God of War creator David Jaffe has publicly criticized God of War: Sons of Sparta, stating that the newly released 2D prequel does not fit the identity of the franchise. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Jaffe delivered a strongly worded review after playing approximately one hour of the game.
“I do not like it. I do not recommend it,” Jaffe said, describing the 30 dollar title as a project that left him questioning the creative direction behind it. While he acknowledged that the game is not fundamentally broken, he argued that it fails to capture what fans expect from the God of War brand. “It is not a bad game by any means. It is fine. It controls decently,” he explained, but added that the overall experience felt generic and disconnected from the series’ tone.
Jaffe expressed particular frustration with what he described as an overemphasis on story elements at the expense of action and intensity. He referenced a prior conversation regarding narrative focus at Sony Santa Monica, suggesting that the studio may now prioritize storytelling above gameplay identity. “This is not God of War,” he stated, arguing that players who requested a 2.5D or Metroidvania-style entry likely envisioned something more aligned with the violent tone and personality of earlier installments.
The criticism also centered on the portrayal of Kratos in Sons of Sparta, which serves as a canonical prequel exploring his youth during Spartan training alongside Deimos. Jaffe questioned the decision to depict a younger version of the character in a manner he considered unrecognizable compared to previous portrayals. He described the creative direction as unnecessary and warned that it risks alienating longtime fans.
God of War: Sons of Sparta was developed by Mega Cat Studios in collaboration with Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The 2D action platformer features retro-inspired pixel art visuals and a Metroidvania structure, with combat focused on spear and shield mechanics supported by divine abilities known as the Gifts of Olympus. The game was surprise released on February 12, 2026, following its reveal during a State of Play presentation.
