Wrath of the Titans
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| Wrath of the Titans

Wrath of the Titans is not a deep game. Like its blockbuster inspiration, it is a vehicle for one thing and one thing only: relentless violence.

It is a chance to see one adequately proportioned man swing a sword at an army of impossibly proportioned mythological creatures until they burst into coloured orbs. Nothing more, nothing less.

It is not an original game, either. The 2D sprites and side-scrolling format do little to disguise the second-hand mechanics.

In fact, one can imagine God of War's folically-challenged protagonist seething with litigious rage deep beneath the stone platforms and undead footsteps.

Kraken skulls

Nor is it a particularly clever game. There are a few rudimentary puzzles, which usually involve dragging a stone pillar or using the correct spell in the correct context, but nothing very taxing.

In fact, if you swing your sword around with enough regularity and gusto, and time your jumps correctly, you won't need to trouble your grey matter at all once you venture beyond the installation screen.

However, Gameloft’s latest movie tie-in has one saving grace: it's actually quite good fun. The pace is relentless, ensuring you’re never more than a couple of seconds away from another sword-wielding psycho or ticked-off Titan.

Perseus - for he is thee - has some quite nifty moves, including a penchant for devastating counter-attacks and bone-shattering fatalities.

Factor in some elemental magic and the chance to steal the occasional comically-oversized hammer and you've got just enough incentive to keep hitting ‘5’ till the credits roll.

Games of Olympus

There are a couple of pleasing visual touches, too. While the platforms in the foreground are bog standard, the character animations are nicely kinetic, adding a sense of weight and urgency to the swordplay.

Dungeon environments are understandably dull, but when the game ventures above ground the ancient ruins and sparkling oceans provide a fitting backdrop to the carnage centre-stage.

What's more, the game does a fair job of switching-up the action, moving between jumping and climbing sections, button-pushing, and monster mashing with utilitarian efficiency.

While you’re sure to have seen it all before, Wrath of the Titans's mythological fisticuffs are enjoyable - especially if you're in the mood for a little intellectual downtime.

Wrath of the Titans

Hugely derivative, but surprisingly entertaining, Wrath of the Titans fulfils its destiny by filling your screen with gore
Score
James Gilmour
James Gilmour
James pivoted to video so hard that he permanently damaged his spine, which now doubles as a Cronenbergian mic stand. If the pictures are moving, he's the one to blame.