In PCSX2, go to CDVD > ISO Selector and browse to the extracted .iso file. Then go to System > Boot ISO (fast).
The original God of War PS2 ISO is roughly 3.5 GB to 4.5 GB (DVD5 format). While modern hard drives can handle this easily, many retro gamers fall into specific categories:
A "highly compressed" ISO shrinks the 4GB file down to anywhere between 400MB and 800MB. This is achieved by removing dummy data (empty padding used to speed up disc reads on the original PS2) and applying advanced algorithms like 7z, WinRAR, or zip with maximum compression.
The safest way to get a "highly compressed" version is to make it yourself. If you own the original disc or a full 4GB ISO:
The resulting .7z file will usually be around 700MB to 900MB. This is a proper, safe, non-malicious compression.
Highly compressed files can significantly reduce download time and storage needs. However, ensure that:
If you've decided to proceed, here are general steps you can follow:
Before you spend time downloading the compressed PS2 ISO, consider:
If you own the original disc, this is the safest and most rewarding method:
This gives you a legal, highly compressed, high-quality version that is guaranteed to work perfectly with PCSX2.
This is the most critical section. God of War is copyrighted by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Downloading a PS2 ISO from a public website is illegal if you do not own an original copy of the game. However, there are gray areas and legal methods:
If you want to stay 100% legal: Rip your own PS2 disc using a tool like ImgBurn or DVD Decrypter, then compress it using CHDman (part of MAME tools) or PS2Compress. This guide assumes you have either legal ownership of the game or are downloading for educational/backup purposes.