One of the first "Collectathon" style games I ever played and it was an absolute banger! So many weapons, so many planets, it blew my mind that this much 3D game could happen on such a small device. The PSP definitely had that Sony IP magic and this title shines because of it. Some mechanics are left a bit unpolished with the most glaring being lack of camera control on a platforming game. However, what it did well, like most R&C games it completely crushed. Fun humor (for teens) and a somewhat compelling if cliche storyline that moves at breakneck pace. I felt that the game keeps a good loop of visiting a new area, gaining some new gun or gadget and then being given a reason to go back to an earlier location and grind out those collectables. I also felt that the upgrades themselves were creative and well implemented. The vast majority of guns and gadgets get used in multiple situations making them feel like real objects rather than Checkov's Guns implemented for the sake of one plotline or moment. There are of course some guns that are more suited to puzzle platforming than direct combat but you usually run out of ammo at one point or another and have to really on a less ideal gun for the situation. This leads to a lot of play driven discovery and helps the player not just stick with the standard gun all the way through which I'm sure is possible but is much less rewarding. The characterization read well although these two suffer heavily from the furry franchise mascot craze of the early 2000's and even into the 2010's. Seriously, is anyone confused how we got so many furries??? This one definitely deserves all the praise it gets but honestly it's very much a one and done game. Once you've completed the story, unless you're a plat trophy fiend, there's not much else there for you. However, that did not stop me from picking it up every now and again just to shoot some stuff and have fun.

From the opening fight with Poseidon to the punishing final fight with Thanatos this game is absolutely gripping. Tons of fun new elements to the combat, lots more options for upgrades and alternate weaponry although the majority of the game still takes place with the blades or similar weapons. This game felt like it expanded much more on the deeper cuts of Greco-Roman lore, hitting on niche characters and weaving Kratos deeper into the games canonical mythos. It very much felt like the dev team were really hitting stride at this point, getting a bit stale in terms of mechanical upgrades and so turning inward and telling a compelling story on top of the solid foundation of gameplay built up over years of development.

Strangely one of the few games I've played more than once, finishing it handily two times over. Excellent stealth gameplay and interesting narrative if not a little dry. Definitely a more buttoned up Metal Gear style espionage game, although again, no silly gadgets and crazy spy weapons, more of a by the books spy thriller with interactivity built in. Great setting selection, docks, european cities, scientific research complexes, it hits all the beats but does it right on time. The play becomes exciting after the first few hours of slowly crouch hiding and silenced pistol'ing several dozen guards when you eventually start collecting gadgets that enhance and vary the ways you can move through the map. Can't say it was so gripping that I remember much but the pacing goes at a good clip and before you know it you're watching credits role. Definitely consistent with altering the gameplay as you go to introduce new challenges and gameplay mechanics so that the player is forced to be creative even if they are more comfortable with a certain play style.