Is there a secret for breaking the mast with Hydra's head right in the beginning of the game? If it's just technique, I'm sunk because I've tried this sequence for 2 days now. I'm playing on easy, maybe the average mode would be different. Other than this it's a fine game.

From what I read ytou smash it on her head 3 times and impale her the 4th. Are you playing a PS version?

Ana

This is the strategy for the PS2 version from a walkthrough at gamefaqs.

Strategy: |
| -------- |
| To start off, first, make sure that you either press block, or move |
| away when you first here him breaking through the wood ahead, so that |
| you don't get hurt. After that, hold bock until he sticks his head at |
| you, and it hits twice. Then, slash him a couple of times with your |
| Blades of Chaos, then hold the block button again, until you get a |
| chance to attack again. Keep this up, until his life reaches near the |
| two-third mark. At this time, he'll put his head down, and a circle |
| icon will appear above it. When this happens, grab the beast with the |
| circle button, and hit the correct buttons, as are shown on screen. |
| Kratos will start whipping the Hydra into walls, and will end the |
| combo by stabbing it's eye, causing it to retreat for now. |
'-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I see the circle icon but not the ensuing icons. Ha, good, next time I'll watch for them and be onto more adventures with Kratos. A visit to the walkthrough will help too.
I'm playing the PS3 remastered version. It's really neat - GOW 1 and 2 are on a single blu-ray disc.
Also bought GOW 3. It's going to be a firecracker summer this year.
Thanks Ana and Cathy for helping.

Have fun with the game. I played the PS2 GOW 2. It was excellent. I watched the GOW3 on youtube and it was jaw dropping.

Cathy