The latest installment in the acclaimed God of War franchise – developed by Santa Monica Studio, a subsidiary of Sony – has failed to resonate with critics and players to the same degree as previous titles. The game currently holds the distinction of being the lowest-rated entry in the series, according to reports from online forums and aggregated review scores.
God of War: Sons of Sparta currently has a Metascore of 69, based on 38 critic reviews, and an average player score of 6.2 from 633 ratings as of . This places it significantly below other God of War games, with Ascension, released in 2013 for PlayStation 3, previously holding the position of the series’ lowest-rated installment.
A Different Experience Than Before
Santa Monica Studio opted for a significant departure with Sons of Sparta, moving away from the fast-paced action-adventure gameplay that defined the series and embracing the “Metroidvania” genre. These games, inspired by titles like Metroid and Castlevania, typically feature 2D exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat with an emphasis on unlocking new areas and abilities as the player progresses.
The game follows the story of Kratos and his brother Deimos before Kratos’s transformation into the “God of War” and his subsequent journey through Greek and Norse mythology. A cooperative multiplayer mode is also available, but unlocks only after completing the main story, according to the studio.
This shift in design extends to the game’s visual style. Rather than the realistic aesthetic of previous entries, Sons of Sparta adopts a style reminiscent of oil paintings. According to a review from Polygon, this choice results in a diminished focus on character design, with the environments taking precedence.
Pleasant, But Not Groundbreaking
Reviews from Polygon and GamesRadar suggest that Sons of Sparta is an enjoyable game, albeit one that doesn’t reach the heights of its predecessors. Both reviews concur that the game isn’t revolutionary or exceptional, but it’s also not a failure. The game adheres to the established conventions of the Metroidvania genre, utilizing its story to fit the gameplay rather than attempting to innovate or redefine the formula.
The sentiment is echoed in aggregated reviews on Metacritic, where many reviewers express disappointment, stating that the game doesn’t live up to the expectations set by the broader God of War series.
Why Does It Exist?
According to a review from IGN, the game presents a “pleasant character rehabilitation” of Kratos, portraying a younger, more earnest version of the character devoted to the gods and protective of his brother, Deimos. However, the reviewer also notes that the game is a “pretty mediocre metroidvania,” failing to meet the standards set by leading titles in the genre.
The reviewer found the pacing slow, the combat crowded, and the exploration aimless. They also noted that the game’s combat “tries too hard to be special but ends up crowded and cloying.”
David Jaffe, the creator of the original God of War games, has been particularly critical of Sons of Sparta. According to Notebookcheck, Jaffe has expressed his disapproval of the portrayal of a young Kratos, arguing that he bears little resemblance to the character fans have come to know. Jaffe has also questioned the necessity of the game’s existence, stating he wishes it had “never seen the light of day” after playing for only an hour. He also criticized the game for lacking the brutality and gore that the series is known for.
Jaffe has also voiced concerns about the direction of the series as a whole, criticizing the more tempered portrayal of Kratos in the 2018 reboot and Ragnarök, and an overemphasis on storytelling that interrupts the faster-paced gameplay.
the question of whether God of War: Sons of Sparta was worth developing remains open. As GameReactor suggests, the game might have found more success under a different banner, and some critics believe it could have been released as a free bonus or bundled with another title.
