Short of a release date, the 2021 PlayStation Showcase gaveGod of Warfans what they’ve been waiting for. A year after the sequel’s announcement, fans got a look atGod of War: Ragnarokthat hinted at some major story beats, revealed unseen character designs, and gave fans a glimpse at the developing differences between Atreus and Kratos that will likely fuel the story’s emotional core.
When it comes to synthesizing that story withGod of War’s mechanics, however, the conceit ofGod of War: Ragnarokraises some big questions. The series is known for its tight combat mechanics and epic boss fights. However, depending on how Santa Monica Studio plans to realize the series’ core mechanics without them coming into conflict withRagnarok’s story raises some big questions. The game’s relationship with the Ragnarok of Norse mythology may become more complicated than ever.
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God Of War’s Bosses
WhileGod of War2018 gave the series a soft reboot and introduced an older Kratos living in the nine realms of Norse mythology, it avoided introducing many of that mythology’s most famous figures. Thor was conspicuously absent aside, from a brief cameo inGod of War’s secret ending, Odin was only ever mentioned by name, and Tyr was nowhere to be found in-game or in-universe, having disappeared after an attempt to save the giants from annihilation at the hands of the Aesir.
Theboss fights in 2018’sGod of Warwere largely taken from Norse mythology’s generic rank and file. There were trolls, ice giants, and Thor’s sons Magni and Modi. Baldur himself was the only boss to come from the more well-known Norse gods. Other major Norse figures like Freya and the World Serpent made appearances, but not as bosses. In contrast, the game preceding 2018’sGod of Warsaw Kratos take on the most famous names from Greek mythology, like Poseidon, Hades, Hercules, Hermes, Cronos, and Zeus.
God of War2018’s conservative approach to Norse mythology’s major figures gave the game a great sense of atmosphere. The absence of Thor and Odin made their in-universe reputations for terrible violence even more intimidating, projecting the sense that unknowable dangers awaitedKratos and Atreusin the future.
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God of War: The Ragnarok Prophecy
Ragnarok is well known as the death of the Norse gods, while Greek mythology has no equivalent apocalypse. As with theoriginalGod of Wartrilogy, many fans will be expecting Kratos to play a large personal part in the Norse pantheon’s demise. Many will be anticipating boss fights with Thor, Odin, Freya, and perhaps other major Norse deities like Heimdall and Surtr. These expectations seem very likely to be fulfilled to an extent. The recent trailer already showed Atreus’ vision of Thor arriving at the end of Fimbulwinter coming true.
The challenge, however, will be finding ways to make these boss fights feel satisfying when it seems less likely that Kratos himself will deliver the killing blow to many of these figures. Thor, for example, is destined to die from the World Serpent’s poison, a prophecy which isn’t just mentioned in the last game, but was depicted onJormundangr’s shrineat the Lake of Nine.
Odin is destined to be eaten by Fenrir, the great wolf child of Loki – now revealed as Atreus – and themother of monsters Angrboda, now revealed in the most recentGod of War: Ragnaroktrailer.God of Warcan take creative license with the myths, but there are reasons this may be more difficult during Ragnarok.
The last game certainly took liberties with the details surroundingBaldur’s death. In the myths, Baldur is accidentally killed by Hod when Loki tricks the blind god into throwing a spear made of mistletoe at Baldur, which is his one weakness. This moment isn’t nearly as well-known or referenced in-universe as Thor and Odin’s deaths, however. Not only that, but the last game still found ways to play with key elements of that myth. Loki’s involvement is still key, with Atreus’ weakening Baldur using arrows made from mistletoe.
God of War: Ragnarokcould have to make a choice between realizing the Ragnarok prophesized both inNorse mythologyand the last game, and giving Kratos himself a satisfying sense of agency. In Baldur’s case a compromise worked, with parts of the myth integrated into the story, while Kratos himself delivered the killing blow. The challenge going forward is that the killing blows delivered to Odin and Thor during Ragnarok are some of the most famous parts of the prophecy, in-universe and out.
Kratos' Involvement In Ragnarok
The real risk is that making Kratos’ involvement satisfying could come at the cost of realizing Ragnarok in a satisfying way. Having the player character participate in major boss fights that are followed by cutscenes of other characters likeFenrir and the World Serpentdelivering the killing blow could leave Kratos’ involvement undermined. Having Kratos personally kill Odin or Thor as he did with the Greek gods could feel like a cop out that doesn’t reflect the prophesized events fans have been waiting to seeGod of Wartake on.
Managing these two disparate expectations poses a challenge that Santa Monica Studio has almost certainly anticipated, but for now, at least the solution the studio hopes to execute has yet to be seen. It was announced at2021’s PlayStation Showcase, however, thatGod of War: Ragnarokwould “cap off the Norse series,” so passing the bag to a future game will not be an option.
Atreus’ own involvement in the prophecy, and the fact that he seems unlikely to be a playable character, also raises questions about just how close Kratos can get to the action in the upcoming game. While the new trailer revealed some important characters, locations, and plotpoints, untilSanta Monica Studio’s handling of the prophecy itself is revealed a major question still hangs over the game, and will determine whether it can simultaneously depict a satisfying end to Kratos and Atrues’ Norse story and the propheized deaths of the Norse gods themselves.
God of War: Ragnarokis planned to release in 2022 on PS4 and PS5.
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