| God of War: Sons of Sparta | |||
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| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | DLC & Pre-Order | Review |
God of War: Sons of Sparta is a 2D metroidvania spin-off of the acclaimed God of War series by Sony Santa Monica. Read on to learn more about its distinct platformer gameplay and its story set years before the events of the original trilogy.
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God of War: Sons of Sparta Gameplay
God of War: Sons of Sparta features a 2D Metroidvania gameplay style, with players navigating the ancient Greek city of Laconia through intricate levels and labyrinthine rooms packed with enemies, secrets, and environmental challenges. Players take control of a young Kratos as he undergoes the Spartan rite of passage known as the Agoge.
This younger incarnation of Kratos is depicted as a Spartan warrior relying solely on traditional weapons such as the dory spear and aspis shield. These tools allow him to attack, block, parry, and dodge enemy assaults. While the combat is not as fast or fluid as that of modern God of War entries, its more grounded approach encourages players to carefully choose their encounters and learn enemy attack patterns.
Like typical Metroidvanias, some areas remain inaccessible without the proper tools.Throughout his journey, Kratos is granted various Gifts of Olympus, divine items and blessings bestowed by the gods to aid him in combat and exploration. One example is the Solar Sling, a tool that can be used to destroy golden barriers and open new pathways, as well as function as a ranged weapon against distant enemies.
Kratos can also upgrade his weapons and shield using Blood orbs, which are commonly found by slaying enemies and opening chests. These upgrades can enhance Kratos’ shield, adding new spear moves, and increasing damage to tackle tougher enemies.
The most notable departure from other God of War titles is Kratos’ characterization. In Sons of Sparta, he is not yet the ruthless, rage-driven demigod seen in the original trilogy. The tone is more subdued, with significantly reduced violence and gore. While Kratos can still execute finishing moves on powerful foes, these moments are presented without the excessive bloodshed that defined earlier entries.
2-Player Co-Op
A 2-player co-op mode is also available, allowing players to hand a second DualSense controller to a friend for local couch co-op. In this mode, one player controls Deimos, Kratos’ other brother, who previously appeared alongside him in the PlayStation Portable classic God of War: Ghost of Sparta.
However, the co-op experience is not available from the start. Players must first complete the base game to unlock a special Challenge Mode, where the two Spartan brothers can be played together in dedicated co-op scenarios.
God of War: Sons of Sparta Story Plot
The main story of God of War: Sons of Sparta is set years before the events of the original God of War, when Kratos embarks on his infamous rampage against Ares. Sons of Sparta takes place in the Greek region of Laconia and focuses on a young Kratos, a version of the character that many players have not yet seen apart from brief flashbacks in the mainline titles.
Together with his brother, Deimos, both brothers undertake the Spartan Agoge to fulfill their ambitions as part of the powerful Spartan army. Throughout the game, Kratos and Deimos find themselves in odd situations, often involving encounters against Greek Mythology beasts like Centaurs and Cyclops.
The narrative is framed through flashback sequences, as the older Kratos (voiced by original voice actor TC Carson) recounts his Spartan youth to his daughter, Calliope, offering a rare glimpse into the formative experiences that shaped him into the Ghost of Sparta.
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