Retro Gamer reports that Kratos' iconic pale, ashen skin in God of War was not a lore-first design choice but the result of director David Jaffe approving an unfinished concept sketch that simply looked "really cool." Developer Stig Asmussen says the team later integrated the accidental look into the narrative, while the stark white palette also helped Kratos stand out amid the game's marble environments and blood-soaked combat.