Poll: Male Gamers: Do you consider Kratos aspirational?

[annoyinglizardvoice]

No. He's just a generic arsehole created in a generic attempt at being generically badass. There's nothing much about the character that interests me. I do however feel that he could be seen as aspirational to a younger audience more easily impressed by generic badassery than me.

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

No. He's just a generic arsehole created in a generic attempt at being generically badass. There's nothing much about the character that interests me. I do however feel that he could be seen as aspirational to a younger audience more easily impressed by generic badassery than me.

Look a bit beyond the surface, and you'll see that Kratos isn't really meant to be "PHWOOAARRR" badass, though he might appear as such at first, but an utterly irredeemable asshole all the way through and completely devoid of any heroic traits. He never helps anyone unless there's something in it for him. He kills innocent people like ants. He kills even people who help him. He unleashes untold woe upon everything around him just to get to his own personal goal. His only reaction to any problem is "kill it until it's dead and then kill it some more". He is a deplorable, self-centered, narcissistic psychopath who never bonds with or thanks anyone for anything. And worst of all, he knows what he is and continues on because there is no redemption for him, only the bottom of the ever deepening hole he keeps digging for himself.

The ubiquity of ultra-violent and psychotic characters in gaming may hide Kratos among the masses, but when you start to look and think about him, he is one of the worst human beings ever depicted in fiction.

 

[Someone Depressing]

Part of being "manly" is protecting and caring for those who you love. It doesn't matter how many mooks you can kill in 30 seconds. So, Kratos is a very bad example, because he is a complete ****.

Any media will probably provide the team's "big guy" or "generic asshole" with a redeeming side, or a more fleshed out personality. In 1, it was clear he was going on that route.. but then the directors changed, the series god gradually worse, and Kratos was made into a generic, 1-dimension stand-in. He's more of an antagonist, if anything - it's like telling your kid, "Now, I want you to be like Voldemort and murder innocent people.. Hell, your name will basically mean "Death Nose" in Greek, you can't get more immoral than that, go kill people". Or something not as poorly worded.

 

[PromethianSpark]

The OP and the wording of the poll load this question to the point that it can not produce any credible results. Not to mention Kratos is an anti-hero. But most importantly, do you think heterosexual men, except those who are mad about lifting, are going to openly express admiration for another man's body? It is at once homoerotic, and an admission of ones own insecurities. Highly unlikely that it would be openly discussed in the first place, never mind in this context.

 

[Ihateregistering1]

The OP and the wording of the poll load this question to the point that it can not produce any credible results. Not to mention Kratos is an anti-hero. But most importantly, do you think heterosexual men, except those who are mad about lifting, are going to openly express admiration for another man's body? It is at once homoerotic, and an admission of ones own insecurities. Highly unlikely that it would be openly discussed in the first place, never mind in this context.

Wait, so having a desire to improve yourself and be in better shape, and holding up someone who is in better shape than you as inspiration (virtual or otherwise), automatically makes you insecure? If that's true, then sign me up.

As for wanting to 'be' like Kratos: hell no! He's a psychopathic murderer!

 

[FallenMessiah88]

Not at all. He's egotistical and hot headed and self rightious and his attitude basically destroys the world. In the first God of War he had some redeeming qualities, most of all his desire to become a servant to the gods so that his suffering would end.

His physique is nice, even if it's a little bulky.

 

[PromethianSpark]

The OP and the wording of the poll load this question to the point that it can not produce any credible results. Not to mention Kratos is an anti-hero. But most importantly, do you think heterosexual men, except those who are mad about lifting, are going to openly express admiration for another man's body? It is at once homoerotic, and an admission of ones own insecurities. Highly unlikely that it would be openly discussed in the first place, never mind in this context.

Wait, so having a desire to improve yourself and be in better shape, and holding up someone who is in better shape than you as inspiration (virtual or otherwise), automatically makes you insecure? If that's true, then sign me up.

As for wanting to 'be' like Kratos: hell no! He's a psychopathic murderer!

No. Hence why I said people who are 'mad about lifting'(hyperbole). I included this group because I have observed that men who frequently work out, seem to be very open about their admiration of other men's bodies.

I believe that most men in general though, feel uncomfortable with such admissions. To make such an admission, is not to confess to the public, but rather it is a confession to the self that you in fact do not like your body. Men who are working out tend to like their bodies more, and also are pro-actively working to improve it, which I believe tends to allow them to be more aware and (temporally) accepting of their perceived flaws.

 

[The_Echo]

do you find the character, actions, or appearance of Kratos personally aspirational, or are expressions of characteristics you wish you possessed?

No. Kratos is a man warped and controlled by his own rage. He is manipulated by his gods on multiple occasions, to a point where he kill his own family in their name. Kratos' life as of that moment becomes an ongoing series of suffering and slaughter.

As a character, I do not wish to be like Kratos. I do not wish to emulate his actions.

In his appearance? Still no. His skin is stained white with the ash of his family, and his physique is a result of being a Spartan, where it was either get buff or get dead. Though despite that I just don't think being ripped out of my mind suits me very well.

damned a good portion of the planet

It's been a while, but I think he literally ended the world. Or started the end, at least.

 

[SinisterGehe]

His is maniac killer and muscle bound jock. He is the very thing I hate!
He is not manly, he is a animal.

I think a man should be sophisticated, calm, taught on worldly manners and aware of his inner world.

 

[Skeleon]

Without having played the games, isn't he basically an emotional wreck, mass murderer and psychopath?
Yeah, his physique is awe-inspiring, but you're talking about the character as a whole, right?

 

[sageoftruth]

As anyone who has been here for any length of time will have noticed, debates on gender equality and depiction in media flare up quite frequently on this forum. One of the key points raised is that whilst female characters (such as Mileena in Mortal Kombat, or Lara Croft in Tomb Raider) are manipulated in order to be sexually appealing to young men, male characters (such as Kratos in God of War, or Marcus Fenix in Gears of War) are manipulated so that they reflect ideals of what said young men want to be. Therefore, I felt it might be worthwhile actually gathering some actual data on the subject.

So, male gamers, let's test you with an example: do you find the character, actions, or appearance of Kratos personally aspirational, or are expressions of characteristics you wish you possessed? If so, please outline what it is about him that you find appealing. If not, outline why you find him so reprehensible.

Who said they are manipulated to reflect ideals or aspirational? I think you're putting your own take on when people say it's a power fantasy, which is hardly the same as an ideal or aspirational.

Agreed. Some of the posters were willing to admit to that. I hope it's considered by the OP.

 

[Axzarious]

I remember watching the developer notes in the first God Of War game for the PS2. Kratos was never meant to be a likable character - in fact, they wanted to show how bad of a person he was in several cases, but never got around for it. In some examples though, they still have it show through in gameplay. I remember one part of the game where killing innocent civilians would net you green orbs - though you couldn't exactly not kill them due to the swarming enemies and the wide arcs of your attacks.

Historically speaking? He's your classical greek hero. A hero in ancient Greece was a person with the power to do what the hell they wanted, when they wanted to. Completely different from what we consider heroic. Hell, this is from the same people where physical beauty was considered a measure of how good you were, and could be used as a defense in court.

I also think that they missed the point of Kratos in games after the first.

 

[Asita]

I believe the most apt response here is "GOD NO!" When I see Kratos I see a villain protagonist, something that has to ultimately be stopped. He is no more appealing to me as a power fantasy than Deathstroke, Darth Maul, Darkseid or Deathwing. Does he have power? Yes, but in the worst possible way. He is not something to aspire to be, he is something you aspire to overcome. Frankly, if I was going to latch onto a villainous character as a power fantasy, I'd much sooner choose Khan Noonien Singh[footnote]The Ricardo Montalbán version, specifically. Though Benedict Cumberbatch's version still likely outranks most villains I can think of.[/footnote] than Kratos.

If you want my actual game protagonist power fantasy, Gordon Freeman would probably come out on top as an ordinary[footnote]Well, as ordinary as a theoretical physicist (with more weapons competence than he has any right to have) ever is.[/footnote] guy who rises to meet the challenges presented to him and as a result does extraordinary things and becomes a hero. That is a power fantasy to me. I don't care about being built like a truck, or able to crush anything in my path and I don't care if I can go toe to toe with the Titans themselves. Power is meaningless unless you have a cause worth using it for. Kratos lacks that.

Even ignoring the rest of his characterization, I would never consider him a power fantasy by virtue of that point alone. It's not a fantasy to me if I cannot get behind the character's motives. If I can't, it simply doesn't appeal to me and I want nothing to do with the power the character possesses and would sooner destroy it than imagine myself using it. Give me a game where a mortal sets out to raise the world from the hell Kratos inflicted upon it and then you can talk to me about power fantasies in the God of War franchise.

 

[O maestre]

Kratos is too... 90's let me rephrase, he could have been a perfect character for a Spawn comic. However I think that any number of teenage boys would still find him "appealing" in a bad ass sort of way. You should add age to this poll, i think you will find that the older voter will not find Kratos to be cool

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

Well naturally, he's ripped. But I don't care much for that particular beard and he's a giant dick. I like a good revenge-driven protagonist. Kratos seems almost emotionless, to the point where I think he may just be a murder-addicted psychopath who finally has an excuse. See also what he does to every and any insignificant human he comes across. If they're trying to make a character male players want to be, either I'm not the demographic or they're doing it wrong.

 

[Sonicron]

... Is this a joke?

Kratos is an awful, repeat, awful human being, and I weep for any young man who feels the need to aspire to be like this maniacal freak.

No, there's nothing wrong with being physically fit. Yes, there's something wrong with wanting to look like a character so preposterously muscle-bound he likely couldn't turn to wipe his own ass.
No, there's nothing wrong with defending yourself against someone attempting to murder you. Yes, there's something wrong with gleefully dismembering and disembowelling anyone who disagrees with you, then desecrating their ruined carcass.
No, there's nothing wrong with being miffed at destiny dealing you a bad hand. Yes, there's something fucking wrong with committing several instances of outright genocide because of it.

The one excuse the character of Kratos has is that he's supposed to be a fantasy story protagonist removed in time from today by several millennia; even as such, he is rightly painted within his own story as an increasingly unhinged bloodthirsty bastard and, with the possible exception of brief flashback interactions with his family, never comes across as even remotely sympathetic.
Anyone aspiring to be like Kratos in any way is in dire need of an immediate reality check.

 

[EvilRoy]

The key point is NOT that he is supposed to reflect ideals of what young men want to be. So your attempt is a failure in that you are gathering data for a 'key point' that is not in fact a key point.

Are you able to provide sources? Often in these kinds of threads I see people making claims/accusations that one character or another is a power fantasy. Rarely do people actually expand on what power fantasies typically entail, and I've never seen someone actually produce sources on the nature of power fantasies across gender and age groups.