David Jaffe, skaparen av den ursprungliga God of War, har kritiserat föregångaren till Sons of Sparta.

The developer played the new release for just over an hour and called its existence “insulting” to fans of the franchise.

Jaffe has no issue with the 2D action format itself, but he was disappointed with its execution. His main criticisms were directed at the story and voice acting. According to him, it is “not God of War,” and the main character feels like an ordinary guy, which contradicts the essence of the character.

Sons of Sparta Misses the Spirit of the Franchise

Jaffe suggested that the developers may have been trying to take inspiration from Blasphemous or Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, but failed to reach their level of quality. In his video, he questioned why this project was necessary and who approved its release.

He also expressed dissatisfaction with the overall tone of the game, stating that it lacks the emotional weight, intensity, and mythological scale that defined earlier entries in the series. According to him, the franchise has always been built on rage, tragedy, and a larger-than-life atmosphere, which he believes is missing in this prequel.

Additionally, Jaffe criticized the pacing, saying the gameplay does not maintain tension and fails to deliver impactful moments. He noted that combat encounters feel repetitive and lack the brutal, satisfying identity that fans expect.

Another issue he highlighted was the artistic direction. While he acknowledged that experimenting with a new visual style can be a valid choice, he argued that the current approach does not capture the epic and cinematic feel that made the franchise stand out.

Players Defy Criticism as God of War: Sons of Sparta Becomes a PlayStation 5 Hit in February

Despite the harsh criticism from the series’ creator, players see the project differently. God of War: Sons of Sparta currently has a rating of 4.73 out of 5 on the PlayStation Store and is among the most successful releases on PlayStation 5 in February.

Critics may argue that the project takes creative liberties, but players highlight several strengths:

• Fast-paced, weighty combat inspired by the Greek saga
• High-quality cinematic presentation
• A powerful orchestral soundtrack
• Expanded lore exploring Spartan mythology