Kratos begins as a boy in God of War: Sons of Sparta, a far cry from the god-slaying monster that fans know and love. This 2D action-platformer transports you to his adolescent years at the notorious Agoge in Sparta, where the Spartans train their young warriors to be the fiercest of them all. Just like the games we know, but from the opposite end of the chronology. Sons of Sparta, developed by Mega Cat Studios with the story team from Santa Monica Studio, was released as a digital-only title on the PS5 today, and cost $30 or $40 for the digital deluxe version.
You’ll be playing as young Kratos, accompanied by his brother Deimos, as they go outside the gates of Sparta and into the unknown of Laconia. Somebody has gone missing, triggering a journey that will take you through a variety of bizarre settings, jungles, ruins, underground lairs… you name it. Of course, Greek mythology come to life in the most epic of ways. The grown-up Kratos (with TC Carson’s gruff voice, no less) will narrate in the background, and his words cast the entire story in a strangely personal and nostalgic light. Meanwhile, Antony Del Rio and Scott Menville do an excellent job of conveying Kratos and Deimos’ friendship, even amidst all of the other action.
Laconia’s graphics are made up of high-definition pixel art that brings the entire location to life in unexpected ways, such as sun-baked cliffs collapsing beneath your feet and torch-lit caves throwing ominous shadows. The landscapes are constantly changing, ranging from large open expanses to narrow passageways that you must fight your way through. On top of that, there are other hidden surprises to uncover, including breakable pots, hidden ledges, and glowing treasure caches all waiting to be uncovered.
Bear McCreary’s soundtrack combines chiptune beeps with swelling choirs and thumping percussion to produce a soundscape that will get your pulse pumping every time you punch, stab, or kick something. You’ll have to fight your way through a variety of strange monsters, like bands of undead Legionnaires and huge cyclopes with clubs that can split the screen in half.
You can customize your spear points and shield rims with a variety of attachments to unleash additional attacks like as poison darts, fire bursts, larger swings, and so on. Three different skill trees allow you to focus on offense, defense, or movement, so you can specialize in long combinations or become an adept at avoiding arrows and claws. Either way, there’s no one way to play.
Let’s not forget about the divine trinkets you’ll find, which are extraordinary artifacts from the gods that will allow you to perform some insane finishing moves. Perhaps you’ll want to launch an explosive orb at a bunch of adversaries, or conjure a bolt of lightning to clear the area. Whatever you choose, it is entirely up to you. Exploring the world of Laconia is just as enjoyable as battling. With a metroidvania-style map to travel, you’ll be able to use double jumps, wall climbs, and spear grapples to access all sorts of secret passageways and hidden regions. If you’re feeling very adventurous, you can attempt to locate all of the hidden fights and collect the rare gems that will give you an advantage.
