Summary
God of War Ragnarokcontinued the story of Kratos and his son Atreus, following up on the belovedGod of War. This newest arc in the series has been defined by how it has reinvented Kratos. The originalGod of Wargames depicted him as a violent killer with a heart of stone. The Kratos ofGod of War Ragnarokand its predecessor, on the other hand, is reformed. He is not immune to anger, but he is trying to live a more virtuous life than he was before, all while setting a strong example for his son, Atreus. The dynamic that the two share is what has made the Norse saga special.
In 2018, when Atreus first appeared inGod of War, his actor Sunny Suljic was 13 years old. By the timeRagnarokwas released, Suljic was 17.
Because the story of Kratos and Atreus is defined by their relationship as father and son, the developers chose a child to play Atreus. While a father does not stop being a father once their child reaches adulthood, father-and-son stories do not typically depict two fully grown men on paths to understand one another.Sunny Suljichas said that he feels the next step in the story is for Atreus to become a man, which means the next game will probably be the last chance to feature Kratos in a traditional fatherly mentor role before that trope becomes tired.
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What Atreus Aging Means for God of War
God of Warhas established that gods age differently and live long lives. The fact thatKratos' age is up for debatehighlights this. Atreus will likely live just as long, so his aging isn’t an indication of survivability, but it will impact the ability of the developers to tell different stories.Ragnarokends with Atreus and Angrboda setting out to investigate the fate of the giants, tearfully informing Kratos that he will see him again one day. Kratos also sets out, determined to forge a future that he can feel proud of.
The End of the Norse Saga Could Result In Diverging Stories
WhileGod of War’s Norse Saga has allegedly ended, that doesn’t mean the series is finished with the setting. Atreus' quest to find the remaining giants could see him exploring the nine realms while Kratos moves on to another region and into conflict with another pantheon of gods. This could allow the characters to have their own stories while occasionally coming together.
It is also possible that Atreus' quest could bring him to different regions of the world, allowing the game to feature multiple mythologies. A mural inRagnarokdepicts Tyr, a Giant, and God, surrounded by symbols fromShintoism and Egyptian and Celtic faiths, so Atreus' quest could bring him across different pantheons as well.
Kratos Still Has Lessons to Teach Atreus
God of War: Fallen Godindicates that Kratos has unfinished business in Egypt, but even if he and Atreus go to different places, there is still a lot he can teach his son. Atreus may be old enough now to seek out his own adventures, but he is not a fully-fledged man. If Sony Santa Monica wants to feature Kratos as Atreus' mentor one last time, they should do so soon while Suljic is still young and can present Atreus as someone at the end of their adolescence. Even if the two are on separate quests, their shared bond is important to the identity of modernGod of Wartitles, and neglecting to focus on it as Atreus is on the cusp of true adulthood would be a lost opportunity.
Sony Santa Monica’s father-and-son story is running out of time, so the developer must strike while the iron is hot. It seems likely that Atreus will be the one to helm the franchise in the coming years if it continues, but there is still time left for the franchise to flesh out the father-and-son dynamic that has defined it for the past half a decade. IfAtreus becomesGod of War’s main characterit is important that Kratos' influence on him is felt in future titles, and one more entry where Kratos helps Atreus through the start of his adulthood could help cement his influence as a part of Atreus' extended story.
God of War Ragnarok
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting goFrom Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.
