God of War: Sons of Sparta Reviews
God of War: Sons of Sparta really does try to tackle a different approach to the series while also retaining the feel of God of War. There was so much potential for a new perspective on the characters and their pasts that have yet to be properly explored, which made it all the more dissatisfying when the game came to an end and fell short on all these opportunities. The focus on the primary objective really didn’t leave much room for any other characters to be expanded upon, and the gameplay and storytelling weren’t compelling enough to keep me invested all the way to the end. If you really want to know what happens for yourself, or you’re desperate for a new Metroidvania, wait for some patches to fix the bugs and give it a go. If you don’t, then you will be fine to skip this one.
God of War Sons of Sparta is a surprising return to Kratos' Greek origins, showing players his time as a child soldier in Sparta. While the Metroidvania framing is fascinating, it does limit many of the series' strongest elements.
God of War: Sons of Sparta is a very good video game, with strong visuals, excellent music, and simple yet effective gameplay driving an ultimately interesting story. However, as a God of War title, it is held back from true greatness by early pacing issues and a presentation style that feels somewhat tone-deaf to the rest of the series.
Despite its surprise release, it delivers a strong overall experience. The platforming feels tight and responsive, and the combat stands out with satisfying spear-and-shield mechanics that keep encounters engaging throughout.
God of War Sons of Sparta, set earliest in the timeline of the original trilogy, follows the exploits of a young Kratos and his brother Deimos
As Kratos' coming-of-age prequel, it's rather ironic how Sons of Sparta emulates the antithesis of his character: a Metroidvania unsure about its size, its looks, and even its own voice.
God of War: Sons of Sparta isn't a terrible game, but it's not a more than acceptable game either. It simply sits somewhere in the middle. It's a spin-off wedged into a series that is too big, too important, and too imposing to afford any missteps. Even back in the days of Ascension, widely considered the weakest entry in the entire saga, Santa Monica Studio made sure to follow a set of guidelines that would still guarantee an epic experience.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Sons of Sparta's great sin is that if you take the name "God of War" from it, it has no unique appeal to fans of 2D action-adventure games, and if you let it be called "God of War," you're more or less doing a disservice to several God of War games. The video game's notable achievements are the increased depth of character development for Kratos and Deimos, as well as its audible soundtrack; assets that would have been great for an audiobook, but not for a "game" that was launched as "a different and special version of God of War and a prequel to all the games in the series."
Review in Persian | Read full review
Overall, God of War: Sons of Sparta is a fun Metroidvania. It captures the feel of God of War, if in a somewhat more lighthearted way than usual. As a Metroidvania title, there's not much - either good or bad - that makes it stand apart from the pack. If you're a fan of the franchise and don't mind a look at the younger days of the Ghost of Sparta, then it's absolutely worth a shot, but the price tag might make it a heavy ask for more casual Metroidvania fans.
God of War: Sons of Sparta is a tedious and garden-variety metroidvania that brings nothing interesting to show to the class. This prequel stretches over 20 hours, filled with unnecessary padding and the least interesting iteration of Kratos yet, relying on trite game design and utterly soulless execution. Young Kratos, stripped of his signature rage, is an utter dullard preaching honour amidst joyless obedience. There’s no fury, no peril, just persistent boredom, proving that some origins are best left as a mystery.
God of War Sons of Sparta has its merits and, within the premise of a 2D action game set in Kratos' youth, it fulfills its role in a perfunctory but satisfactory way. However, it lacks depth in all its aspects, including the rather rudimentary level design by current Metroidvania standards, and even with some interesting qualities in the visual and narrative aspects, it still seems to be just a scrawny teenager trying to prove himself a true Spartan warrior.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
God of War: Sons of Sparta is a competent 2D metroidvania that expands Kratos' past with solid combat, familiar voices, and a decent amount of content. However, generic level design, forgettable bosses, heavy backtracking, and a lack of standout moments prevent it from feeling worthy of the franchise's legacy. Functional, but surprisingly uninspired.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
God of War: Sons of Sparta is a unique take on the God of War universe that introduces us to a different Kratos. The game is generally fun to play, but issues like the lackluster art design, low enemy variety, and a boring introduction keep it from reaching its full potential. However, for fans of the series, it's still worth a try.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Letting players take control of a young Kratos, God of War Sons of Sparta is a retro-styled 2D Metroidvania that offers a large, interconnected world to explore. It's both engaging and rewarding to do so, too, though repetitive combat that can feel a little scrappy brings the experience down somewhat.
This Metroidvania approach is an interesting addition to the God of War series, but it falls short in many ways. Sons of Sparta does not aim to revolutionize the series, but if you approach it with an open mind and look beyond its imperfections, you will find a charming indie game in its core.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
God of War: Sons of Sparta is an incomprehensible project, whose purpose is unclear and whose overall presentation, both gameplay and narrative, fails to keep pace with both other exponents of the Metroidvania genre and the high quality that has more or less always distinguished the saga.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Considering it takes a long time to start getting really good, God of War Sons of Sparta can test your patience but if you stick to it, you'll find one rewarding Metroidvania with oodles of content, gorgeous areas, and a solid variety of enemies and puzzles. 🏛️
Although the game provides up to thirty hours of gameplay, numerous issues make it difficult to call it a truly enjoyable experience. The poorly balanced difficulty prevents the combat mechanics from being used to their full potential, while the art style significantly differs from what fans were expecting. The Polish localization also leaves a lot to be desired and falls far short of the quality associated with PlayStation Studios. If you’re not interested in every single chapter of Kratos story, it might be easier to skip this one and wait for a remake of the Greek trilogy instead.
Review in Polish | Read full review
God of War Sons of Sparta is not a terrible game by any means. Even in spite of all of its flaws, this is a very competent Metroidvania that will undoubtedly scratch any itch you might have to play a game in the genre. Still, Sons of Sparta is a major swing and a miss on PlayStation’s part.
God of War: Sons of Sparta lands as a disappointing spin‑off that fails to live up to the franchise’s legacy. Its repetitive gameplay, cloned enemies, limited design, and bare‑bones combat system strip away the depth and intensity that fans expect. The result is a shallow experience that feels more like a misstep than a worthy addition to the saga.
Review in Spanish | Read full review