First Heavy Rain, now this. If they're not deserving of 5 stars, I dunno what is.

I agree wholeheartedly.  The God of War formula works, but  the developers are just staying too safe with it, and not doing a whole lot to move it forward.  The review read fine, which is the important part of the entire thing.  And, if Ryan felt that the game didn't deserve a "perfect" score, then it didn't from the perspective of the reviewer. 
 
This (mostly) doesn't apply to Giant Bomb, but it seems that everyone believes a site's official review to be voicing the opinions of the entire staff and community and immediately feel the need to raise their torches and pitchforks.  It lacks and extreme amount of logic. 

" Because a 4/5 obviously means the game is crap and the reviewer has no clue what they're doing.  "

God, and I thought those "WHY RAPELAY GOT 9.7 AND NOT 9.8????????????///??" disputes were annoying.

I guess people will always find a way to bitch about the scores even if the reviewer measures the game in hot-dogs. "10 hot-dogs? Bullshit! It deserved 5 tacos!"

Seemed like a finely written review to me, he clearly enunciated why it didn't get a 5/5, and if you don't agree with his reasoning, then write your own user review. 
@EVO said:

" First Heavy Rain, now this. If they're not deserving of 5 stars, I dunno what is. "

Yo Ryan's opinion is Ryan's opinion.

I'm more surprised that a world that hates Dante's Inferno could like God of War this much.

I do actually. Personally, I think the game is near perfect, but I bought it and I rarely can afford to buy games, so I'm biased. Also, it is EXACTLY my kind of game, and I'm not reviewing it, so I ignore all the flaws Ryan pointed out.

Yes. I had a blast playing it but the game still sticks close to the formula that is in the past two games. I don't have a big problem with that. Also watching all the heads of fanboys exploding over this review is an added bonus for me.

I am surprised it took this long for this thread.  If he would have given it a 5/5 that means that he thinks it is perfect(or very close to it) and he didn't so he didn't give it a 5.

" I'm more surprised that a world that hates Dante's Inferno could like God of War this much. "

Personally, I think using the word "personally" two sentences in a row is redundant. Personally speaking, of course.
 
4/5 isn't a bad game. Hell, there's plenty of 3/5s they had positive things to say about, and I fully expect FFXIII to get a 3 from Brad, even though my own opinion may differ by a very large margin. If you feel so slighted by the score one person on one site gave it, go write your own review.

Jesus Christ I don't understand why people worry so much about review scores. You have the god damn game, you are loving the game. Why do you care what someone else thinks about it? Seriously.

I agree with the review.
 
And well, don't think 4 stars as 80% rating.
 
4 Stars are in the 80%-90% range, if you are into numbers anyways.
 
I just put it down as, "might be worth the money" which is pretty much what a 5 star rating is for me.

I agree with the score given, but my reasoning would be different.  
 
Personally, I'd knock off a star for the caverns/labyrinth levels. They mess up the pacing and momentum of the game and just don't seem on the same level of quality as the rest of it. I'm surprised the level design wasn't really mentioned in the review and instead the main criticism was leveled at the formula. I don't consider sticking with the same formula/structure "safe" at all. In fact I think it means the devs know what the fans wanted. 

To answer you question, no, I do NOT agree with this review.  This is a 5 star game in my opinion, but I understand that Ryan thinks it is 4 stars and that's alright.  His job is to be overtly critical. 

"Jesus Christ I don't understand why people worry so much about review scores. You have the god damn game, you are loving the game. Why do you care what someone else thinks about it? Seriously. "

I rented it and got all I wanted out of it in less than 7 hours. I can honestly say that from my opinion, a 4/5 is being generous to this game. It's way, way too short and unsubstantial.

its ryan davis, he almost never gives games 5 out of 5... just saying

" @Huey2k2 said:

"Jesus Christ I don't understand why people worry so much about review scores. You have the god damn game, you are loving the game. Why do you care what someone else thinks about it? Seriously. "

I understand where you are coming from, but some people want better scores because they want the game to sell well. "

" I'm more surprised that a world that hates Dante's Inferno could like God of War this much. "

" @extremeradical said:

" I'm more surprised that a world that hates Dante's Inferno could like God of War this much. "

but don't you see, dante's inferno made a mockery of the divine comedy, and you know how gamers cherish 14th century italian poetry "  

I do agree that the game feels a little too beholden to the previous games in the series. 
 
On the other hand I feel that the game does what it does so well that it deserves 5/5. In the previous games the different segments were so clearly sectioned off that it would grind the game to a halt. God of War III never loses its pace, all the different elements feel integrated.

" Personally, I think using the word "personally" two sentences in a row is redundant. Personally speaking, of course.  4/5 isn't a bad game. Hell, there's plenty of 3/5s they had positive things to say about, and I fully expect FFXIII to get a 3 from Brad, even though my own opinion may differ by a very large margin. If you feel so slighted by the score one person on one site gave it, go write your own review. "

" @Godlyawesomeguy said:

" @Huey2k2 said:

"Jesus Christ I don't understand why people worry so much about review scores. You have the god damn game, you are loving the game. Why do you care what someone else thinks about it? Seriously. "

I understand where you are coming from, but some people want better scores because they want the game to sell well. "

If a 4/5 stops someone from getting a game, they should stop playing games in general because they are messed up in the head. "

" its ryan davis, he almost never gives games 5 out of 5... just saying "

" @natetodamax said:

" @Godlyawesomeguy said:

" @Huey2k2 said:

"Jesus Christ I don't understand why people worry so much about review scores. You have the god damn game, you are loving the game. Why do you care what someone else thinks about it? Seriously. "

I understand where you are coming from, but some people want better scores because they want the game to sell well. "

If a 4/5 stops someone from getting a game, they should stop playing games in general because they are messed up in the head. "

Yeah I agree, but I was mostly thinking about a game I thought was great and I want it to sell well but got it bad review (dante's Inferno). "

" @Godlyawesomeguy said:

" @natetodamax said:

" @Godlyawesomeguy said:

" @Huey2k2 said:

"Jesus Christ I don't understand why people worry so much about review scores. You have the god damn game, you are loving the game. Why do you care what someone else thinks about it? Seriously. "

I understand where you are coming from, but some people want better scores because they want the game to sell well. "

If a 4/5 stops someone from getting a game, they should stop playing games in general because they are messed up in the head. "

Yeah I agree, but I was mostly thinking about a game I thought was great and I want it to sell well but got it bad review (dante's Inferno). "

Ryan hates that game, thus it got a bad review from him.  He justifies his positions on both games in his reviews.  I don't see a problem here. "

I absolutely loved the fuck out of the game, easily my game of the year and I'd still give it a 4 out of 5.  But then I dont care about scores so someone can rate it whatever they like. Its when I read an opinion that is just flat out wrong that I get annoyed by reviews.  Ryan's review though was pretty much exactly how I felt.  I do find it quite hilarious that people get so worked up over stars, letters and numbers, like they actually mean anything.  

" I agree with the score given, but my reasoning would be different.   Personally, I'd knock off a star for the caverns/labyrinth levels. They mess up the pacing and momentum of the game and just don't seem on the same level of quality as the rest of it. I'm surprised the level design wasn't really mentioned in the review and instead the main criticism was leveled at the formula. I don't consider sticking with the same formula/structure "safe" at all. In fact I think it means the devs know what the fans wanted.  "

Ryan's stingy with that fifth star, but you know what, that's all right, because when you see the fifth star, you know it means something.

I think 4 out of 5 is a little generous.  Honestly though if you're the type to throw a fit calling a review too low, you didn't need the review in the first place and should shut the fuck up.

3-5 are what I consider to be in the range of a decent game to fantastic game. 1-2 means I won't buy like it did with Alien Versus Predator which I was set to pick up day one. Agree with Ryans review so far but haven't finished the game, am about 5 hours into it. I've rarely seen a videogame site that has people with tastes as close to my own as I have in this one (previously used Eurogamer but got sick of them obviously cynically marking games that were popular, just like Edge and especially after that MMO that the reviewer didn't even fucking play).

" I am surprised it took this long for this thread.  If he would have given it a 5/5 that means that he thinks it is perfect(or very close to it) and he didn't so he didn't give it a 5. "

I liked Ryan's review, but to comment on the score i would have to understand what the stars really mean but for comments sake, i always thought it meant 1 star= bad game, 2 star = mediocre attempt/ not up to par, 3 star = pretty even deliverance/ flawed however/rental, 4 star = rental/ambitious effort/ overall good game, 5 star = must buy/excellent game. In which case i do think GOW falls into the 5 star category, but hey opinions go that way people, 

Job well done ryan. 

The review is fine and the score is fine. Shut up.

" It follows the formula and doesn't stray much from it. If they deem that enough of a criticism to warrant dropping a star then sure; it is true after all.  Not sure if I agree 100% on the actual score (despite it being very good), but Ryan's review was pretty spot on.  Edit: Though, unlike a lot of other people, I enjoyed it immensely from start to finish...so there's that. "

No
It should have been a 3.

Ryan's written review justifies his score of 4/5.  Those are the rules, so shut the fuck up.