Year: 2005
Type: Original Soundtrack (OST)
Composer(s): Gerard Marino; Mike Reagan; Ron Fish; Winifred Phillips; Winnie Waldron; Cris Velasco; Marcello De Francisci
Number of tracks: 31

★★★★★

An arduous ascent

I've mentioned it before, but when I was younger, I never had a console. PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo ... all a distant dream. As a result, I missed out on various platform-exclusive titles that are still considered milestones in video game history today. After I was finally able to catch up on Microsoft's flagship Halo with the Master Chief Collection, I was also able to play the 8th installment of Sony's PlayStation behemoth God of War from 2018 thanks to its PC release.

As a mythology fan, I had always been interested in the story of the Spartan Kratos, who rises as a mortal to become the god of war and eventually massacres the entire Greek pantheon. After satisfying my curiosity by watching videos with all the cutscenes from the previous games, I was finally able to get my hands on the new spin-off and discover the Norse mythology for myself. I'll spare you a review, but I'll say this much: the praise is justified!

God of War (2005)

God of War II (2007)

Instead, this music review will focus on the very first installment, which also bears the simple title God of War and was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2005. Back then it was probably a real feast for the eyes and a firework of gaming fun, but from today's perspective the hack-and-slash orgy seems rather antiquated. In fights from fixed camera angles, we beat up enemies with our chain-weighted chaos blades, drive up a combo meter and mash the controllers into scrap metal during the then still new Quick Times.

This sinister butchery is accompanied not only by a sometimes wooden-looking dubbing, but also by a soundtrack for which seven composers were recruited: Gerard Marino, who together with Ron Fish (Batman: Arkham Asylum), Mike Reagan and Cris Velasco (both known from the first Darksiders) would also work on the later parts, as well as Winifred Phillips, Winnie Waldron and Marcello De Francisci. With such an extensive team of participants, quality and variety should be guaranteed, right?

In fact, the OST is comparatively extensive and varied with its 31 tracks, and the quality of the music quite decent. However, you can tell that it was written 18 years ago. What perhaps still deserved a novelty bonus back then with its hint of monumental epicness - after all, the score received the prize for 'Outstanding Achievement in Original Musical Composition' at the Interactive Achievement Awards (now the D.I.C.E. Awards) - is average in 2023. Varied, but average.

The first positive thing I would like to emphasize is that the composers have succeeded in creating the feeling of a panorama. The tracks are expansive, opulent and transport us mentally to the vastness of the Mediterranean. The Vengeful Spartan, Kratos and the Sea or Athenian Battle take us into a seductive world that promises exoticism and delivers sometimes relaxed, sometimes hectic drums, strings and winds.

The Splendor of Athens guides the listener through an oriental market and lets us mentally put our feet up, while Zeus‘ Wrath Devine sends us into a fierce duel with its rhythmic drums and vocals. This mixture of calm and turmoil comes as something of a surprise, as God of War almost inevitably brings to mind the idea of flying swords and axes. Nevertheless, the battle tracks are a little too tame to really shine with this contrast.

And yet the ideas are all there: Save the Oracle Challenge is similar to the fantastic score for Dark Messiah of Might and Magic (also by Cris Velasco), Kratos‘ Evil Past is pleasantly unpleasant with its screeching violins and Hades, God of the Underworld heralds drama with its ominous male choir and hammer blows ... but ultimately fails to deliver.

I probably just don't have the nostalgia glasses to appreciate the composition properly, or I'm using the standards I adopted after the current parts. Maybe I've just heard too many better versions that have taken me away more than this OST. Or I'm too annoyed by the fact that eight tracks still contain the voice-overs from the game talking over the music (a no-go!).

All in all, God of War from 2005 remains the starting signal for the series, which has matured like a real man over time and has borne various musical blossoms. We haven't yet found them in this freshly planted sapling, but there are still a few sequels to come ... and they'll really hit you in the face!

No.	Title	Artist(s)	Ratings
01	Escape from Madness	Gerard Marino	1
02	The Vengeful Spartan	Gerard Marino	4
03	Kratos and the Sea	Gerard Marino	3
04	Have Faith	Gerard Marino	1
05	The Splendor of Athens	Mike Reagan	2
06	This City Will Be Your Grave	Gerard Marino	1
07	Ares Destroys Athens	Mike Reagan	3
08	Mind the Cyclops	Mike Reagan	3
09	Athenian Battle	Mike Reagan	2
10	Exploring the Ruins	Winifred Phillips	2
11	Athens Rooftops Fighting	Gerard Marino	3
12	Save the Oracle Challenge	Gerard Marino	3
13	Kratos' Evil Past	Gerard Marino	3
14	Too Late	Gerard Marino	1
15	The Great Sword Bridge of Athena	Gerard Marino	4
16	What the Oracle Spoke	Gerard Marino	1
17	The Story of Chronos	Gerard Marino	3
18	Battle the Lethal Sirens	Mike Reagan	4
19	The Temple of Pandora	Ron Fish	3
20	Pandoran Cyclops Attack	Ron Fish	4
21	The Architect's Mysteries	Ron Fish	2
22	Zeus' Wrath Devine	Cris Velasco	4
23	The Underwater World of Poseidon	Winifred Phillips	2
24	Minotaur Boss Battle	Cris Velasco	3
25	Burning Visions	Ron Fish	1
26	Pandora's Box	Winifred Phillips	2
27	Hades, God of the Underworld	Cris Velasco	3
28	The Fury of Ares	Ron Fish	1
29	Duel with Ares	Mike Reagan; Cris Velasco	3
30	Enthroned of Mount Olympus	Winifred Phillips	3
31	End Title	Gerard Marino	3