God of War Creator Says 2D Spin-Off Sons of Sparta “Doesn’t Respect the License”

Sons of Sparta was unexpectedly released as a shadow drop during last week’s State of Play presentation. The retro-inspired 2D action game was developed by Mega Cat Studios in collaboration with Santa Monica Studio and tells a canon story set during Kratos’ youth, focusing on his brutal training at the Agoge alongside his brother Deimos.

However, David Jaffe — the original creator of God of War and director of the first game — has strongly criticized the title. After purchasing the $30 game, Jaffe said he does not recommend it, citing both its narrative direction and overall production quality compared to other recent 2D releases.

In a nine-minute YouTube video, Jaffe questioned the creative decisions behind the project. He suggested that Santa Monica Studio may now prioritize story over gameplay, arguing that Sons of Sparta suffers from excessive dialogue and underwhelming voice acting.

He also criticized the portrayal of Kratos, claiming the character feels less intense and distinctive than in previous entries. According to Jaffe, fans would likely have preferred a darker, more violent 2.5D Metroidvania experience in line with the tone of the original Greek-era God of War titles.

Beyond the story, Jaffe argued that the game falls short in terms of production value and gameplay variety when compared to other recent 2D action titles. He pointed to projects such as Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, Neon Inferno, and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance as examples of stronger animation, art direction, and moment-to-moment gameplay design.

While he described the gameplay as “serviceable,” Jaffe said it lacks personality and fails to fully respect the God of War brand. He concluded that even without a large budget, the game could have succeeded if it had offered more distinctive mechanics, energy, and identity — but in its current form, he believes it may leave longtime fans disappointed.