The gameplay has been part 1 so absolute peak in Action (-Adventure) Genre and studied in his Ascension same. Graphically even a tick better than God of War. 3
The story is also well captured and playing in front of the other God of War parts, even before God of War Chains of Olympus (although I initially had my doubts here that the umpteenth story spinoff / prologue to the actual trilogy the story is a mess out slowly. Thank God this is not the case).
Conclusion: absolute for any fan of the series must buy. But warmest for series newcomers recommended. Anyone who has a Sony console needs anyway God of War in his collection :).