Sony has revealed that the previously hidden multiplayer mode in God of War Sons of Sparta can now be accessed right from the beginning of the game, but there's a catch: players must input a secret code to unlock it.
The side-scrolling spinoff Sons of Sparta launched on PlayStation 5 earlier this month, with its PlayStation Store listing hinting at two-player capabilities. Following gameplay footage featuring the two brothers during the recent State of Play broadcast, many fans assumed the entire game offered co-op play. However, that's not the case. Instead, players discovered a separate roguelike challenge mode called The Pit, which was originally only accessible after completing the main story. Now, with the secret code, it can be unlocked early.
In its first official comment on the mode's availability, PlayStation explained, 'Normally The Pit is accessible only after you beat the main story to ensure those who attempt it are familiar with both Kratos' Spartan arms and the foes you will face.' The statement continued, 'But if you feel ready to test your skills earlier, you can input this sequence below in the starting menu to unlock it early.' The code is: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, L1, R1, Touchpad.
The Pit features a variety of enemies and rewards with each playthrough, applying a specific Agony modifier to every run. Progressing through runs rewards new Agonies to challenge players' luck and skill, along with permanent upgrades to aid in future attempts.
Reception to Sons of Sparta has been mixed. David Jaffe, the original creator of the God of War franchise, advised fans to 'avoid this f***ing thing.' IGN's review was somewhat more lenient, describing the game as 'a pretty mediocre metroidvania, clearly taking the form and function of these games but failing to meet the high bar set by the titans of the genre,' and awarding it a 6/10 score.
