Kratos in Sons of Sparta has a ‘We have Kratos in our house’ feeling.

when God of War: Sons of Sparta Suddenly arriving on PS5 following Sony's February 2026 State of Play, fans saw a radically different Kratos than the Kratos they've always known. Instead of the grizzled warrior, most players god of war True to its name, we're treated to a leaner, younger version of the Spartan hero, rendered with pixelated 2D sprites. To be honest, it's hard not to react shamelessly to such a drastic change in design. God of War: Sons of Sparta's “There's Kratos at home” vibe makes it difficult to reconcile new faces with fans of icons that have been around for nearly two decades now.

The frustration is understandable at first. Kratos' main design god of war The trilogy and the Norse reboot have made him instantly recognizable, from his ashen skin and chained blades to the deep cobbles of his voice and bastion of muscle that players have carved through the mythological pantheon. If so, it is natural to have expectations. God of War: sons of sparta At least to hint at that familiar look. But instead, what we get feels like someone slapped the name of a classic character on a sprite and called it a day. But this is far from the truth. This is because expectations are actually a response to meeting standards and falling short. What does Kratos' new design fit into? God of War: Sons of Sparta Even if it doesn't feel right.

Why Kratos' Design Makes Sense in God of War: Sons of Sparta

Maybe it's because we've all been waiting for a sequel. god of war ragnarokbut that's not it sons of sparta am. Rather, it is a true prequel set during a formative period in Kratos' life, when he was just another young man enduring the Spartan agoge with his brother Deimos. The game's official description explicitly places this chapter of the Spartan's story before the tragedy or achievement that ultimately defined him.

This is actually important to understand why his appearance is so different from the norm. Unlike the first time Kratos players met god of war (2005) or the older, more introspective Kratos of the 2018 reboot, this version has yet to go down the path of making him a Ghost of Sparta or a stern father figure dove into Norse mythology. Officially, he has yet to lose his family, fight gods, or gain the hurt and anger that gives the character his most recognizable visual identity. In that context, younger, less iconic designs make sense to tell the story.

Centaur fighting with sons of Spartan Kratos, God of War

I have to admit that part of the conversation here is also about media. God of War: Sons of Sparta It features a 2D pixel art style that naturally simplifies details compared to the hyper-realistic 3D models. god of war (2018) and god of war ragnarok. Pixel art, especially for characters as familiar as Kratos, tends to exaggerate proportions and obscure nuance, which can make the design feel a little more “off” when comparing the sprite to the actual model. However, this style is an artistic choice that helps distinguish this story more broadly. god of war A saga rather than a continuation of the cinematic experience players have become accustomed to.

Unlike the first time Kratos players met god of war (2005) or the older, more introspective Kratos of the 2018 reboot, this version has yet to go down the path of making him a Ghost of Sparta or a stern father figure dove into Norse mythology.

There is another layer that complicates the notion that young Kratos feels incomplete. God of War: Sons of Sparta Featuring TC Carson, the original voice of Kratos from the Greek era. god of war A game that returns you as a narrator, telling the events of the story from the perspective of an older, wiser person. In light of this, sons of sparta It's meant to show a younger version of Kratos through the lens of hindsight for a more reflective and emotional narrative. There's no indication that the older Kratos appears in full form other than the narration, but his role as a storyteller in the game supports the fact that this is a story about how the legend began, not who he became.

So the reaction to his appearance is as meaningful as the game design itself. Commitment to a single aesthetic can make any deviation feel like a betrayal or strange design choice, even if it's rooted in story logic. One group may see it as lacking symbolic features, while another group may see it as faithfulness to the narrative. In this case, rather than rereading something familiar, you are witnessing a myth in the making. Of course, there's tension between these perspectives, but that's what creates a conversation about Kratos' design. God of War: Sons of Sparta In a way, it's worth having. This almost goes against the idea that for a character to be real or authentic, they must look the same in all contexts.

It may be justified, but it still hurts

Still, most of what's been shared online so far isn't outright praise for Kratos' design or pixel art. god of war-A specific corner of the Internet. Many players have taken to forums and subreddits to air their complaints, such as in the comments on PailDuck's Reddit post about the game. One user said they laughed at it, while another simply said it “looks badass”. That said, the initial criticism wasn't all about Kratos' appearance, but whether the side-scrolling 2D design was a fitting call for one of gaming's most visually iconic franchises.

But interestingly, this skepticism actually highlights the entire point. A younger Kratos is expected to look drastically different, and the negative reactions have as much to do with expectations as objective design quality. Fans have been keeping Kratos' hulking, bearded, hyper-detailed modern look for over five years, as well as the original. god of war A stark and brutal expression of the Greek trilogy. Asking a man who has not yet embarked on a path of tragedy, revenge, god-slaying, and fatherhood to mimic those iterations is like expecting a teenager to become a full-fledged adult. No matter how many pixels there are on screen, that conflict of expectations was built into the reveal from the beginning, and if nothing else, the backlash only shows how deeply fans have internalized Kratos' visual identity rather than rejecting this design.