God of War: Sons of Sparta – Review & Gameplay on PS5
The world of God of War has once again surprised fans. On , God of War: Sons of Sparta launched, a spin-off of the traditional saga and exclusive to PlayStation 5.
This title takes a markedly different approach than previous installments in the franchise. Developed by Mega Cat Studios in collaboration with Santa Monica Studio, the game moves away from the cinematic action that characterized recent entries and offers a 2D adventure, focusing on the youth of Kratos and his brother Deimos during their military training in Sparta.
RedGame de RedGol had the opportunity to test the game on Sony’s console and here are our impressions.
A Different God of War: Lateral Action and Exploration
The most noticeable change lies in its gameplay. There’s no over-the-shoulder camera or the heavy combat of modern installments. Instead, Sons of Sparta opts for side-scrolling movement, exploration of interconnected maps, and abilities unlocked to access new areas – a format becoming increasingly less common on next-generation consoles.
Players traverse various regions of Laconia, facing mythological creatures, solving puzzles, and discovering secrets scattered throughout the map. The combat retains the essence of the saga, but adapted to the 2D format: spear, shield, and the so-called “Gifts of Olympus”, which allow for quick and dynamic encounters.
A strong point of this installment is the possibility of local cooperative play, where each player controls one of the brothers, adding an interesting and unusual strategic element within the franchise.
Unfortunately, the combat system works, but doesn’t feel particularly innovative, as some enemies repeat attack patterns, making battles somewhat simple and repetitive.
Far From the Kratos We Know
The game functions as a prequel to the entire saga, even before the events of God of War: Ascension.
The plot centers on Kratos and Deimos during their Spartan training, when the disappearance of a fellow cadet pushes them into a dangerous rescue mission. From there, the adventure begins, exploring the relationship between the two brothers, showing a younger, more impulsive Kratos, still far from the warrior we know in other installments.
A Different Visual Style, Nostalgic, But With Stumbles
One of the most striking aspects of the game is its pixel art visual style. Far from the grand cinematics to which the saga had accustomed us, the settings of Ancient Greece manage to have personality and evoke the classic games of the nineties.
However, not all areas are equally convincing. While some areas are very well done, others feel less inspired, creating some visual inconsistency.
Is It Worth It? An Entertaining Spin-Off
Sons of Sparta is an interesting experiment within the franchise. It doesn’t compete with the major installments of the saga or the great action games, but it does offer a shorter adventure, with retro touches and focused on a story that complements the main universe of Kratos.
this installment is a nod to fans of the saga, a look at the past of the Spartan warrior. For the rest, it works better as a complement than as an essential chapter within the franchise.
You can find God of War: Sons of Sparta in the PlayStation Store, visiting www.playstation.com, at a price of US$29.99.