Reviews are useless in this game's case. Here's what you need to know. "Is it the same game? No shitty port?". That's all. Everything else in this game was reviewed to death already. The game could have a 97, an 87, or a 37, and all that matters is whether they ported it correctly. We can assess the remainder based on the original reviews. 

Yes, and the 97 implies that it was ported very well.

No it doesn't. Reading the review and seeing the words implying it was ported well is what tells you that it was ported well. You say the game isn't hyped and is getting a 97, but then explain why the originals, which were hyped to all hell have lower scores. Shouldn't it be the opposite since hype correlates to high scoring which we shouldn't bother reading?

The reviewers wouldn't give the game a high score if it weren't a good port. You don't need to read the review if you read the reviews for the original games.

Original games were not hyped to death, minor hype has no effect on the Metascore. It's massive amount of hype that has undesirable effects (GTAIV, Halo 3). Plus value gets factored into the score. You get two great games for $40.

The two games scored high separately, obviously this one will since it's the best versions.

Value? The two games retail for $20 each. Sega Genesis Collection and Orange Box this is not when we speak of value. I love the two games to death, and if I still had my PS3 and didn't have my PS2 copies, I'd probably dip back in myself. I just don't get your justifications of the score is all. Hyped, not hyped, whatever. This is obviously not a game most people that are familiar with the series even care about. I sure don't. I'm a fan of the series and a big boy. Just tell me the games work. I can figure out the rest myself.

Really though, if you don't think the 97 is a product of early review hype then I don't know what to tell you. Typically the first few reviews of most good games are the most glowing. Have you not seen the trend that almost all games go down in Metascore as more reviews get added? It's at this time that you should pay the least attention to it's score, since it's almost certain to go down. However, if no other reviews were ever added for some odd reason, it would make the score effectively useless, just like the few games Gamerankings has on file from the 5th generation.

im getting it for christmas cant wait.

First of all, if you read the original post, you'd know that I never stated that it would stay at 97. I said that it would have no trouble maintaining and average that is above 90. Plus, this game is still amazing by current day standards (disregard graphics), unlike SGC, which is mainly nostalgic gaming. Orange Box is better value, but that doesn't mean GOWC is bad value. You still get 2 kick-ass games for 67% of full retail price of most other games.

@bolded text

This is a direct result of people telling Sony that they want a God of War Collection. Why would people say they want something if they really don't care about it?

today is the 17th god of war collection should be out, i went to 6 different stores looking for it today, nobody has it, i have been told not to tomorrow, why left for dead 2, ac2 all had 17th release dates and they were in, but no god of war collection, if anyone has any info on this if you could message me to let me know i would appriciate it, thanks

I would've bought the God of War collection if I didn't already have the first two games.