God of War Sons of Sparta – Everything You Need to Know

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The new 2D platformer, Sons of Sparta, is now available on PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro – and it was released unexpectedly! We’ve played the game and want to share 15 important things to consider before you buy it.

A Canon Setting

I’m really excited about Sons of Sparta – it feels like a proper, official part of the God of War story, not just some little side thing. The game lets you play as a young Kratos, showing you what it was like growing up in Sparta and going through that incredibly tough training called the Agoge. It really explains how he became the warrior we know. And what’s really cool is that it focuses on Kratos’ brother, Deimos, and how important their relationship is to the whole story. It’s awesome to finally see that explored!

Smart Level Design and Fluid Movement

The game’s levels are well-designed, seamlessly mixing action-packed battles with smart puzzles that require you to use your skills and items creatively. Moving around feels great – it’s precise and fluid – and the smooth animations make both exploring and fighting really satisfying.

Combat

Battles focus on using a spear and shield, requiring you to carefully watch how enemies attack, time your blocks, and find good positions. It’s not about button-mashing; instead, you need to block strategically, attack when you see an opening, and know when to safely back away.

Graphics Style

The game has a very unique look. It doesn’t try to be realistic, instead using detailed, hand-drawn pixel art to make characters and effects really stand out in 2D. This creates a style that feels both fresh and reminiscent of classic retro games.

Deep Weapon Customization From the Start

Kratos starts his adventure with a Spartan spear and shield, but you can customize his gear. The spear, specifically, can be changed in three ways – the tip, grip, and tail – and each change affects how you fight. These aren’t just small improvements; they let you build Kratos to focus on attacking, controlling enemies, or staying alive, depending on how you want to play.

Spear Parts Fundamentally Change Your Playstyle

Every part of a spear has a unique job. The tip can make your attacks stronger, giving you a better chance for critical hits, adding defense, or causing effects like burning or poisoning. The grip changes how your combo ends, letting you finish with powerful moves like quick slashes or strong blows. The tail adds completely new attacks, such as fast, repeated stabs or moves that can hit multiple enemies. Because each piece can be upgraded separately, trying out different combinations is key to finding what works best.

Buffs

As you play through the game, Kratos unlocks powerful buffs. These buffs give him special attacks that use magic, and can quickly turn the battle in your favor. Some buffs are best for fighting from a distance, allowing you to control the battlefield or hit several enemies simultaneously. Others make his close-combat attacks even more devastating with powerful combos. The buffs you choose will significantly change how you fight.

Three Resource Meters to Manage

Battles aren’t just about stringing together attacks; managing your resources is key. Kratos relies on three main meters: health, spirit, and magic. Spirit powers stronger attacks and special moves, while magic fuels powerful abilities gained from buffs. You can refill these meters by collecting orbs, and improve them permanently by upgrading your gear, giving you more than just skill-based progression.

Defensive Builds Matter Just As Much


 

The shield does more than just block attacks. You can change its rim to focus on different types of defense. Some rims make it easier to block attacks successfully, while others give you a damage boost if you dodge effectively. Similar to how spears work, shield upgrades let you customize your defenses, offering players who prefer a defensive style just as many build options as those who like to play aggressively.

Skill Trees And Inventory

Kratos’s abilities grow in a detailed system. You start by improving his attack and defense through two skill trees, and eventually unlock a third that focuses on how he moves. You can only upgrade his skills at campsites, so it’s smart to prepare before tough fights. He can also carry up to six accessories, which give him helpful bonuses like reduced damage or stronger weapon attacks. Finding the best accessories means exploring the world, including a hidden island with powerful, hard-to-find enemies – exploration is key to maximizing Kratos’s strength.

Boss Battles

Battles against powerful bosses are central to Sons of Sparta, and the game features a diverse range of them. Kratos will face creatures like Cyclops, Ioke, and Ponea, along with other challenging enemies. Each boss is designed to truly test your skills, rather than just being a stronger version of a normal enemy. While this isn’t a massive, high-budget game, it compensates for that with its unique style and how it presents these encounters.

The Price

Okay, so the price for Sons of Sparta is really good! It’s not a full $70 game, which is awesome, and you can only get it digitally on the PlayStation Store. There are two versions: the Standard Edition is $29.99, and the Digital Deluxe is $39.99 – so ten bucks extra if you want all the deluxe stuff (I’ll get into that later). Honestly, it’s a really nice price for a new Sony game, and it makes it easy to just grab it if you’re looking for something a little simpler and cheaper than those huge AAA titles.

Digital Deluxe Edition Contents


 

The Digital Deluxe Edition includes some extra goodies beyond the main game. You’ll receive the game’s digital soundtrack, letting you explore the music in more detail, and a PlayStation Network avatar of the main character. As for in-game items, the Deluxe Edition provides the Arrow of Virtue (a spear tip), the Unstable Gemstone (a belt attachment), Rusty Scrap for upgrades, and a pack of Blood Orbs to help you get started. Keep in mind that you’ll unlock some of these items as you play through the story, so you won’t have access to everything right away.

How Long To Beat

You can expect a complete, full-length adventure, not a short side story. The main story will likely take around 9 to 11 hours to complete, which is similar in length to the original game. This means it feels like a proper release, not just an extended demo. Considering the price, this length is ideal – it’s long enough to offer a fulfilling experience, but not so long that the story drags. Don’t expect to finish it in just a few hours; there’s plenty of content to provide a satisfying conclusion.

Excellent Performance

Playing on the PS5 Pro, the game ran perfectly the entire time. We didn’t experience any slowdown or issues, and the gameplay was consistently smooth.

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2026-02-17 17:47