In terms of what’s been officially revealed forGod of War: Ragnarok, there’s very little. The short teaser didn’t even confirm a proper title for the game, so whatever it is officially called finds itself in a marketing limbo of sorts. It’s not even certain thatGod of War: Ragnarokwill hit its 2021 release date. Luckily, however, the lore surrounding the new game is already pretty deep, and fans know the game is likely to feature Thor quite extensively.
Thor, made very clear by the first game, is a monster. According to the lore and discussions by Mimir, he is cruel, extremely angry, brutal, and sadistic. His bloodlust is said to be even greater than Odin’s paranoia, and despite being a half-giant himself, Thor took great pleasure in engaging in two major genocides of the Jotnar. Just as Ares was considered to be the worst among the Olympian pantheon, Thor is considered to be the worst among the Norse gods. In fact, Mimir’s not even sure if Kratos, for all his might, could beat Thor; somehow, some way though, that’s likely to happen. However, it’s not fighting Thor many should worry about, but KratosfacingThor inGod of War: Ragnarok.
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Kratos and Thor Are Two Sides of the Same Coin
For all that could be said of Thor, the same could be said of Kratos in his early days. Under Ares, he led slaughters and could be described as a monster. He was angry, brutal, and sadistic. He wasn’t aware that Zeus was his father at first, but just as Thor is a half-giant who slaughtered the Jotnar, Kratos was a half-god who led a war against his own kind (with some differing nuances, granted). Because of his anger and wrath being such a defining training, however used for good it was, many were shocked to see thestoic and reserved Kratos comeGod of War 2018.
The risk by Santa Monica clearly paid off, though, with the studio giving Kratos a son who is plagued with some of the same challenges he once had: what it means to be a god. In this, though,Kratos and Thor draw even more parallelswell beforeGod of War: Ragnarok. Thor has a daughter who is alluded to in the last game, and how he has taught her (if at all) is likely not the same as Kratos taught Atreus. Whereas Kratos tries to temper Atreus so he understands his role, Thor at best likely encouraged his daughter to embrace all of this. Thor’s relationship with his daughter is likely similar to what Kratos would have been like as a father to Atreus, after the loss of his first wife and child, if he had not changed his ways. Kratos coming face to face with Thor is the same as coming face to face with a mirror to the past, and that in an of itself could become a problem.
Kratos Still Struggles with The Past
Of course, this is speculation, but it seems likely that this struggle will come back in a major way. Anything could happen, perhaps Kratos just outsmarts Thor, but that doesn’t really add a lot of depth to the story.Atreus is trying to learn his place, and as he may be an older teenager come this game, that may be even more complicated. If Kratos has to tap into his past, his darker memories, his pain, and whatnot, Atreus is going to see a side of his father he really hasn’t yet. Kratos' anger, even when unleashed, is tempered inGod of War, butRagnarokshould unleash Kratos.
Complicating his relationship with Atreus, such an action would not only be satisfying in terms of gameplay at the time, but it could further divide the two. This may be seen as set-up for another game, it may explain God of War’s mural showing Atreus killing Kratos, but what’s clear from Kratos still having the Blades of Chaos is that he has not come to terms with his past yet. To combat Thor, he may have to dive into that; to saveAtreus from his fate as Loki, he may have to conquer that.
After all, Atreus' own anger, spartan blood, and arrogance is not reminiscent of just his father, but Thor. So many parallels can be drawn in these relationships that it seems like they are bombs just ready to blow. The death of Thor’s sons may be the igniting action, but it’s what Kratos has to do to beat him that may have the longest lasting impact on the franchise. As such, the greatest threat inGod of War’s storyhas always been, but perhaps shouldn’t be, Kratos himself.
TheGod of War: Ragnaroksequel is in development for PS5.
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