Man God of War and Ninja Gaiden aren't hack and slash, they're action games. So is Devil May Cry.

The true hack and slash genre is largely dead except for a few games like Castle Crashers, and that's really pushing it.

'Mortal' difficulty doesn't count

Here you go NJ5, I know you'll love this.

FOR EVERYONE. This next video shows how much faster this is than the rest. It's so rewarding whenplayed well. Damn I want to play now.

Nobodys mentioned Chaos legion?

In that case it gets my honourable mention, the last boss was a tough cookie.

Shadow of rome was good too, but a little on the slow side.

Um, I really wouldn't define that as a hack and slash game. It's definitely just an rpg seeing as how its' from the top down view, weapons that don't have any hacking or slashing involved such as bows and staves, and the reliance on skills compared to other games.

I'd say hack and slash games are usually in a 3d environment where the player gets specific control onver how he is going to kill the x number of baddies using combos and the like. Not skills that buff your attack or make you spin quickly making a blade whirwind and damaging the enemy's hp.

Mindless hack and slash?
Dynasty warriors.
Great and epic hack and slash?
Devil may cry.

Ninja Gaiden

Devil May Cry 3 I guess.

Are you saying that the combos you learn are different than the skills and spells? The only difference is that instead of pressing 1 button to activate them you press 3 in a roll. Also correct me if I'm mistaked but even by your dfinition you damage the enemy's health with those same combos you mention. I get full control over how I'm gonna kill the 2 dozen demons in the next 10 feet of lava, hell Assassins even have combo points and finishing moves which do different stuff based on when/how they are used. Also if you want 3D, go play Titan Quest, that's in a 3D environment and the best D2 clone out there if you want 3D so much.

Diablo is like the classic all-time hack and slash game that isn't Gauntlet

You can't even argue that