Following its release, criticism arose primarily due to the fact that the 2-player functionality advertised in the PlayStation Store applies only to the Roguelike Challenge Mode of “God of War: Sons of Sparta.” On the official PlayStation Blog, Santa Monica Studios addressed one of these criticisms and provided further details about the separate mode and its content.
Santa Monica Studios confirmed long-standing rumors of a Metroidvania title set within the world of the acclaimed series during this month’s State of Play, releasing “God of War: Sons of Sparta”, developed by Mega Cat Studios.
Shortly after its release, players criticized the game’s listing in the PlayStation Store, which described it as a title for up to two players, but this designation only applies to the Pit of Torment, the game’s Roguelike mode. Players also noted they had to unlock the mode by completing the main campaign of “God of War: Sons of Sparta.”
However, Grace Orlady, Senior Community Manager at Santa Monica Studios, clarified on the official PlayStation Blog that there is another way to access the Pit of Torment – even before finishing the main story.
How to Unlock the Pit Early
To do so, players simply need to enter the following button combination on the title screen: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, L1, R1, Touchpad. Entering this sequence unlocks a new option, allowing players to immediately start the Roguelike mode and face its challenges.
Orlady explained that the developers intended players to be familiar with the various facets of the combat system and the enemies before tackling the Pit. This design choice aims to provide a more rewarding experience for those who have fully engaged with the game’s core mechanics.
The Pit in “God of War: Sons of Sparta” isn’t limited to solo play. Mega Cat Studios designed the mode with local co-op for two players, bringing back a classic element from earlier video games. Before starting a round, players first choose a “Torment” level.
The Torment level acts as a difficulty modifier, adding variety to each playthrough and determining, for example, how many health vessels must be destroyed to prevent enemies from regenerating health.
Roguelike Mode: Variety and Rewards
To ensure long-term variety, Mega Cat Studios designed the Roguelike mode to confront players with new enemies, challenges, and rewards in each round.
“After completing a run, you’ll receive a Token of Torment for your chosen Torment,” Orlady stated. “Reaching certain thresholds for the number of Tokens will unlock new Torments to choose from.”
“You’ll also receive Ash of Torment upon completion. A resource specific to the Pit that allows you to gain permanent upgrades that persist through further attempts,” the description of the challenge mode concludes.
“God of War: Sons of Sparta” is available in the PlayStation Store for €29.99. Sony also offers a Digital Deluxe Edition for €39.99, which includes additional content such as an artbook, the soundtrack, and exclusive in-game extras.
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