God of War Sons of Sparta is the new God of War game that a lot of fans weren’t expecting. In the past, there have been rumors of a 2D Metroidvania God of War game, and Sony’s most recent State of Play proved that those were indeed true. Regardless of the rumors, God of War Sons of Sparta was still a big surprise for many gamers. What surprised me the most was that it was casually shadow-dropped. I love a good shadow drop, and even though God of War Sons of Sparta isn’t my ideal way to experience Kratos’ story, it’s a fun Metroidvania that expands the franchise’s lore. So, things could definitely be worse.
The God of War franchise has kept incredibly quiet since Ragnarok‘s Valhalla DLC. Besides the live-action God of War show being produced by Amazon, the future of the series has been a total mystery. Thankfully, the State of Play showcase cleared some things up. Sons of Sparta offers a glimpse at Kratos’ teen years, but that wasn’t the only big reveal. The God of War trilogy remake is also going to become a reality, just further down the road. There still isn’t any word on the next mainline God of War game, but Sons of Sparta has proven to be a solid way to mix up the series. Playing as a teenage Kratos honestly took a bit to get used to, but it’s also been compelling to see the relationship between him and his brother Deimos in a new light. There’s one big downside to this duo, though. Deimos is a pretty useless companion.
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God of War: Sons of Sparta Has the Opposite Companion Problem That Ragnarok Did
Overall, Ragnarok was a fantastic entry in the God of War series. Kratos grew into an even stronger father and overall person, and Atreus began to carve out his own path, which often separated the father and son duo. That didn’t stop Atreus from helping Kratos on missions, though. Frankly, he helped a little too often. In God of War 2018, Atreus’ annoying attitude after he finds out he’s a god was important to the story. He eventually grew out of his arrogance, which made him a more layered character. However, he can still be annoying in Raganarok, just for a completely different reason. Kratos’ son may not be as arrogant, but he sure does help too much with puzzles. Atreus’ constant tips for God of War Ragnarok‘s puzzles frustrated fans so much that Santa Monica Studio eventually had to offer a solution.
Original Kratos voice actor TC Carson returns in Sons of Sparta to voice the older version of Kratos.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Atreus and the Other Companions Proved Too Helpful in God of War Ragnarok
When God of War Ragnarok on PC dropped, developers included an extra upgrade for players. A new option called “Reduced Puzzle Hints” was added to the game, making companions like Atreus, Freya, and Mimir a lot less yappy when dealing with obstacles. Ragnarok‘s characters are great, but their eagerness to help Kratos get from Point A to Point B can be downright infuriating at times. They were simply doing too much, so “Reduced Puzzle Hints” was a welcome inclusion. It doesn’t make companions completely quiet, but it’s a small change that makes a huge difference.
Atreus May Be Too Helpful, But Sons of Sparta’s Deimos Isn’t Really Helpful At All
Don’t get me wrong. I love that Deimos is in Sons of Sparta. Kratos’ relationship with his brother is a fascinating road to go down, but much of the game had me wondering where Deimos was or why he wasn’t helping out. Deimos in Sons of Sparta is a bittersweet version of the character, since it shows what he was like before being tortured for years by Thanatos. He’s a headstrong Spartan with a good heart who wants to do what is right. So, why is he just standing there?
For the most part, Deimos is either not doing anything to help or is nowhere to be found until checkpoints and cutscenes bring him back into existence. At the end of the Ioke boss fight near the start of the game, Deimos saves Kratos from certain death in a scripted sequence, but he’s really not useful as an actual companion. For example, in Sons of Sparta‘s Alastor boss fight, Deimos hacks and slashes where he can, but it’s nothing significant. His presence in combat doesn’t feel like a game-changer the way Atreus’ does. It just feels like he’s going through the motions. Sometimes he’ll even be on the opposite end of the boss stage, slashing at nothing while Kratos is fighting for his life. Personally, I would rather have no companion at all than the illusion of one.
Despite His Flaws as a Companion, Deimos At Least Adds More to Sons of Sparta’s Story
Deimos may not be the most helpful brother, but it’s great getting to see a glimpse of what life was like for him and Kratos before everything fell apart. As upbeat and sentimental as some of Sons of Sparta‘s moments can be, it’s hard to ignore the tragedy that is on the way. Every God of War game has expanded Kratos’ lore, and Sons of Sparta may be one of the most bittersweet entries.
Sons of Sparta is a Brief Cure For Growing God of War Cravings
Not every God of War fan is going to connect with a Metroidvania, but it’s a solid chapter in Kratos’ life. Sons of Sparta definitely isn’t reinventing the wheel when it comes to Metroidvanias, but that doesn’t stop it from being a strong take on the genre. Sons of Sparta‘s young version of Kratos takes some time to get used to. Seeing the dynamic between him and Deimos unfold as the story progresses makes it well worth it, though.
Until the next main God of War game is announced, Sons of Sparta is a fresh adaptation that can help hold fans over. The story is interesting, and the gameplay has classic Metroidvania qualities that are fun to see used in the God of War universe. When it comes to combat, though, Kratos is on his own.
- Released
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February 12, 2026
- ESRB
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Teen / Blood, Violence
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
