One of Sony PlayStation’s most legendary characters, Kratos, is currently enjoying unprecedented popularity. David Jaffe directed the first God of War game, which came out in 2005. In a previous interview, the director discussed the creative process that led to the violent and revenge-filled gameplay that this game showcased.
One of the main features of this franchise, beyond its current state, is its emphasis on high levels of violence and gore. Jaffe referred to how he wanted the player to feel when controlling this vengeful god.
The Origin of the First God of War
Beyond having evolved into something much more introspective with a more mature character and no longer so resentful, God of War was once known as one of the most violent games on PlayStation 2. Kratos sought revenge on all of Olympus for having betrayed and manipulated him in the worst possible way, killing his family by his own hand. David Jaffe was the first trilogy’s director.
At the time, Jaffe talked about the process of creating this game with Kratos as the protagonist. Prior to the release of the first game in the franchise, Jaffe detailed his vision for the player’s experience controlling this unique character in a previous interview. He mostly wanted the player to feel like an unprecedented warrior who had an amazing skill in combat and could adapt to any kind of battle.
David Jaffe’s Conception of This Popular Character
Jaffe made it very clear that he wanted the player to be ruthless with his enemies and destroy everything in his path, completely possessed by revenge. The director added, “At the start of the project, we cut together a video style guide of some of the most brutal fights ever caught on tape.” The team was clear that the gameplay should be as violent as possible, full of blood and dismemberment.
The director continued to say that they had successfully achieved what they wanted, giving a unique tone to this franchise that later took off as one of the most popular on PlayStation. He continued saying:
“And the animators and designers watched this tape and we were all like ‘damn, this stuff is just vicious!’ And I was like, ‘See? That reaction you are having right now watching this tape?!? That’s how I want players to feel when they play our game! I want players to feel like a badass!”
In 2005, the PlayStation 2 saw the release of the first official God of War game, followed by its sequel in 2007. With the launch of the PlayStation 3, the trilogy concluded in 2010 with spectacular graphics, providing fans with one of the best games in the franchise.
Later in 2018, this saga evolved into what we know today, continuing to be a success for the brand and adding more intriguing characters.
What are your thoughts on Jaffe’s words? Let us know in the comments!
