God of War Sons of Sparta review: This series' metroidvania prequel is serviceable, but shines like a red orb on PlayStation Portal

Date:
Sun, 08 Mar 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Description:
God of War Sons of Sparta represents a significant departure for the iconic action series, one that can sometimes feel unimpressive on a big screen. But the game's layered metroidvania structure, deep combat, and excellent prequel story and characters all come into satisfying focus when played on the PlayStation Portal.

FULL STORY ======================================================================If you're a God of War fan, you've likely noticed Sony 's iconic, deity-destroying action series has been dominating the spotlight as of late. Following an announcement that the franchise's original trilogy is being remade , we got a first-look at Kratos and Atreus in Prime Video's upcoming live-action TV series adaptation . Review info Platform reviewed: PS5 (on PS5 Pro and PlayStation Portal) Available on: PS5 Release date: February 12, 2026 But before a collective "Boy!" could be bellowed in celebration of all this news, we also got word that a new series' spin-off game is rumored to be in the works. Given that you'd need a Leviathan Axe to cut through all these recent reveals and rumors, you could be excused for overlooking God of War Sons of Sparta , a brand-new prequel entry that was shadow-dropped shortly after the Greek trilogy remake reveal. A retro-flavored 2D action-platformer starring a teenage Kratos, Sons of Sparta is a far cry from what the
franchise has previously delivered. Borrowing heavily from the Metroidvania genre, the smaller-scale game has also earned the ire of some players including series' creator David Jaffe who've been less than impressed by
this fresh direction for the franchise.

But while the game never reaches the epic highs of its predecessors, I've mostly had a good time stabbing, puzzle-solving, and exploring the would-be god-slayer's early stomping grounds, especially when braving its land of Laconia on my PlayStation Portal . A slow start, but stellar story (Image credit: Sony/PlayStation/Santa Monica Studio/ShopTo) Admittedly, Sons of Sparta doesn't make a fantastic first impression. Its action is slow to
start, and its early environments sport a muted tone that can come off a bit drab on a large display, like the 65" 4K TV I started my journey on.

The game's combat and world didn't immediately grab me, but its characters
and narrative did. A collaboration between Sony Santa Monica Studio, who penned the story, and Mega Cat Studios, Sons of Sparta is cleverly framed as
a tale adult Kratos voiced by the protagonist's first performer, TC Carson tells his young daughter Calliope.

Narration from the older Kratos, as well as some fun exchanges between him
and his little girl, are peppered throughout the lengthy campaign. But the bulk of the storytelling is delivered by young Kratos and his brother Deimos. The siblings, who are enduring the agoge in hopes of becoming Spartan soldiers, are richly realized with top-notch writing and quality voice
acting. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

In fact, it's the brothers' engaging, evolving dynamic that drew me to
revisit the game on my PlayStation Portal after all but abandoning it following a short session on my PS5 Pro . And I'm so glad I returned to it,
as Sons of Sparta is not only a perfect fit for the portable platform, but investing more time in it allowed me to appreciate what it had to offer after its subpar start. Combat that ultimately clicks (Image credit: Sony/PlayStation/Santa Monica Studio/ShopTo) The game's combat, which feels a bit plodding in the opening hours, really finds its footing a few hours in. Kratos can't do a whole lot with his equipped sword and shield initially, but it's not long before your inventory is brimming with abilities, upgrades, and skills. The franchise's familiar red orbs, as well as other collected resources, can be invested in a variety of offensive and defensive skills, while a number of weapon attachments can be acquired and upgraded.

The gods also get in on the action, gifting Kratos with a number of cool
tools like a fire-spewing tree branch that can combat baddies, assist with puzzle-solving, and open previously obstructed parts of the map.

Speaking of the game's sprawling navigational interface, viewing and using
the tool on the Portal's 8-inch, rectangular display immediately struck me with a satisfying sense of nostalgia. Having spent my youth studying maps in Metroid and Castlevania entries as well as other classic side-scrollers on Nintendo's many handhelds and Sony's own PlayStation Portable and Vita, it
was a blast witnessing Sons of Sparta 's map blossom in all directions on the more diminutive screen. Playing with PlayStation Portal Power (Image credit: Sony/PlayStation/Santa Monica Studio/ShopTo) But playing on the Portal did more than recall my favorite map-navigating memories. The prequel's
painterly, hand-drawn pixel art style really pops on the portable hardware's 1080p HD display. Where the game felt a bit small and swallowed up by my TV's 65" screen, its varied, vibrant environments arguably presented much better
on the smaller LED screen.

Of course, the innate intimacy of playing on a portable platform also
deserves credit for putting the game in its best light; I was able to appreciate far more detail playing Sons of Sparta a few inches from my face rather than squinting at it from across my living room.

It also doesn't hurt that the Portal's handgrips deliver the same immersion-ratcheting features as the PS5 's DualSense Wireless Controller . From feeling the rhythmic cadence of Kratos readying his Solar Sling another fun gift from the gods to the intense, sustained pulse that builds when opening a treasure chest, the handheld's haptic feedback and adaptive
triggers are easily on par with the standard DualSense controller.

And speaking again to that more intimate portable experience, seeing Sons of Sparta's action unfold directly between those rumbling, vibrating handgrips adds a level of immersion and immediacy that playing on a console just can't match. Godlike audio (Image credit: Sony/PlayStation/Santa Monica Studio/ShopTo) I further complemented my time behind Kratos' spear and shield by pairing Sony's PlayStation Pulse Elite headset with the Portal. As expected, this allowed me to absorb every detail of the game's dynamic soundscape, from ear-rattling boss encounters to the nuanced echo of water dripping in the game's atmospheric Grand Cistern environment.

Sons of Sparta is undoubtedly a smaller-scale entry in a series known for making big, bold, blood-soaked splashes with each release. But while the stakes of its story are lower, and it lacks some of the epic set pieces, cinema-rivaling effects, and adrenaline-pumping action of its predecessors,
it still delivers a solid, albeit quite different, God of War action-adventure.

If you're expecting a 2D take on Kratos' previous god-slaying exploits, Sons of Sparta will likely disappoint. But if you're craving a fresh, canon story supported by a serviceable metroidvania structure, deep combat, and plenty of fan-pleasing call-outs to the larger franchise, this unconventional prequel's got you coveredespecially when enjoyed on the PlayStation Portal. Should you play God of War Sons of Sparta? Play it if... You're craving a new canon God of War story God of War Sons of Sparta has its share of ups and downs in the gameplay department, but its prequel story and characters are consistently good. If you want to learn more about Kratos' young adult years and how they were shaped by his complex relationship with his brother Deimos, this entry
is more than worth your time. You're looking for the perfect game to play on your PlayStation Portal From its retro art style and side-scrolling action to its platforming-fueled navigation and Castlevania -evoking map, Sons of
Sparta looks and feels like the sort of game you might have sunk hours into while clutching a Nintendo handheld or Sony PSP. It's a perfect fit for the PlayStation Portal, one that arguably looks and plays better on the portable platform. Don't play it if... You're expecting the full God of War experience in 2D form Sons of Sparta isn't a traditional God of War game presented as a 2D sidescroller, but rather a brand new direction for the franchise. More a metroidvania puzzle-platformer than gore-soaked action spectacle, the prequel will likely disappoint those expecting to jump in and carve through mythical creatures with Kratos' Leviathan Axe or Blades of Chaos. Accessibility features God of War Sons of Sparta includes an impressive suite of accessibility features, from various audio adjustments and visuals assists including options for customizing color filters, text sizes, and blood and gore effects to motion reduction aids and gameplay settings for decreasing difficulty.

In addition to including a number of presets for accessibility features, the game also offers plenty of individual selections for a more tailored experience. (Image credit: Sony/PlayStation/Santa Monica Studio/ShopTo) How I reviewed God of War Sons of Sparta I played a few hours of God of War Sons of Sparta on my PlayStation 5 Pro, on my 65" 4K display, before fully committing to it and enjoying it much more on my PlayStation Portal, streamed from the Pro.

I tested Sons of Sparta 's audio with both the PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds and PlayStation Pulse Elite headset, with the bulk of my 25-hour playtime using the latter. I paid particular attention to how the game looked and played on the portable device versus the console, and noted the various ways it incorporated the handheld's DualSense features.

First reviewed February-March 2026 God of War Sons of Sparta: Price Comparison No price information Check Amazon We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/god-of-war-sons-of-sparta-review


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)