Definitely I can see what you mean. But the fact that he has guilt over it is enough to show that he shares that blame. Its why killing Ares doesn't change anything. And Kratos knows this, because his desired reward is having his nightmares erased for what he did. If he isn't to blame for killing his family then killing Ares would have been enough. But this ties back into not putting your faith blindly into the Gods (which continues when they don't grant him his wish)

Also having his skin covered in ash is the physical manifestation of his crime. Which is fitting because moving on with his life is not about getting help from the outside from others (his ash skin is exterior) but from within himself.

This doesn't change the fact that Kratos feels the guilt and blame. That's made quite clear in gow1 and 3.

I think you guys have this wrong. The gods dont back out of any promise they make. 

What Athena says to him at the beginning of GoW 1 that if he kills Ares then 'his past will be forgiven'. Obviously to Kratos, and to the gamer, we assume it to be what Kratos wants. But as we learn its his, and our own, misconception.  She never said that she would take away the memories that haunt him. And in the end she says his past is forgiven just as she promised. 

I don't agree that the Gods kept their promises. They tricked Kratos in believing he would be able to forget what he did, but in the end they just said "hey, don't worry, we forgive you". The Greek Gods had a clear habit of promising stuff to people and them give something different to mess up with them. One example is Tithonus. He was granted a wish and chose to be immortal. It was conceded. However, since he forgot to include eternal youth, he got trapped in a decaying body forever. This is the kind of "prank" the Greek Gods liked to play on humans and I see Kratos as another victim of this dark sense of humor. Even though, Kratos decided to end his life (and suffering) instead of seeking revenge. Once again, the Gods denied him that and made him a God pretty much against his wishes. So it's not surprising that he was a douche GoW at the second game, the Gods simply don't want to leave him alone.

But this is important nonetheless since it highlights the fundamental flaw of Kratos: his inability to accept responsibility for this actions and therefore be unable to forgive himself what he did to his family. He can hide behind Ares tricking him, but he still killed his wife and daughter with his own hands. He wants the Gods to erase these memories (nightmares) because he cant accept what he did. He wants to kill himself because maybe that will end everything. But it doesn't. It wont. Its why family becomes a key theme in GoW3, especially with Pandora and Zeus mocking him etc. Kratos is so hellbent on getting revenge, and blaming others etc that he doesnt see who is really at fault: himself. And the final story arc of GoW3 is about this realisation. 

But yes, it's really his fault. That's why I don't consider him a hero and that's also why it makes sense when he does barbaric stuff to people for no reason. He is really just like his father, a massive egocentric maniac.

I don't see him as victim when he wants to erase his memories. He was simply being selfish. But the Gods really enjoyed to just pour salt in the wound.

Likewise its important to note that Kratos view of the Gods only becomes one of pessimism as the games go on. Where he was once asking Ares for his help, he now feels betrayed and despises what the Gods represent. Not getting what he wanted in GoW is a defining point in him becoming unhinged... its also a defining point in the Gods ultimately sealing their own fate by thinking that can control a man who has suffered like he has suffered by making him a God. 

I think the breaking point was they stopping his suicide. It's like, they won't give him what he want and will also deny him dying to get some peace. But even in that case, he seemed to be stable as the new GoW. While his pro-Sparta actions where creating tensions with Athena, he wasn't really attacking the Gods.

When Zeus betrays and kills him, that's the point he gets pissed of beyond belief and decides do kill Zeus and to not let anyone stop him.

Also I disagree with the idea that he just wants all the gods dead. He just wants Zeus dead. The others just happen to stand in his way. Likewise, Kratos comes to the realisation that power cannot be placed in the hands of the Gods because he knows first hand that it just creates a cycle of control, but also indirectly a cycle of not assuming responsibility  for your own actions because man will just worship Gods whenever they need help (this is more metaphorical) . Kratos forgiving himself and reaching this point of accepting what he had down is the ultimate stand against the Gods. He doesnt need them. And he never did.  And this is how they lose their power and influence. 

I think you're correct. Indeed, he says multiple times that his issue is with Zeus. But, since Zeus IS Olympus, the rest of the Gods end up having to defend him. So it's more like an indirect consequence.

I don't know if they really wanted to suggest something more deep, like man having to effectively kill his own Gods to fully reach the comprehension that he is the master of his own destiny. This includes the freedom to make your own choices, but also results in the burden of being responsible for your own sins.

I think they went with a direction where he finally forgives himself in GoW 4.

I think you guys have this wrong. The gods dont back out of any promise they make. 

What Athena says to him at the beginning of GoW 1 that if he kills Ares then 'his past will be forgiven'. Obviously to Kratos, and to the gamer, we assume it to be what Kratos wants. But as we learn its his, and our own, misconception.  She never said that she would take away the memories that haunt him. And in the end she says his past is forgiven just as she promised. 

But this is important nonetheless since it highlights the fundamental flaw of Kratos: his inability to accept responsibility for this actions and therefore be unable to forgive himself what he did to his family. He can hide behind Ares tricking him, but he still killed his wife and daughter with his own hands. He wants the Gods to erase these memories (nightmares) because he cant accept what he did. He wants to kill himself because maybe that will end everything. But it doesn't. It wont. Its why family becomes a key theme in GoW3, especially with Pandora and Zeus mocking him etc. Kratos is so hellbent on getting revenge, and blaming others etc that he doesnt see who is really at fault: himself. And the final story arc of GoW3 is about this realisation. 

Likewise its important to note that Kratos view of the Gods only becomes one of pessimism as the games go on. Where he was once asking Ares for his help, he now feels betrayed and despises what the Gods represent. Not getting what he wanted in GoW is a defining point in him becoming unhinged... its also a defining point in the Gods ultimately sealing their own fate by thinking that can control a man who has suffered like he has suffered by making him a God. 

Also I disagree with the idea that he just wants all the gods dead. He just wants Zeus dead. The others just happen to stand in his way. Likewise, Kratos comes to the realisation that power cannot be placed in the hands of the Gods because he knows first hand that it just creates a cycle of control, but also indirectly a cycle of not assuming responsibility  for your own actions because man will just worship Gods whenever they need help (this is more metaphorical) . Kratos forgiving himself and reaching this point of accepting what he had down is the ultimate stand against the Gods. He doesnt need them. And he never did.  And this is how they lose their power and influence. 

This sounds like a spoiler for some game tbqh