Setpieces? You mean quick time events? There are a fair few of those, and God of War actually manages to implement them well, unlike every other game ever.

As for traversal, not really. Kill enemies, walk to next room, kill enemies, climb wall, kill boss, kill enemies, puzzle, walk to next room, kill enemies, repeat.

The God of War games are very linear. GoW2 is clearer in my mind, and I can remember everything up to arrival on the Island of Creation being about traversal (except Rhodes), but the focus during the rest of the game was definitely on the combat.

On second thought, I suppose it is more of a Hack and Slash/Adventure hybrid. Perhaps that's why I prefer it to other hack and slash, like Ninja Gaiden which is literally kill enemies, walk to next room, fancy platforming segment, enemies, boss, repeat.

I never thought it would happen, but Uncharted 2 should sell more lifetime. I think God of War III will have a slightly better opening week, however.

Uncharted deserves the better sales, in my opinion.

God of War 1st week in NA > U2 1st week worldwide

Sony screwed up the marketing in Europe. If they marketed as well as in EU, GoW would be an easy 5 million seller. That, and our data for EU is outdated.

I expect -

GoW3
2 million lifetime in NA
1 million lifetime in Others
50k Japan
3.05 million WW

Uncharted 2
1.5 million each in NA / Others
120k JP
3.12 million WW

No not quick time events but set-pieces as in well thought out traps, epic puzzles, quick cliffhanger moments and other situations where one barely but always makes it through on one's first try(and without slowing the pace) giving the pulp action(Indiana Jones) roller coaster experience.

DMC and NG focus on the combat and have sloppy puzzles thrown into the mix, GoW focus on the set-pieces and due to luck has a solid combat system thrown into its mix(unless you want to disagree with its two directors that is).

So saying that GoW is "Kill enemies, walk to next room, kill enemies, climb wall, kill boss, kill enemies, puzzle, walk to next room, kill enemies, repeat." is awfully narrow minded and only shows that one either suffer from memory loss or that one hasn't played the PS2 games, where the combat is there to accent Kratos' character(many of the enemies are made weak to make the player feel godly strong, they aren't meant to present a challenge at all).

I have certainly played the two PS2 games, multiple times. They are among my all-time favourites.

But without the combat, they would be nothing. Even with the level progression, puzzles and setpieces. The game could still be decent without those things. With unsatisfying combat, it would be nothing.

@Kantor

I think the story is the best part in GOW not the combat :P

@OctaBech

GOW IS a hack n slash game (but not like the others)

People are STILL underestimating Uncharted 2. It's incredible.

U2 will sell atleast 3.5 million copies.

That really depends on what one put into hack n slash, Jaffe's initial idea was that Kratos just would make brutal random attacks when mashing the same button, that Barlock added optional depth to the system doesn't in my eyes change that GoW set out to become a pulp adventure game.

I too love the intuitive combat system(my button inputs actually make sense when pulling off combos :o), but the combat is more than the combat itself.

The set-pieces really add depth to the combat by including mini puzzles during the fights like using stone-blocks as shield against enemy arrows, the added sense of urgency from levers which need to be pulled during battles and traps where one need to get out of the combat in time.

To me it's important that one doesn't fall into the same trap as Yahtzee from Zero Punctuation and complain about GoW/Uncharted being the same old same, because the games does a lot of innovation in set-pieces while at the same time managing to maintain the control system.

UC2 will easily sale more then that, while GoW3 will be the highest selling gow in the franchise.

Well, God of War is the definitive series of the hack and slash genre. I would consider it one of the best video game series period, and I think a large amount of people are waiting for the 3rd one.

But then there's the problem of no online or co-op play... I bet alot of people will be renting GoW 3. So I'll say that the other master peice, Uncharted 2 will end up selling more.

Regardless, I hope 10 million and up for both!!! (prays to gaming gods... turns out Kratos killed them... O shit!!!)