God of War team has 'pulled back' from violence against women

Sony Santa Monica design manager David Hewitt talks about how the violence in God of War is portrayed, and the line that even Kratos won't cross.

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Viewed on a timeline, the God of War series is basically the story of a man becoming a remorseless murder machine. The stage demonstration at E3 was particularly graphic, showing off Kratos going full Hannibal by ripping out a monster's brains. This was the partial inspiration for some developers reacting to the violence trend at the show this year.

But there are some lines even the furious Spartan won't cross, like hitting a lady.

"There are some things we’ve pulled back from," Sony Santa Monica design manager David Hewitt told IGN. "I think where this has been an issue is with violence against women -- the team's pulled back from some of that and assessed that a little more carefully. There are certain things that carry a different kind of resonance that we don't want to get into. This isn't about statement-making in that regard. It's about fleshing out this character."

Presumably Hewitt is referring to mortal women, considering Kratos snapped a goddess' neck in God of War 3. But besides the developers tip-toeing around a delicate issue, Kratos' own family history makes sense of his aversion to violence against women.

Hewitt says the game design is meant to show that Kratos doesn't enjoy the violence. "Where it shows itself is how the combat designers and animators have designed Kratos' moves. He's always leaning forward, he's always moving forward. He's seeking revenge and he's after his ultimate objective and he will tear through enemies -- rip them in half -- as quickly as he can. But there's not a lot of flourishes, there’s not any kind of enjoying the moment. There's nothing about this that he's enjoying."

So you see, kids, he's actually not a sociopath, because when he's slaughtering entire villages he's not having any fun.

Editor-In-Chief
From The Chatty
  • reply
    July 19, 2012 12:15 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, God of War team has 'pulled back' from violence against women.

    Sony Santa Monica design manager David Hewitt talks about how the violence in God of War is portrayed, and the line that even Kratos won't cross.

    • reply
      July 19, 2012 12:18 PM

      Next they'll say no more titties either... pish posh.

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      July 19, 2012 12:20 PM

      [deleted]

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        July 19, 2012 1:11 PM

        What/who hasn't Kratos killed by now? Is he moving on the Norse gods now? Egyptians?

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          July 19, 2012 1:30 PM

          the upcoming Ascension is a prequel, so more greek monsters

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      July 19, 2012 1:23 PM

      I don't know, this is pretty lame.
      I remember a puzzle you had to solve by holding a door open and by doing so the women that you forced to hold open the door died. It was pretty graphic also. See, you rescue her and you lead her to what she thinks is her salvation, when in fact its for her to be a door jam. Its pretty sadistic and totally Kratos.
      So what now? he gently caresses her cheek and pats her tush and sends her off?
      This smells of fail.

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      July 19, 2012 1:28 PM

      A woman with a slipper in her hand is Kratos kryptonite. LOL XD.

      Pls someone make a demotivational out of this xD.

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      July 19, 2012 2:23 PM

      So violence against men is somehow okay, when compared to violence against women? How's that work again?

      P.S.- I'm NOT saying that violence against ANYONE is okay. I'm just asking the question.

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        July 19, 2012 2:29 PM

        It's a good question. But you will get weak excuses. It's a general aesthetic that women and children are some sacred category not to touch in games or even films (Unless it teaches a moral lesson). But they will make games with themes that marginalize a select group or country for the sake of entertainment.

        White Knights gon' white.

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        July 19, 2012 2:31 PM

        "No women; no kids." : Leon

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          July 19, 2012 2:46 PM

          "no women no children" : Colonel Hunter Gathers

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            July 19, 2012 3:20 PM

            Hunter Gathers is one of my favorite names ever.

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      July 19, 2012 3:16 PM

      "Give us equal rights!" "Stop portraying women being killed like the men are!" You can call them progressive, I'll call them reverse-sexist pussies.

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      July 19, 2012 3:29 PM

      last boss is gonna be a chick, and as a result of this policy the game is literally impossible to beat since your attacks are disabled, taking rage quit to the next level

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        July 19, 2012 4:24 PM

        sounds like arguments with a girlfriend

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      July 19, 2012 4:57 PM

      Kratos really has a heart of gold.

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      July 19, 2012 5:17 PM

      Reminds me of Ghost Dog

      Louie: Jesus, Vinny. You just iced a woman, you know that?
      Vinny: You know what you are, Louie? You're a fuckin' male chauvinist pig.
      Louie: What do you mean, I'm a male chauvinist pig? You just shot a broad.
      Vinny: A cop. I just shot a cop. They wanna be equal? I made her equal

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      July 22, 2012 7:07 AM

      "(...) pulled back from violence against women."
      More like: "pulled out". Zing!

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