Kratos' Prequel Surprise: 2D Action Adventure Revealed

God of War Sons of Sparta, an unexpected 2D action-platformer prequel, has been shadow-dropped, diverging from the franchise's established style. This new entry stars a teenage Kratos and draws heavily from the Metroidvania genre, offering a different gameplay experience than its predecessors.

The game features a retro-flavored aesthetic and a narrative framed as an older Kratos recounting tales to his daughter. The story focuses on the complex relationship between young Kratos and his brother Deimos during their Spartan training. While its combat and environments have a slow start, the rich character development and voice acting, including TC Carson reprising Kratos, provide compelling reasons to continue playing.

Playing Sons of Sparta on the PlayStation Portal significantly enhances the experience. The portable device's 1080p display makes the game's painterly pixel art pop, and its intimate nature allows for greater appreciation of details. The Portal's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers also provide an immersive experience comparable to a DualSense controller, making the action feel immediate.

Despite its smaller scale and lack of epic set pieces found in previous God of War titles, Sons of Sparta offers a solid, albeit different, adventure. It includes a suite of accessibility features, ranging from visual and audio adjustments to gameplay difficulty settings, catering to a wide range of players. The game is particularly recommended for those seeking a fresh, canon story within the God of War universe, especially when enjoyed on a portable platform.