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After beating the Greek gods and battling Nordic deities, it was time to go back to where it all started in God of War: Sons of Sparta. You play as Kratos again in Greece, but this time, he’s a young boy—strong but not yet the formidable warrior his Spartan peers expect.
This game isn’t about hack-and-slash or button-mashing like the previous titles. Instead, it’s a 2D exploration-focused Metroidvania, emphasizing discovery and quick thinking. If you’re new to this type of game, here are some basic tips before you jump into Sons of Sparta.
Get the Agile Evade II Skill First
Once you gather enough Blood Orbs—which you earn by defeating enemies and looting chests—you can unlock new skills for Kratos. All beginner skills cost between 500 and 1,000 Blood Orbs. The first one to prioritize is Agile Evade II. It extends your rolls, allowing you to escape dangerous situations or pass through enemies more easily. It’s a helpful tool both offensively and defensively.
Note: For other recommended skills, check out a dedicated guide.
Don’t Smack the Attack Button Constantly
If you’re used to the original trilogy, you might think spamming the Square button is the way to go. However, in Sons of Sparta, just hitting enemies repeatedly won’t stagger them or interrupt their actions. Instead, you can use your Spartan Spirit to attack while holding R1—this uses some yellow Spirit energy but can be very effective. Just keep in mind it’s not always reliable for staggering enemies, so don’t depend solely on this tactic.
Always Aim for the Brutal Kill
Finishers are key in this game. Below enemy health bars, there’s a second grey bar that fills up as you land hits. When this fills, the enemy becomes stunned, and you can press Triangle to perform a powerful “Brutal Kill.” Use this move as often as possible, because it rewards you with extra resources compared to a normal kill. Just remember, the grey bar gradually decreases if you don’t keep hitting the enemy, so aim to perform the kill quickly.
How to Use Map Markers
The game doesn’t explain this, but much like other recent Metroidvania titles, you can add custom markers to your map. Open the map, press X, and select from various icons to mark chests, points of interest, or bosses you’re not ready to face yet. Don’t forget to leave a marker when you find an area where you can’t progress right away.
You can also change the marker colors to make different locations stand out better. Plus, there’s no limit to how many markers you can place.
Always Unlock Vermilion Globes
Vermilion Globes provide useful hints about where collectibles are located. After you collect enough Blood Orbs, you can spend them to reveal these globes on your map—both in explored and uncharted areas. They’re especially helpful for finding hard-to-spot items.
However, since Blood Orbs are also used to unlock skills, it’s wise to prioritize Vermilion Globes first. They improve exploration and can lead to more rewards over time.
Master the Parry
Parrying can be tricky but is a powerful mechanic. When facing enemies, timing a perfect parry will interrupt their attacks and leave them open for free hits. Failure, however, results in damage. You can also choose to block if parrying feels too demanding. Blocking is effective because you can recover your health over time as long as you aren’t struck.
For practice, try parrying different enemy types. As you improve, unlocking the Laconian Revenge skill—counter-attacking after a successful parry—will come in handy.
How to Use Enemy Red Attacks
Red glowing indicates a special attack from enemies. Unlike parries, these need to be avoided, typically by dodging. But sometimes, a better tactic is to roll behind the enemy during their red attack animation, avoiding damage and landing free hits. This can turn a dangerous moment into an offensive opportunity.
Keep an Eye on the Goals Tab
The game features a goals system that rewards you with Blood Orbs for specific actions, like defeating certain enemies. It pops up when new goals are unlocked, but there’s no ongoing update. Make it a habit to check how you’re progressing—sometimes, you’re close to completing a goal without realizing it, especially if you’ve been skipping certain enemies or actions.
While the rewards for these goals aren’t the best, every extra Blood Orb helps with your overall progress.
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