Game guide · NexWave Games
God of War on PS3: which collections include which older games?
God of War Collection sounds like a convenient starting point, but several compilations have similar names. One brings the first two PlayStation 2 games to PS3, while another collects two adventures originally released on PSP. A Roman numeral on the cover does not explain the contents by itself. The full title and a list of included components help you choose more precisely.
God of War Collection contains the first two games
The original God of War Collection for PlayStation 3 contains God of War and God of War II. These are the two adventures first released on PlayStation 2, adapted for PS3. You do not automatically receive God of War III or the later series featuring an older Kratos. The physical PS3 compilation brings the first two games together on one Blu-ray Disc.
If you want to discover the original action, Greek mythology and Kratos’s story, this collection is a logical starting point. Play the two games in release order if you want to follow the story. Also check the platform when searching: the same compilation name may appear on another system’s edition. A PS3 disc and a handheld release are not interchangeable products, even when their covers show the same hero.
Collection Volume II and Origins collect the PSP adventures
God of War Collection Volume II contains Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta. Both games originally appeared on PSP and were re-released for PS3. Volume II is therefore not another name for God of War II, and it does not automatically contain God of War III. Read the full game names on the packaging to avoid this confusion.
American editions use the name God of War: Origins Collection for this pair of PSP adventures. The names thus refer to related main-game contents, but compare the actual edition if language, packaging or bonus material matters to you. If you already own Collection and want two different adventures, look for Volume II or Origins. If you only need the second main game, look at the first Collection instead.
Check the individual contents of larger bundles
A God of War Trilogy package can offer the first Collection together with God of War III. This differs from Collection Volume II. A compilation’s packaging does not tell you which parts remain in a used offer. Ask for photos of the actual discs and have their titles listed. A single disc inside a larger box does not provide the missing games.
Also distinguish games on disc from extras originally supplied through a download code. With used copies, you cannot assume a code is still available or usable. Check the conditions of that specific edition before relying on the game count printed on the front. If you are starting from scratch, choose the adventures you want, then compare the complete contents. This helps avoid both duplicate games and a collection missing the very entry you wanted.