Summary
The Norse saga for theGod of Warreboot series may have officially concluded afterGod of War Ragnarokand its Valhalla DLC, but that doesn’t mean the next game needs to take a step back when it comes to the traditions established by the first two games. It will undoubtedly be a different series moving forward, as Kratos has finally moved on from the pain, regret, and shame of his past and Atreus has parted ways with his father in pursuit of his own journey. However, while the narrative structure will certainly change, there are some things that need to stay the same in the nextGod of War.
TheGod of Warreboot series has undoubtedly changed the franchise forever, taking what was once a hack-and-slash platformer and transforming it into a story-heavy adventure with some of the most emotional narrative beats the series has ever seen. In some ways, the newGod of Wargames have honored the original titles, especially when it comes to Kratos reflecting on his past and the return of his iconicBlades of Chaosas a weapon. However, something had to be done betweenGod of War(2018) andGod of War Ragnarokto progress rather than devolve Kratos and Atreus, and the nextGod of Wargame needs to follow suit.
The Next God of War Needs to Continue the Progression System Established by the Last Two Games
God of War and God of War Ragnarok Only Added More Weapons to Kratos' Arsenal
Sequels often present developers with what may initially seem to be a difficult obstacle to overcome, especially in the role-playing and action-adventure genres. As characters in games grow stronger or unlock new weapons, just as Kratos has in the last twoGod of Wargames, honoring their progress while still providing players with something to work toward can be a challenge in and of itself.God of War(2018) andGod of War Ragnarokovercame this challenge by adding new weapons to Kratos' arsenal, rather than rebooting it simply as an excuse to give players incentive to progress.
InGod of War(2018), Kratos started with his now-famousLeviathan Axe, which can be used in both melee and ranged combat and can even slow or freeze enemies who are hit by it. Eventually, Kratos acquires his iconic Blades of Chaos, which are even used in the story as a symbol of his ongoing struggle to escape his past.God of War Ragnarokthen kept up this tradition rather than taking away Kratos' new weapons for the sake of giving players something new to work toward.
InGod of War Ragnarok, Kratos was able to keep his Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos, but he was also given theDraupnir Spearlater on in the story. The Draupnir Spear is significantly different from the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos, once again allowing players the option of melee and ranged combat but with an explosive twist, as thrown spears can attach to enemies and then be manually ignited for even more damage.
The Next God of War Should Let Kratos Keep His Current Arsenal and Simply Add Another Weapon to It
Just as the last twoGod of Wargames have done, thenextGod of Warshould allow Kratos to keep his Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos, and Draupnir Spear, rather than taking them away to give players the illusion of progress. In addition to allowing Kratos to keep his current arsenal, the nextGod of Warshould introduce a brand-new weapon that is entirely unlike the others — perhaps one that requires a playstyle that is uncommon to what has already been established. It might feel like too many steps back to reverse Kratos' progress at this point, but Santa Monica has likely already considered this, so players can presumably expect a new weapon in the nextGod of War.
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.
