God of War: Sons of Sparta Review – A Lost Tale of Kratos

The God of War franchise celebrated its twentieth anniversary last year, a testament to its enduring appeal. From the initial titles on the PlayStation 2, where players relentlessly battled colossal bosses, to Kratos’s ascent to Olympus and his iconic declaration – “Zeus! Your son has returned” – the series has consistently captivated audiences. Santa Monica Studio marked the anniversary with several initiatives, culminating in last week’s State of Play presentation. This revealed a complete remake of the first three God of War games, generating considerable excitement, alongside the announcement of a spin-off, God of War: Sons of Sparta, developed in collaboration between Santa Monica Studio and Mega Cat Studios.

Mega Cat Studios, previously known for assisting in the development of larger AAA titles and creating smaller mobile games, views God of War: Sons of Sparta as an opportunity to establish itself as a significant developer. As the title suggests, Kratos returns to Greece, though not to the era typically associated with the main series. The game explores a previously untold story from Kratos’s life, set before his descent into war, the loss of his family, and his conflict with the gods. The narrative is framed as a tale Kratos recounts to his daughter, Calliope, voiced by T.C. Carson, reprising his role as the Ghost of Sparta. This framing device adds a layer of emotional resonance, presenting a more hopeful perspective on Kratos’s formative years.

Discovering further details of Kratos’s life during his youth, a period before experiencing the world’s cruelty and the machinations of the gods, is a compelling aspect of the game. However, the story itself is relatively straightforward, lacking significant twists or memorable supporting characters. The narrative primarily revolves around the search for a missing cadet and the dynamic between Kratos and his brother, Deimos. The most impactful moments arise when Kratos addresses Calliope, benefiting from T.C. Carson’s nuanced performance.

A significant departure from the core God of War experience, Sons of Sparta adopts a 2D Metroidvania perspective, emphasizing exploration, ability acquisition, and overcoming obstacles. The game’s world is interconnected, encouraging players to revisit areas with new abilities to unlock previously inaccessible paths. While the transition is refreshing, the game doesn’t necessarily push the boundaries of the genre, often relying on established conventions. It’s a well-crafted experience, but may not reach the heights of genre-defining titles like Ori and the Blind Forest or Hollow Knight.

The game begins in Sparta, but Kratos’s journey extends beyond its walls, encompassing forests, swamps, mines, snowy peaks, and ancient temples. The environments are diverse and visually appealing, each presenting unique challenges and obstacles. While the game features traps and puzzles, they are generally accessible, lacking the intense difficulty often found in similar games. This design choice suggests a deliberate attempt to broaden the game’s appeal. A detailed map assists in navigation, marking the main objective and allowing players to create custom waypoints. Initially, frequent backtracking is necessary, but fast travel options are gradually unlocked, mitigating this issue.

As the world opens up, players are encouraged to explore hidden areas and side paths. The game features a robust upgrade system, allowing players to enhance Kratos’s abilities and equipment using materials found throughout the world. This encourages thorough exploration and adds depth to the gameplay loop. The narrative is presented as Kratos recounting his experiences to Calliope, adding a personal touch to the adventure.

The game’s opening hours are relatively slow-paced, lacking the immediate impact of previous God of War titles. The initial gameplay focuses on basic platforming and combat, with Kratos lacking his signature Blades of Chaos. However, the game gains momentum around the halfway point, delivering a more engaging and challenging experience. Players who persevere through the initial stages will be rewarded with a compelling adventure.

Kratos’s combat abilities evolve throughout the game, granting him new skills and tools. He acquires abilities like the Sun’s Prism, used to activate switches and damage enemies, and the Everlasting Flame, which ignites flammable obstacles and inflicts damage. He also gains the Moon Blade for manipulating heavy objects and the Victory Sandals for increased speed and jumping ability. These abilities can be upgraded using resources found during exploration. While the combat system isn’t as complex as those in previous God of War games, it remains engaging, particularly due to the variety of enemies encountered.

The game features a diverse roster of enemies, including skeletons, scorpions, mages, minotaurs, gorgons, and giants, each with unique behaviors and attack patterns. The inclusion of familiar foes from previous God of War titles, alongside new creations, keeps the combat fresh and challenging. The boss battles are particularly well-designed, featuring multiple phases and requiring strategic thinking to overcome.

A complete playthrough of God of War: Sons of Sparta takes approximately 19 hours, a substantial length for a Metroidvania title. The game offers ample opportunities for completionists, with numerous challenges, side quests, and hidden secrets to uncover. The inclusion of a “Pit of Suffering” mode, unlocked after completing the main story, provides additional replayability, allowing players to test their skills in increasingly difficult challenges.

The game’s pixel art style is a notable departure from the series’ traditional visual fidelity. While it may not appeal to all players, it’s a well-executed aesthetic choice, complemented by impressive visual effects and detailed animations. The game maintains a stable framerate for the majority of the experience, with occasional dips during loading screens and in certain areas.

Bear McCreary’s soundtrack is a highlight, featuring nearly 90 minutes of original orchestral music. The score is diverse and evocative, enhancing the atmosphere of each environment and intensifying the combat encounters. The voice acting, particularly T.C. Carson’s performance as Kratos, is also commendable. The game includes Czech localization through subtitles, ensuring accessibility for a wider audience.

God of War: Sons of Sparta is a commendable action Metroidvania that provides a satisfying experience for fans of the series. While the story is relatively straightforward and the combat system lacks the depth of previous installments, the game’s engaging exploration, diverse environments, and compelling narrative make it a worthwhile addition to the God of War universe.