Summary

  • God of War series creator David Jaffe criticized Atreus as a "terrible character."
  • Jaffe said he liked the idea of Kratos having a son, but wasn't a fan of how that premise was executed in practice, both from a "visual" and gameplay perspective.
  • Jaffe also believes the game failed to set up Atreus as a compelling protagonist for future series entries.

God of War creator David Jaffe isn't a big fan of Atreus, having recently described Kratos's son as an all-around "terrible character." His remarks echo some of the past criticism that fans voiced about the latest God of War games.

Originally introduced in the 2018 God of War soft reboot, Kratos's son was also prominently featured throughout the 2022 God of War Ragnarok. And while his first game mostly utilized him as a companion character in terms of gameplay, its immediate sequel went all-in on making him a bigger focus, consequently giving him quite a few standalone sections. God of War Ragnarok ultimately featured some memorable Atreus moments, but not everyone was a fan of his gameplay segments and story beats.

Ragnarok Failed at Setting Up Atreus as the Next God of War Protagonist, David Jaffe Says

That group also includes David Jaffe, who created the series and directed its first two entries. In a recent interview with Days Gone writer and director John Garvin, Jaffe opined that "Atreus is a terrible character at a visual level and a play level." Elaborating on that stance, the industry veteran argued that Ragnarok failed at delivering a compelling argument for why Atreus should be the next God of War protagonist, which is something that the game was clearly attempting to do.

Jaffe conceded that he liked the idea of Kratos having a son, but was ultimately disappointed when the execution of that premise didn't set up Atreus as someone who is "cool" and makes the player think "I want to be that guy" by the end of Ragnarok. At the same time, while the concept of passing the mantle between franchise leads often involves making the outgoing protagonist less interesting, the series creator suggested that he still finds Kratos way more compelling than his son.

Atreus is a terrible character at a visual level and a play level.

The interview also saw Jaffe reflect on some of his past criticism of the newer God of War games, which he felt made Kratos an overall weaker character. Those comments polarized the fandom, with some players claiming Jaffe was needlessly opposed to character growth. The series creator has now insisted that wasn't the case, saying he's well-aware of the importance of character arcs. Even so, Jaffe claimed that not every single fictional figure needs to be an "adult literary fiction character" who is "totally different" by the end of their story, likening Kratos to iconic heroes such as Spider-Man and Superman, who don't often go through radical arcs but nonetheless keep carrying their respective franchises.

Despite having some grievances about Atreus, Jaffe isn't entirely critical of the newer series entries. He has hence previously praised the God of War soft reboot as an interesting blend of ideas, saying he had enjoyed playing it.

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God of War: Ragnarok Tag Page Cover Art
God of War Ragnarok
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10 /10
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Released
November 9, 2022
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting go
From Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.

ESRB
M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Developer(s)
Santa Monica Studio
Publisher(s)
Sony
Franchise
God of War
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure
How Long To Beat
26 Hours
Metascore
94
PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium
God of War Ragnarok the crater region and lightning
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