God of War: Sons of Sparta Review – A Retro Detour for Kratos
PlayStation’s iconic Kratos ventured into new territory in early 2026 with the surprise release of God of War: Sons of Sparta, a 2D platformer developed by Mega Cat Studios in collaboration with Santa Monica Studio. Released alongside the 20th anniversary of the God of War series, the game offers a different perspective on the Ghost of Sparta, but falls short of being a truly legendary experience.
A Younger Kratos in a Pixelated World
God of War: Sons of Sparta follows a teenage Kratos and his brother, Deimos, as they navigate their Spartan upbringing. Players witness the rigorous training and trials the brothers endure as they strive to turn into accomplished warriors. The game’s pixel art aesthetic provides a refreshing take on Ancient Sparta, with Mount Olympus visible in the background and a statue of Ares under construction. While visually well-realized, the environments lack a striking quality and fail to leave a lasting impression.
Metroidvania Exploration and Limited Combat
As a metroidvania title, Sons of Sparta features a labyrinthine map that players gradually uncover, requiring backtracking to previously inaccessible areas. Players unlock tools like the bust of Lycurgus and a slingshot to access new areas and resources for upgrading gear. However, the combat system represents a significant missed opportunity. Young Kratos wields a spear and shield, a departure from the iconic Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos. While fitting for his Spartan roots, the spear lacks the satisfying impact and dynamism of his signature weapons.
The combat offers standard light and heavy attacks, alongside a special attack activated by holding the L1 button, but struggles to feel truly engaging. Despite a variety of enemies, including Medusa-like creatures and undead soldiers, the gameplay lacks variety.
A Flawed Upgrade System
The game’s upgrade system further compounds the issues. Players collect red orbs to unlock new abilities for Kratos, but these orbs are also required to reveal portions of the map. This creates a frustrating dilemma: invest in character progression or map exploration. Many of the available upgrades offer minimal improvements, such as enhanced parrying or counter moves. A separate resource for map exploration or an increased orb drop rate from chests could have alleviated this problem.
Story and Missions: Padding and Archetypes
The narrative centers on Kratos and Deimos’s search for their friend, Vasilis, leading to both engaging mythological boss fights and mundane tasks. One particular mission involved repeatedly clearing and cleansing corrupted fountains in a vineyard, demonstrating a lack of focused game design. The characters of Kratos and Deimos remain largely undeveloped, adhering to predictable archetypes: Kratos as the level-headed older brother and Deimos as the impulsive younger sibling. Their sibling dynamic fails to become endearing, instead coming across as irritating.
A Step in the Right Direction
Despite its shortcomings, God of War: Sons of Sparta represents a commendable effort by PlayStation to explore different genres with its established characters. Delivering new experiences, even those that don’t fully succeed, is a positive step. However, much like a young Kratos still honing his skills, Sons of Sparta shows potential but ultimately fails to reach the level of a true Spartan legend.