Praying to the video game gods of war for a new entry from Sony Santa Monica had us at the edge of our seats when that logo appeared as that “One last thing.”
That “One last thing”? It’s God of War: Sons of Sparta. A passion project by Mega Cat Studios and help from Sony Santa Monica, Sons of Sparta is a 2D Metroidvania that got shadow dropped during the February 12, 2026 State of Play.
Since this is the first time many are seeing it and playing it, here are our first impressions on the game, so we can help you create an informed decision on whether or not this game is for you. At this time, I’ve spent 3 hours with the game and have defeated up to the second boss. Therefore, this is very much early in the game and is by no means a review.
Kratos the Boy
Voiced by TC Carson, the original God of War, Kratos tells the story of his childhood to his daughter Calliope. The game follows the exploits and adventures of young Kratos and his brother Deimos.
God of 2D Metroidvania
God of War: Sons of Sparta is a 2D metroidvania game. It has many of the features that comes with the genre; platforming, boss fights, and mapping out the 2D world with locations later accessible through new abilities.
There are three difficulty settings: Boy, Cadet, and Spartan. Boy focusing on the story, Cadet for a balanced experience, and Spartan for those who want a challenge demanding quick reflexes and tactical strategy.
Platforming feels good. Not floaty, with two levels of jump: a hop with a quick the tap of the X button, and a jump if you press X. Kratos can also grasp ledges to boost himself up, and can initially wall jump off of certain surfaces.
The general gameplay feels “slower” than some modern metroidvanias with each strike requiring intent. While you can spam the square button to attack, you can also interrupt your thrust mid combo with your shield. However, it isn’t an animation cancel and it takes a split second for Kratos to pull out the shield on his back to block or parry an attack. This means, if you do a special ability, you will be stuck in that animation open to counter attack, with no means of cancelling out the animation.
A burning question that I always ask when it comes to metroidvanias: Is there contact damage? The answer is yes AND no. Kratos will be staggered or knocked back. He’ll also incur “grey” damage on his health bar. This is temporary damage that will heal over time after battle is over. However, if you take actual damage, the grey damage becomes permanent. Blocking works similarly.
In terms of Kratos’ energy, he has health (green), spirit (yellow), and magic (blue). Enemies, breakables, and chests will drop orbs to replenish them. Also, depending on the type of attack you inflict, will give you more of a particular orb. For example, regular strikes (square) do normal damage but also will cause enemies to drop yellow orbs, replenishing your spirit. Alternatively, R1 + Square is a spirit attack, that costs spirit to use, but will cause enemies to drop green orbs, thus healing you. This creates a nice balance and synergy, allowing you to focus on attacks based on what you need.
Another noteworthy topic is how the game handles saving. It is a respawn from last save point/checkpoint type of game, not a reload. That means everything gathered before death will remain acquired once you’ve respawned at a campsite or a pre-determined checkpoint.
Weapons & Skills
This is what sets this metroidvania apart, giving it that distinct God of War feel. You can tell that the folks that made GoW 2018 & Ragnarok helped create this system.
Our young Kratos wields (so far) a spear and shield.
The spear, Spartan Dory, is upgradable in three parts: the tip, grip, and tail.You’ll find different pieces to replace these parts and you can also upgrade them. They require blood orbs (a currency dropped from breakables, chests, and enemies) and materials to upgrade.
The tip changes the effects of your strikes. One can increase the chance for critical strike, and another could add fire elemental to your attack allowing for a damage over time effect.
The tip and its upgrades have six stages. They increase the efficacy of whatever effects the tip provides. For example, The Burnt Splinter adds fire on impact for its first level. Level 2 gives chance of critical fire damage. The cool part, the 3rd level will ALWAYS unlock a new ability.
The grip adds to your strike combo as well as improve the Dory’s Damage, Stun, and Force modifiers. Its upgrades can improve these modifiers as well as the efficacy of the effect the grip has on your combo. For example, the Steel Brace gives your the Anvil Breaker which makes your last swing end with a vertical slam, creating extra stun and force on impact.
The tail adds to the Damage, Stun, and Force modifiers and for its 3rd level, adds an L1 + Square attack. For example, Soldier’s Sauroter will allow you to have Thrust of a Hundred Cadets that performs a series of quick spear stabs once you’ve upgraded it three times.
Kratos’ shield can also be changed and upgraded. Rim of Restoration, for example, speeds up health recovery and status effect recovery.
Kratos can also improve on his offensive, evasive, and defensive abilities by spending Blood Orbs on Skills.
The Map
It isn’t a proper metroidvania without a good map. Sons of Sparta has the rectangular room type of map. With each region having its own colour. You’re able to zoom in and out and points of interests will have icons placed on the map automatically as you discover them. Alternatively, you’ll encounter pedestals where you can spend Blood Orbs that will “scout” ahead for you and reveal any points of interest in a region. Pressing Square will give you a Region Report and give you closer details on whatever collectibles you can find within it.
You can place an unlimited (I think) amount of markers with 4 different icons and 8 different colours, allowing you to effectively mark points of interest such as paths and treasures that are unavailable to you that you’ll need to come back to later.
Settings and Accessibility
Besides crisp gameplay, style, and sound, accessibility settings are usually a telltale sign of a higher produced game. Sons of Sparta definitely delivers here.
Controller Mapping is available. Unfortunately, the game is controlled using the analog stick and not directional buttons. I prefer directional button movement, but it isn’t a game breaker.
Language is fantastic with both Text and Speech options available. In fact, there are 13 Speech Language options! Paying for voice actors is probably where much of the cost comes from.
Typical accessibility settings like text and subtitle colours, audio cues, and even puzzle, hint assist are also available.
Lastly, they added that PlayStation sauce. Dualsense usage is in full effect. You’ll feel every strike, jump, climb and you’ll hear wind and whispers on your controller’s speakers. I haven’t yet felt (or noticed) any adaptive trigger usage, however, I’m early and may have yet found the tool that might use it.
My Recommendation?
Overall, in terms of a metroidvania infused with the God of War essence, it’s a good marriage of gameplay, style, and storytelling! If you are a fan of the genre, I would highly recommend it. If I were to put price as a selling point, I think everyone has their own threshold they will pay when it comes to a metroidvania, regardless of quality. For example, Prince of Persia The Lost Crown is what I consider the epitome of AAA quality metroidvania. However, I didn’t buy it day 1 as I didn’t want to pay that money. Sons of Sparta certainly has that AAA production value, as far as I’ve played, and it released at a lower price point. Games will always be there for you later when you’re ready to buy and play it, however, in my opinion, this one is worth it!
