The final review code is in the door and we're happy to confirm that it's true... all of it... and then some...

There’s been much speculation among followers of the game – and those who set out to damn it – whether Sony has reached the levels of visual fidelity purported in the trailers and in the many screenshots made recently available.

Developers and publishers – bless ‘em – have a sneaky habit of releasing doctored images, more often than not with resolutions quadrupling that of the final product. As games journalists we see this kind of thing all of the time; when something appears too good to be true, the stroking of chins is clearly audible.

It’s not only a massive relief then, but a revelation, that God Of War 3, previously high on our bullshot radar has just not only met, but exceeded any possible graphical expectations we previously held. The up-close detail is almost painfully sharp with the game’s engine panning back without a blip to epic-scale carnage. Quite simply breathtaking. In a purely visual context, God Of War 3 has just earned a comfortable place in our number one spot.

“Visually, this game is beyond belief.”