The iconic creator of God of War, David Jaffe, has unleashed a scathing critique on the franchise's latest installment, Sons of Sparta, labeling it 'one of the worst decisions' ever made. But here's where it gets controversial: Jaffe’s fiery reaction isn’t just about personal taste—it’s a deep dive into what he sees as a fundamental misunderstanding of what makes God of War great. And this is the part most people miss: his critique isn’t just about the game itself, but about the broader direction of the franchise and the industry’s priorities.
Announced during PlayStation’s State of Play and released immediately for PS5, God of War: Sons of Sparta is a 2D side-scroller developed by Mega Cat Studios in collaboration with Santa Monica Studio. The game focuses on a young Kratos and his brother Deimos during their brutal training in the Spartan Agoge. While the concept might sound intriguing on paper, Jaffe argues that the execution falls flat—and he’s not holding back.
In a nine-minute YouTube video, Jaffe dissects the game with unfiltered honesty. He starts by acknowledging that he’s long dreamed of a 2.5D God of War experience, but Sons of Sparta isn’t what he had in mind. 'I don’t like it, I don’t recommend it,' he states bluntly. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Jaffe goes on to call the game 'crap,' 'dumb,' and 'stupid,' leaving no doubt about his disdain.
What the fk are they thinking?** Jaffe wonders aloud. While he concedes that the gameplay is 'fine' and 'serviceable,' he’s baffled by the game’s very existence. He recounts a conversation with a former Sony Santa Monica developer, who claimed the studio is now 'driven primarily by story.' Jaffe’s response? A mix of frustration and disbelief. 'Get over yourselves, man,' he quips, criticizing the game’s excessive focus on dialogue and its lackluster voice acting. 'Who the f*k wants to play this?' he asks, arguing that *Sons of Sparta feels more like a generic story-driven game than a true God of War experience.
Here’s where it gets even more contentious: Jaffe questions the decision to reimagine Kratos as a 'generic fking kid' instead of the iconic character fans know and love. 'It makes no fking sense,' he declares, suggesting that players would have preferred a bloodier, more violent Metroidvania-style game like Blasphemous, which aligns better with the tone of the original God of War titles. 'Who the f**k greenlit this? Who thought this was what the audience wants?' he demands, inviting fans to ponder the same.
Jaffe doesn’t stop at storytelling—he also takes aim at the game’s production quality. Comparing Sons of Sparta to recent titles like Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and Neon Inferno, he argues that players crave higher production values, smoother animations, and more engaging gameplay. 'People want this production value, and they want it to be classic Kratos,' he insists. He even goes so far as to suggest that without the God of War branding, the game would have little appeal. 'I want to know who at Sony thought this was what people wanted,' he challenges.
But here’s the real question: Is Jaffe’s critique a fair assessment, or is he stuck in the past? While he acknowledges that big budgets aren’t necessary for a great game, he argues that Sons of Sparta fails to deliver on any front—whether it’s innovation, violence, or personality. 'All it does is leave a bad taste in God of War fans’ mouths,' he concludes, lamenting what he sees as a 'collapse of the great executive work' Sony once championed.
As fans await the remake of the original God of War trilogy—hopefully to Jaffe’s approval—his critique of Sons of Sparta sparks a larger conversation. Is the industry prioritizing storytelling at the expense of gameplay? Are developers losing touch with what players truly want? Jaffe’s impassioned speech isn’t just a takedown of one game—it’s a call to reevaluate the direction of one of gaming’s most beloved franchises. What do you think? Is Jaffe right, or is he missing the point? Let’s debate in the comments.
