https://www.gamespot.com/articles/heres-how-god-of-war-ps4-learned-from-the-last-of-/1100-6457594/

God of War on PlayStation 4 looks to explore more emotional depth from Kratos, after years of the character being criticized as one-note. Game director Cory Barlog opened up in the video above about where he's failed to make the character seem relatable and human, and how he's attempting to explore more depth from Kratos.

The roots of the series are steeped in tragedy, between Kratos' family tragedy and the quiet moment of his suicide attempt at the beginning of the series. But after that, the character became a cipher for anger and a power fantasy. Barlog admits that attempts to get back in touch with his emotional core, as in Ghost of Sparta, fell flat.