God of War: Sons of Sparta draws flak as players discover that co-op mode is only available after rolling through the game’s credits. Read on to learn more about its bizarre co-op mode and what others think about the spin-off.
God of War: Sons of Sparta Co-Op Mode Locked Until Players Finish the Game
A Bizarre Oversight
God of War: Sons of Sparta’s decision to lock co-op behind the completion of the main story drew criticism from many players, with much of the backlash aimed at the game’s marketing. Fans were led to believe co-op was available immediately after launch, especially after the official PlayStation Store description listed "1–2 players."
Many players assumed they would be able to control Kratos and his brother Deimos fighting side by side from the beginning of the game, as described on its store page, inviting players to "join young Kratos and Deimos" on their journey. Instead, this expectation turned out to be misplaced, as players found out that they must first roll the credits once before accessing the two-player co-op mode.
Sony issued a response a day after the game’s official shadow-dropped launch on PlayStation’s February 2026 State of Play. The company clarified that the game does include a two-player local co-op challenge mode, but players must finish the main story to unlock it.
Some users on X (formerly Twitter) said they felt "fooled" after purchasing the game to play with partners or friends, only to discover that they needed to complete the game’s 8–10 hour campaign before being able to play as Deimos. Other fans are even asking for refunds following this unfortunate discovery.
Original God of War Creator Calls God of War: Sons of Sparta "Dumb."
Unfortunately, criticism for Sons of Sparta doesn’t stop there, as David Jaffe, the original director and lead designer of the first God of War, criticized the game in a recently uploaded YouTube video, describing it as "well made but generic and dull."
In the nine-minute video, Jaffe said the concept of a 2D God of War game was "a great idea," but questioned its execution, asking "What is this? I don’t understand" within the video’s opening minutes. While he said he does not entirely hate the game, he noted that several design choices did not make sense to him. He also explained that he expected the 2D Metroidvania to more closely resemble Blasphemous, particularly in its heavy use of blood and gore, something he felt the new God of War spin-off largely lacks.
Fans were quick to push back against Jaffe’s comments after finding out he only played the game for just an hour, barely scratching its surface. One user joked in the video’s comment section that the God of War Trilogy Remake might give him a heart attack. Others pointed out that Jaffe has never been a fan of Metroidvania games, referencing his past dislike for titles such as Metroid: Dread, which is widely regarded as one of the strongest entries in the genre in recent years.
While these reactions largely reflect personal opinions, early reviews suggest that God of War: Sons of Sparta still has room to improve. With the game having just released over the weekend and more outlets, including ours, still preparing their reviews, it currently holds a 75 score on OpenCritic. Common criticisms focus on its barebones Metroidvania design, while praise centers on Kratos’ characterization as a young, battle-hardened Spartan.
The Newest God of War Spin-off
God of War: Sons of Sparta is the latest God of War spin-off, focusing on Kratos’ life as a young Spartan warrior. Set years before the events of the first God of War, the game portrays a version of Kratos who has not yet become the rage-fueled demigod seen in the original trilogy. Its gameplay leans toward a Metroidvania-style structure, borrowing elements from titles such as Metroid and Castlevania with its labyrinthine levels and requiring necessary items to progress forward.
Fans of the series were already excited by the announcement that Kratos’ first three adventures set in the Greek pantheon would receive remakes, but Sons of Sparta's surprise release was an entirely unexpected addition to Sony’s long-running action-adventure franchise.
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Original God of War Creator's Response to God of War: Sons of Sparta
Official Storefront Saying 1-2 Players
