God of War: Sons of Sparta PS5 game slammed by series creator for its boring Kratos

Since last working on a God of War game in 2008, franchise creator David Jaffe hasn’t held back his criticism. Still, his comments on the new God of War: Sons of Sparta may be the most scathing yet. In a YouTube video, Jaffe objects to a dull portrayal of a young Kratos, arguing he bears little resemblance to the beloved character.

Jaffe questions why Sons of Sparta exists

Validating rumors about the metroidvania PS5 game, Sons of Sparta was shadow-dropped at the latest State of Play. However, Jaffe wishes that the 2D action platformer had never seen the light of day. After only playing the title for an hour, he reveals that he is “never going back to it.”

The God of War spinoff returns to ancient Greece, chronicling the training of a youthful Kratos. Yet, Jaffe questions whether any fans wanted to see a “generic kid version” of the protagonist. According to the creator, the game itself also lacks the brutality and gore the series is celebrated for.

Jaffe also disapproved of Kratos' evolution in the 2018 God of War reboot and its Ragnarök sequel. Players saw him transform into a more even-tempered father. Despite generating furious sales, the game designer and director believes the writers took too many liberties with the character.

Another point of contention discussed in the video is an overemphasis on storytelling. Dialogue often interrupts the faster-paced exploration and combat. Jaffe doesn’t think the narrative is compelling, but admits it could become more engrossing as it develops.

Kratos struggles to conquer metroidvania

Despite a long list of complaints, at one point, the franchise’s mastermind declares that God of War: Sons of Sparta is “not a bad game.” Even so, he questions whether it’s worth $30, claiming that side-scrolling alternatives like Shinobi: Art of Vengeance have superior production value.

In reality, many God of War fans are embracing the new interpretation of Kratos. Sons of Sparta enjoys a solid, if not spectacular, 7.5 user review scores on Metacritic. Nevertheless, some players suggest it doesn’t stand out enough in the crowded metroidvania genre.