20 Beloved Video Games No One Admits They Hated

During the 2000s, God of War developed a strong reputation as a solid series of hack and slash games featuring a frenetic pace, brutal combat and memorable characters, becoming one of PlayStation's most infamous IPs. The popularity of the protagonist, Kratos, was clear, so it was no surprise to see him get a full modern reimagining when 2018's God of War was released. The game represented a departure from the isometric action-packed style of the original games, instead opting for an over-the-shoulder, narrative-heavy experience that takes place within Nordic mythology.

The combat was just as brutal and in-depth, with the game's big-budget look and feel really adding to the overall experience. The pace was slower, though, with the rage-filled Kratos giving way to a more matured, ageing character navigating the complex relationship with his son, Atreus. The game quickly won plaudits from both fans of the original games and those who had never played a God of War title before, even scooping that year's coveted Game of the Year award. The problem was that not every God of War fan wanted the series to change so dramatically, and it took time for them to accept and appreciate these changes.

Some fans of the blood-and-guts Kratos of the original games, the one fueled by pure fury, didn't really ask for him to turn into daddy day care all of a sudden. They also didn't ask for the action to be regularly interrupted by lengthy cutscenes and dialogue segments, or for environmental puzzles that are basically solved with Atreus' extremely frequent musings before the player has even had a chance to figure out what to do. For some, God of War should never have strayed this far from its roots, and they hated the fact it did so. Eventually, though, most, if not all fans of the series realized that giving Kratos' adventures a much larger scale and almost cinematic feel has proved to be a masterstroke from Sony, as the IP has roared from strength to strength ever since.