God of War Sons of Sparta review: 2D Metroidvania gives Kratos new depth

God of War Sons of Sparta is a 2D Metroidvania from indie studio Mega Cat rather than Santa Monica. It recasts Kratos as a young adult protagonist on a coming-of-age journey, sending him and his brother Deimos into the wilds to find a missing Spartan, Vasilis. Retro-styled and combat-heavy, it looks and feels like something from the Game Boy Advance era.

It doesn’t reinvent the Metroidvania template, but it adds surprising emotional depth that makes it a worthwhile prequel to the God of War canon. The game’s heart is the contrast between the brothers. Clues—wooden carvings, an instrument, a recipe list—suggest Vasilis prefers music and poetry to military life, and Kratos and Deimos clash over what that means.

Conversations around campfires and encounters with figures like the sculptor Konstantinos and a member of The Krypteia force Kratos to question Spartan doctrine that prioritizes the whole over the individual.

god of, kratos, deimos, metroidvania, mega cat, santa monica, sparta, krypteia, gba, prequel