No, the original God of War was not directly inspired by Devil May Cry. Its primary inspiration came from the action-adventure game Onimusha.
The True Inspirations Behind God of War
While both God of War and Devil May Cry are highly acclaimed titles within the hack & slash genre, their developmental inspirations follow distinct paths:
- Onimusha's Influence on God of War: The original God of War drew significant inspiration from the Capcom title Onimusha. This game, known for its dynamic combat and historical fantasy setting, provided a foundational influence for the development of Kratos's inaugural adventure.
- Devil May Cry's Origin: Interestingly, Devil May Cry itself emerged during the development of Onimusha. Its creation stemmed from a glitch in Onimusha's combo system, which led to the conceptualization of a new hack & slash experience featuring Dante, the iconic red-coated, white-haired protagonist.
Therefore, while both franchises have a shared connection through Onimusha's development, the direct inspirational link for God of War traces back to Onimusha, rather than Devil May Cry.
