Review: God of War: Sons of Sparta (PS5) – Series’ Boldest Bet Is Also Its Slowest Burn

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The God of War series had become stale over time. The final blow was God of War: Ascension – a decent action game, but too much like the previous installments, which led to players losing interest in Kratos’s violent story.

This is precisely why the Norse-themed God of War games were so different – they revamped the setting, gameplay, and, importantly, gave Kratos more depth as a character. This fresh start was desperately needed, and the newer games have solidified the franchise’s place as a key PlayStation title.

God of War: Sons of Sparta offers a fresh take on the story, presenting it in a completely new and interesting way.

This action game, mainly created by Mega Cat Studios, is a side-scrolling Metroidvania that generally plays quite smoothly.

The game is framed as an older Kratos recounting his youth to his daughter, Calliope. It takes place when he was a teenager, training to become a Spartan warrior. We found the setting to be a refreshing change; exploring his childhood and seeing a different side of Kratos is far more compelling than simply revisiting his destructive exploits as an adult.

Kratos has received permission to leave Sparta, along with his brother Deimos. This newfound freedom leads them to investigate the disappearance of a young boy named Vasilis, kicking off a classic exploration-based adventure.

As you explore the game’s large world, you’ll often find areas you can’t access until you gain new skills and gear, encouraging you to revisit them later. While combat is a key part of the experience – as you’d expect from a God of War title – the game also features more platforming and puzzles as you go further in the story.

This game doesn’t reinvent the Metroidvania genre, but it’s a solid example of it. Exploring the levels is enjoyable, and gaining new abilities makes revisiting areas even more fun.

As a fan, I’ve been really impressed with Sons of Sparta. It takes the best parts of the God of War combat from both the Greek and Norse eras and blends them together so well. It feels fresh and exciting, but still has that classic God of War feel I love.

The game blends the simple upgrade system of classic titles with the gear mechanics found in newer games, and it feels like a natural fit for the Metroidvania style.

Honestly, when I first started playing, I wasn’t immediately hooked. You begin with pretty limited abilities, and it took a while for things to really get exciting. It wasn’t a bad start, but it definitely took a few hours for the game to truly grab me and show its potential.

The game really opens up and becomes more enjoyable once you’ve progressed a bit, unlocked important items, and improved Kratos’s abilities. Overall, Sons of Sparta tends to get better the further you get into it.

Okay, so the fighting at first is pretty straightforward – I mostly found myself just using the same basic combo over and over to damage enemies. It gets way more interesting when you start using Spirit attacks, though! Those not only help you deal damage but also create health orbs and fill up the enemy’s stun meter faster. The catch is they use up my Spirit energy bar, which is the yellow one. Luckily, I can recharge it just by attacking normally, so it’s a nice balance.

Plus, the game features a quick dodge roll and a shield for blocking and parrying, complete with a cool slow-motion effect similar to those found in games inspired by Norse mythology.

Honestly, the game starts off okay, but it really gets good once you start leveling up and getting some cool upgrades. It’s so satisfying to build Kratos into this incredibly powerful warrior, and there are a few different ways you can do it, which is neat!

You can improve your weapons and armor, like your spear and shield, by adding parts that give them special abilities, such as dealing extra elemental damage or increasing your chance to land a critical hit. Later in the game, you’ll also find a belt you can customize with upgrades that provide ongoing benefits, like stronger health pickups or causing enemies to explode when defeated.

The game offers a lot to explore and do, and that’s not even mentioning the Gifts of Olympus. These gifts help you get around, solve puzzles, and perform unique attacks in combat.

The game starts a bit slowly, but once it picks up, Sons of Sparta offers a really enjoyable take on the series. It just needs a little while to get going.

The game holds back some convenient features until later on. While you can travel between temples early, there aren’t many to choose from. After several hours of play, you unlock fast travel to campfires, which makes getting around much easier and returning to previous areas less frustrating. However, this improvement might not arrive soon enough for all players.

Thankfully, the game’s world and characters are engaging enough to keep you invested. The core of the story revolves around the bond between Kratos and Deimos, and how their dedication to each other and Sparta is challenged as they journey to find Vasilis.

The game is visually appealing, featuring beautiful pixel art and diverse locations. While the areas initially seem a bit repetitive, you’ll eventually explore interesting places like dangerous mountain paths, a haunted vineyard, and a tranquil harbor.

The game looks pretty good overall, though it has a few minor glitches and one part that can cause the frame rate to drop. It’s not as visually impressive as some fans might hope for, but it’s still decent.

The game also sounds fantastic, with a new musical score by Bear McCreary and strong voice performances – especially a surprisingly restrained performance from T.C. Carson as the older Kratos.

It’s worth mentioning the co-op mode, but it’s only available after you finish the entire main game. While unlocking features isn’t unusual, it feels a little deceptive to advertise co-op when players first need to spend many hours completing the single-player campaign before they can access it.

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2026-02-18 21:38