Lots of hyperbole here, at all directions, just like in similar BOTW threads...
But I'm playing Hellblade now - same closeup back/shoulder camera and slow, weighty, counterbased combat, and norse mythology. Love it!
And then I read in this thread that GoW takes a lot from Rise of the Tomb Raider in how the maps and game progression is layed out, which was one of my top 10 GOTY at it's release.
So it sounds like great changes! Might pick it up even though I planned not to because of the big changes and assumed exaggerated violence.
I haven't played it but I'd still agree with the OP about the changes, in my opinion they could easily have called it something else judging by what I've seen. From my quick peeks Kratos is basically what's left from the old God of War from what I can see. And I expect to see lots of "This is not my God of War!" threads and posts once the launch hype has gone away just as with BOTW. This is definitely not just a perspective change.
I'd say that Gran Turismo Sport is up there as well regarding big changes, the car collecting and huge single player campaign was basically what Gran Turismo was all about for 20 years, I'd boldy claim that the racing (while great) wasn't what made it so popular, and they just removed most of that. Huge change in my opinion.