The box office may be ruled by 300 Spartans battling the Persian army, but “God of War II's” one and only “Ghost of Sparta,” Kratos, could have obliterated the forces of Xerxes all by himself. And the bloodshed would have been much more beautiful and fun than �.”

In the sequel to “God of War,” which won several 2005 “Game of the Year” awards, the angry Greek warrior butts his bald head with the Colossus of Rhodes, Perseus and the mighty Zeus himself. The game packs more mythic sweep than a “Lord of the Rings” movie and significantly lengthens the playing time of its prequel.

After dethroning Ares and ascending to Mount Olympus to become the deity of the game's title, Kratos succumbs to the same bloodlust and thirst for power that drove his predecessor. The game begins when he sends his Spartan hordes to invade Rhodes and Athena animates the island's towering guardian to attack Kratos.

The sheer size of the Colossus easily dwarfs that of any enemies in the first “God of War.” And with each foe Kratos encounters and each obstacle he must overcome, “God of War II” continually grows in scale.

The game's mythology reaches much farther than “God of War.” Its storyline pulls in enough characters and concepts from Ancient Greece - such as the Titans, the Sisters of Fate and the Golden Fleece - to provide a substantial historical primer on the time period.

But for all the improvements to the original, Sony knew to leave “God of War's” merciless combat mechanics alone. With the chains of Athena's Blades still firmly seared to his wrists, Kratos can tear apart his enemies with nearly endless strike combos. Also more common are the context-sensitive finishing sequences, which flash a button on screen that the player must press to advance through a perilous situation.

The platforming elements of the game have been given more prevalence as well. Kratos can now use his chained daggers to swing and climb across ceilings.

On the Island of Creation, the sneering Spartan acquires the wings of Icarus, which allow him to glide across greater distances than his jumps can cover. And Kratos can use the Amulet of the Fates to slow down time, which adds a new dimension to the game's several puzzle-solving scenarios.

Kratos' quest for vengeance against the gods takes him through vivid environments like the shoulders of Atlas and the Steeds of Time. The latter structure - four 20-story-tall golden horse statues - can only be reached by running across a half-mile-long chain stretching over the sea. The scene is depicted with such detail that a mild case of vertigo is not out of the question.

There is a cinematic quality in the epic establishing camera shots that overlook Kratos' entry into new areas like the Steeds of Time. The game also ends like the middle-chapter in a trilogy, with a movie indicating that Kratos' battle against Mount Olympus has only begun.

“God of War II” was even conceived in scripts and storyboards, which can be seen in a bonus disc included with the game that chronicles the massive task of making it. But be sure to watch the feature-length documentary after conquering the game as Kratos. That way one can truly appreciate the thought and work that went into creating what will likely be remembered as one of the last - and finest - PlayStation 2 games ever made.

Staff writer David Wilcox reviews video games for The Citizen. He can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net

“God of War II”

Score: A+

Parental rating: Mature for blood and gore, intense violence, nudity, sexual themes and strong language

Manufacturer: Sony Computer Entertainment

Platform: PlayStation 2

Retail price: $49.99

Features: 1 player

Life span: Approximately 15 hours to complete

The final boss: By transposing the brutality of “God of War” onto an even more epic story and more beautifully realized environments, “God of War II” surpasses its prequel in contention for the prestige of being the greatest game ever made for the PlayStation 2