God of War Creator's Scathing Review: 'This is Not God of War'
In a recent YouTube video, David Jaffe, the mastermind behind the iconic God of War franchise, unleashed a scathing critique of the series' latest spinoff, Sons of Sparta. Jaffe, known for his passion and creativity, expressed his disappointment with the game, calling it 'boring' and an 'insult' to both fans and the original creative team.
Sons of Sparta, developed by Mega Cat Studios, was announced as a Metroidvania-inspired action platformer and a prequel to the original God of War trilogy. The game features a young Kratos and his brother, training together. However, Jaffe's initial excitement for a side-scrolling take on the series quickly turned into frustration.
"I wanted to explore the idea of a 2.5D God of War, and I was super into it. But this game, in my opinion, misses the mark. I bought it, and at $30, I don't think it's worth the price. The executives at Sony need to explain their thought process here. It's not a bad game, but the question remains: why does it exist?"
Jaffe's main gripe was the game's tone, which he felt deviated too much from the original trilogy. After an hour of gameplay, he expressed his frustration with the constant dialogue and lack of action. "This is not what God of War is about," he emphasized.
But here's where it gets controversial... Jaffe suggested that the game's writers seemed to be focusing on unnecessary backstory, turning Kratos into a generic kid, akin to a Kids WB show. He argued that fans wanted a game with the tone and violence of the early God of War games, not a watered-down version.
"If you remove the God of War branding, most people would agree that this character and story wouldn't be compelling. It's a dumb idea, and it fails to capture the essence of the franchise."
Jaffe continued, "Maybe the game improves later on, but the generic nature and lack of respect for the license are offensive. It's like getting the John Wick license and making a movie about him sitting in a coffee shop. It might work with Keanu Reeves, but not here."
He went on to compare the game unfavorably to titles like Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, Neon Inferno, and Shinobi, questioning Sony's decision to release Sons of Sparta. "It leaves a bad taste in the mouths of God of War fans. Every new game doesn't need to regress to a generic, boring character. It's insulting to the fans and the developers who worked on the original games."
Despite his initial criticism, Jaffe returned to the game for another three hours, resulting in an even more detailed video review. He addressed issues like 'confusing visual noise during combat,' 'buggy and confusing UI,' and 'kiddie-level dialogue.' Ultimately, he declared the game 'not ready for release.'
And this is the part most people miss... Late last week, Sony Santa Monica, the developers behind the God of War franchise, had to clarify the game's two-player offering after fan confusion. It turns out the '1-2 player' listing on the PlayStation Store referred to a challenge mode unlocked after completing the game, not full co-op as many fans had assumed.
So, what do you think? Is Jaffe's criticism valid, or is he being too harsh? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
