They say the Ghost of Sparta has returned, but the truth is he never left. Ready at Dawn has been hard at work creating their next God of War installment for Sony’s PSP. Chains of Olympus was just an appetizer when compared to what they want to bring us this time around.

God of War: Ghost of Sparta takes place in between the happenings of the first God of War and God of War II, both PS2 titles that you shouldn’t have missed… and if you’re reading this you probably didn’t. In this new episode of the saga, Kratos is heading off to the city of Atlantis in search of an explanation for his dreadful fate. Right off the bat he’s attacked by a horde of sea creatures as he stands on the deck of one of many ships sailing over the turbulent seas. The sea is no easy place to be, especially when it’s angry. It’s full of unwanted creatures, and if you add to the equation a bunch of mythological living things that are ready to attack him, you’ll realize Kratos has no option but to unload his insatiable rage on them.

The new game will take Kratos through several creature-laden locations within the city of Atlantis and beyond, and they say we’ll even get to visit portions of the Underworld. Whether it’s monsters with big tentacles, harpies, medusas, or fuming canines, the game will include innumerable foes, as well as many bosses and mini-bosses, all ready to battle it out with the pale Ghost of Sparta – just the way we like it.

- Tridents are no match for the Blades of Athena -

The basic mechanics of the game are still the same. Kratos goes around killing enemies with his Blades of Athena, collecting red orbs to eventually upgrade his arsenal, solving puzzles that will grant him access to new areas, fighting bosses and learning to use his magical powers as he acquires them. There are, of course, the occasional QTE segments as well. However, there are a couple of things new to the series. First, there's a new dash attack named the Hyperion Charge, which will have him taking down enemies at high speeds. He can even take dives mid-air and crush them against a wall or solid ground.

There’s also a new and versatile weapon set that consists of a powerful spear and a shield. He can approach enemies from afar, defending himself with the shield, and then finish them with a final blow from up close. Also, if you prefer to strike a foe from a certain distance, the spear proves to be very useful, as you can attack him without the risk of being seriously hurt in the process.

Another new element is the Eye of Atlantis. This handy device shoots off a nice dose of voltage, electrifying the enemies to death or at least stunning them. You get the idea. Things like this don’t do a whole lot about changing the gameplay itself, but they do make it exciting all over again.

Most exciting, however, is the amazing visuals of God of War: Ghost of Sparta. If you’ve seen the trailers or the screenshots, you might have noticed the game looks spectacular for a mere portable title. Perhaps they know that some of the players will connect their PSPs to the big screen and play it directly on their TVs. If that’s the case, they’re in for a treat, because this game looks better than the two PS2 titles, and better than the first PSP game as well. Maybe it’s the extra amount of details, the redefined characters, or the elaborate water effects, but in any case, this game is very visually appealing.

- This will be the second-best looking game in the series -

In one of the demos, Kratos encounters King Midas, the mythological character who turns everything he touches into gold. We don’t know exactly why these two don’t get along, but despite his pleading, Kratos will have to teach him a lesson, and from what we’ve heard, the ending is not pretty. Not that I care, really. He was a greedy s.o.b. anyway!

I know… I’m sorry, but I guess that’s the kind of attitude that's expected of you when you play this game. God of War is one of the bloodiest, fiercest game series I’ve ever played, yet it has still managed to become one of my favorites. In fact, it’s many gamers’ favorite! Luckily, this upcoming PlayStation Portable must-have is just about a month away, so we’ll soon be able to get our hands on it and tell you exactly what we thought. Stay tuned and don’t miss our upcoming review!

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