The highly anticipated hack and slash game God of War III went on sale in New Zealand today, picking up where its 2007 predecessor left off.

Sony Computer Entertainment said in a media release that the God of War series had sold more than 3.9 million copies to date and the finale released today was expected to do just as well.

A lot has been made of the game's graphics, which feature some of the most advanced shadow effects of any game on the market. God of War III was the poster child for shadow effects at the recent Game Developers' Conference in San Francisco, where the techniques behind some of its most stunning graphics were showcased.

When it comes to gameplay it's all about non-stop bloodthirsty battle action. You will talk to a few people and enjoy the odd cut-scene but fans of the series know the bulk of the game is about slicing down hordes of enemies on the way to the next "boss" character.

In God of War III, you again play as Kratos, a former Spartan captain who is seeking vengeance against the Greek gods who have wronged him. That involves plunging your "Blades of Exile" and "Cestus" into every living and undead thing you come across as you continue your fight up Mount Olympus to take them all on. It's a tough task, but Kratos is up to it, and if you're willing to part with some of your hard earned cash to buy the game, you can go along for the ride.