Why don't you just order SotC online?

the games I like to play are(I also missed PS2 due to owning xbox lastgen)


jack and daxter

ratchet and clanck

already played god of war II

shadow of colossus

Ico

Whats ICO about?

To be quite honest, I would buy a PS2, skip the PS3 for a while, and I wouldn't play any of those games you've mentioned. They're good, I guess, lol. Who am I kidding, they are great, but they aren't nearly the best games on the console, and indeed suck up the joint compared to the best.

I'm assuming you don't own a Wii or Gamecube, so you'll want to play Resident Evil 4 first and foremost. Here is a comprehensive list of games you've missed:

1. Final Fantasy X

2. Shin Megami Tensai Persona 3: FES

3. Metal Gear Solid 3

4. Resident Evil 4

5. Final Fantasy XII

6. Odin Sphere

7. Okami

8. Devil May Cry 1 and 3(special edition)

9. Tekken 5

10. Silent Hill 2

11. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness

Now let me tell you my opinion.

God of War, or as I call it, God of Puzzle, is God of Aweful. The most over-rated pair of games, ever. They are like DMC, with worse/less action, a better story, and a series of clunky frusterating block puzzles and mini-games designed to seemingly make the game boring as hell, because why the hell else do you get puzzles on my beat-em-up?

It has conventions that were stale in RE1. The game gets credit for style over substance. Great graphics and cool crap happening around you while you do the mini-games and puzzles don't prevent this game from being terrible. It's only considered good because of Kratos.

You take Kratos out and put Dante in and you've got the worst DMC game ever released. Considering Ninja Gaiden 1 is better than any DMC yet released, you see where God of Puzzle falls within that genre.

Now, Shadow of the Colossus is awesome, but it goes wide in the other direction. The game has no story whatsoever, and the ending is terrible. Basically, there is no ending. The gameplay, however, is amazing and the game is still a must-play, and imo, much better than ICO.

You've said you have to make your decision quick and I highly suggest taking my advice, you'll be a happier gamer in the end, trust me. I've never had somebody come back and say "You sob! RE4 sucked." You should play it, and if you have never played MGS3, you need to play it. Despite popular opinion, it's every bit as good or better than MGS4, and it is required playing anyway. Setting around waiting for PS3 to be BC isn't fun gaming, and the PS3 isn't really a must buy machine, if I'm honest, assuming you already own a 360 you may never need to own a PS3.

@ Starcraft

God of War 1 & 2 are IMO awesome, very solid gameplay and very high production values. Ultimate polish and using the PS2 hardware to the max.

Second opinions:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145021

God of war is one of the best Hack/slash franchises as a whole package(story,gameplay,puzzles,...) and one of the main reasons I got PS3(in anticipation for GOW3 regardless of its review score)

Zen doesn't like the franchise cause he hates the creator of god of war for speaking the truth.read his sig.

Actually I do own a Wii.  I'm buying Resident Evil 4 soon, and my girlfriend just bought Okami for her Wii.  So I'll play both of those.  I've never been a big DMC fan, but I AM eyeing off Persona 3.  But its not actually out here yet.

I was put off buy MGS original, but I am half thinking of coming back to try 3.  The problem with the Final Fantasies isn't that I don't think they'll be great, its time restrictions.  I have a month to play games, but I also have to work/have a social life/sleep.  I'm worried if I start one or two 80 hour+ FF games, they'll be all I play.  I could always pick them up in 6 months time, because unlike SotC/ICO/Persona I can find them whenever I want.

Thanks for your input.

I tend to agree on GoW.  As I said, I played the first and started the second.  Is the second one as good as the first in its latter half?

You play as a kid who has to escort this princess out of a castle populated by weird shadowy creatures that try to capture her.

It's an action adventure, kinda similar to Zelda. Puzzle solving and platforming...that sorta thing.

IMO God of War 2 is clearly superior all the way. 8-)