It wouldn’t be unreasonable to think 2018’s God of War was the first title in the series, or that its direct sequel, GoW: Ragnarök was the second one. The mostly vague references to Kratos’ past felt like a standard fair storytelling meant to ignite imagination, rather than a call back to the earlier installments.
But the title of this article has already spoiled the twist: the God of War series is nearly two decades old, and the atrocities haunting Kratos in the Nordic chapter of his life are things we have done ourselves, as players, with a lot of combos and a heap of Quick Time Events.
So before you begin your own Twilight of the Gods with God of War: Ragnarök’s PC launch on September 19th, let’s take a quick look at the old Spartan’s journey, because it was a wild ride.
It’s all Greek to me!
The series started way back in 2005, with the first God of War (as opposed to 2018’s second God of War). Kratos used to be a Spartan general, who bound himself to Ares to secure an unlikely victory, but it was an unfated alliance. In a spat of divinely induced rage and due to an equally divine trickery, Kratos killed his own family and was cursed to forever bear their ashes on his skin. The game itself followed Kratos’ service to the gods of Olympus, as he hoped to be freed from the nightmares of that fateful crime.
Unlike the series’ modern, third-person perspective (TPP) installments, the original game was closer to Devil May Cry games of the time, with distant, less flexible camera, emphasis on aggressive combos and platforming, as well as arcade-like additions like health orbs. Subsequent games would iterate on the formula, but a revolutionary change wouldn’t happen until 2018.
The original God of War introduced the iconic silhouette of the athletic Spartan wielding jagged swords attached by chains to his forearms. It also initiated Kratos on the path of fury which would leave carcasses of dead gods in his wake for decades to come. It’s a grim legacy, but there’s no denying Kratos is one of the most recognizable characters in all of gaming.
The Ghost of Sparta
The original game was succeeded by two mainline follow-ups: conveniently titled God of War II and God of War III.
Over the course of these games the Spartan’s roaring rampage of revenge led to him pretty much singlehandedly killing all of the Greek pantheon, not to mention the numerous monsters and some titans who h stood in his way. Kratos’ cruel fate even led him to accidentally killing his rare allies. The moniker “Ghost of Sparta,” earned due his ashen skin back in God of War 1, turned out to be quite fateful, as Kratos became a grim harbinger of death to Olympians.
On the more positive side, the games have cranked up their spectacle to an incredible degree, with battles waged across the bodies of titans, and against the titans themselves. Of course, there were also plenty of fights against regular-sized enemies as a violent, satisfying respite from Santa Monica Studio’s flair for cinematic gameplay sequences.
Greatest stories never told (in the main games)
Kratos has served the gods for many years before his rebellion, and the rebellion itself was lengthy as well. This opened a path for many smaller spin-offs and prequels which kept fans engaged while Santa Monica worked on the big titles. Some entries even started on portable consoles before coming to their bigger siblings, like the PlayStation.
None of these titles are essential reading, but they provide a lot of additional context and background to Kratos’ relationships with divinity. They also give more chances to slice and punch your way through hordes of monsters, solve clever environmental puzzles, and engage with QTEs for depicting the most brutal takedowns and kills, fueled by Kratos’ violent temper and overwhelming strength.
The Afternoon of the Gods
Which finally brings us to the Norse saga.
Long years after Kratos left Greece behind, he wound up on the cold north, where Norse gods roam and prepare for their prophesied demise. It’s a new location anda different time, where Kratos even built a new family, but as the first game starts, it’s already in crisis.
The emotional impulse for 2018 God of War is Kratos and his son Atreus going on a journey guided by the marks left by Faye, who is Atreus’ mother and Kratos’ wife, a proper burial. Unfortunately, this somber ambition is interrupted by god Baldur, a man deprived of sensation by his own invulnerability. Baldur is determined to follow a task assigned to him… which unfortunately involves the duo.
The Norse saga saw a major shift for the series. The camera got closer, hovering not too far over Kratos’ shoulder, while the game was presented as a single, continuous shot due to clever tricks.The combat was punchier, more impactful, and less “2005 hack’n’slash”.
The story was also more personal, exploring how Kratos will manage to become the father his son needs, despite being troubled by his own gruesome past. It certainly doesn’t help that Atreus is budding into a god in his own right, putting extra strain on the relationship. The Norse saga’s story isn’t necessarily more serious, the original games weren’t lighthearted at all, but it makes the new entries more mature, and character-driven.
At the same time, the violence is still there. Kratos might be more reserved, but he still can face anything the Norse mythology can throw at him, especially once Atreus starts getting the hang of this whole “divinity” thing and starts helping out as well.
Kratos’ restrained temper also allows him to make longer-lasting allies, who are essential for the stories of both this game and its sequel.
God of War: Ragnarök and roll
Which brings us to the game which inspired this article in the first place: God of War Ragnarök It was originally launched in November 2022 for PlayStation 4 and PS5, now coming to PC.
Nearly two years later it has found its destiny on PC, with a September 19th release benefiting from all the bells and whistles allowed bymore powerful hardware. It begins a few years after the end of its immediate predecessor, so if you want the full picture, make sure to play both games.
Kratos paid a heavy price to get where he is now, but that doesn’t mean your wallet has to suffer either. You can find excellent deals for God of War’s Norse saga (as well as thousands of other titles) on the G2A Marketplace.
Get your first-row seat to the Twilight of the Gods.
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