Ever since Santa Monica Studios released God of War in 2018, fans have eagerly awaited a sequel to tie the bow on Kratos's epic travels through the mythical Norse realms. God of War Ragnarök was originally set to be released in 2021, but was rescheduled to move to 2022. Although there has been no official release window by Sony, Bloomberg reports and IGN inside knowledge suggests a planned November release. So that will give us plenty of time to analyse footage and make speculations about the content and context of God of War Ragnarök.
Sony released a 3 minute reveal trailer of God of War Ragnarök for the Playstation Showcase last year and teased some truly exciting moments. Let's take a dive into what we know and a few speculations on what God of War Ragnarök will offer.
In the beginning of the trailer we see Kratos sharpening a knife as Atreus emerges from the chilling fog carrying a deer; a clever callback to the first mission in God of War where Kratos and Atreus hunt for deer together. This moment marks Atreus's maturity into adolescence and his improved skills as he independently hunts for food.
The freezing weather outside of the cave is Fimbulwinter, meaning the 'Great Winter', mentioned in the Poetic Edda as the immediate prelude to the events of Ragnarök. Atreus states that they are "running out of time" ; meaning that the destructive events of Ragnarök will be a pressing matter for the player in an epic race against time to save the realms.
In the trailer, there is a violent clash of sword and shield as Freya furiously lunges at Kratos with murderous intent. Freya, still grieving over her beloved son's fated demise, will vengefully pursue you through the nine realms to hinder your progress at preventing Ragnarök.
Freya might also recruit the aid of her Vanir allies, elemental golems, and nature's wild beasts to slow you down. There is potential to see Freya's twin brother, Freyr. Freyr - the deity of peace, prosperity, and the harvest - is a Vanir god, a skilled user of Seiðr magic, and likely a devoted and loyal brother. Another Vanir thorn in your Spartan side.
Atreus expresses a yearning for answers to discover his true identity and uncover his destiny. This youthful naivety and headstrong spirit could potentially endanger Atreus, or lead him on an epic adventure of self-recognition. It wouldn't be a God of War trailer without some hint of patriarchal dominance and masculine bravado as we see Kratos and Atreus brashly argue with one another. God of War Ragnarök might see an irreversible fracture of this familial bond.
Kratos's stubbornness and overprotective nature of Atreus could push him to the edge, where Atreus will have to make a difficult decision whether to pursue his self-interests or obey his father. This will no doubt be a major dramatic pivot in the overarching storyline. Kratos must learn to place faith in his son and trust in his motives.
Excitedly, we see the satisfying return of the esteemed Mimir. Mimir's wisecrack quips, sarcastic remarks, and poetic recollections of Aesir stories were a well-needed and whimsical touch in God of War. A fitting juxtaposition to Kratos's grunty mannerisms and reductive story-telling. Yet we still saw glimpses of sorrow and guilt in Mimir's personality making him a sympathetic and well-rounded character
Kratos is no doubt visiting Mimir to benefit from his vast knowledge and wise counsel. If I were to speculate, I would claim that Kratos is visiting Mimir so that he can use him to communicate with Jörmangandr, the World Serpent, on how to prevent Ragnarök. Mimir is the only known being currently alive that is semi-fluent in the Ancient Tongue, making him a useful companion (or a handy Alexa to hang from your belt).
It then cuts to Kratos and Atreus sledding on a frozen lake in Midgard with two wolves pulling them. Could these two wolves be Sköll and Hati?; the two offspring of the wolf, Fenrir, and the giant, Iarnvidia. As Odin will likely recruit the keen eyes of his two ravens, Huginn ('thought') and Muninn ('memory'), Kratos and Atreus will need the trusting aid of a fearsome wolf or two. This wolfsled will prove a much-needed, fast travel tool to traverse across large, flat plains.
We also see the return of the head-butting, disagreeable Dwarven brothers, Brok and Sindri. The rude, ill-mannered Brok and the gentle, cowardly Sindri were an amusing pair that offered some truly heart-warming moments of brotherly love and solidarity. Their combined talents will improve the strength and durability of the Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos, and the Guardian Shield. We also saw an impressive showcase of the Blades of Chaos with some swift throw and pierce moves and explosive ground slams.
Mimir mentions that "There are tricks up Odin's sleeve that we haven't dared consider". A foreboding comment that will no doubt foreshadow future events manipulated by Odin's craft and cunning. Odin will be the overarching villain, pulling the strings of fate, and orchestrating the downfall of Kratos and Atreus.
However, Thor will more likely be the main stake antagonist, being the half-brother of the murdered Baldur, and father to the deceased Magni and Modi. Thor will seek revenge for the butchering of his brave sons, beloved half-brother, and to champion the power of the Aesir pantheon. There is a very real chance of Thor besting Kratos in their first encounter, kidnapping Atreus, and trapping him at the roots of Yggdrasil or in Asgard.
We see the return of old enemies from God of War including Draugr, Hel-Walkers, and Dark Elves. We also get a sneak peek of new adversaries including a female Stalker (a centaur-like being with antlers), an alligator-like Lindwurm (a Dreki from Vanaheim), an Asgardian Berserker, and a staunch Ogre. This fresh ensemble of beasts and warriors will provide a refreshing challenge to the player.
In God of War, we could only visit six out of the nine realms including: Midgard, Alfheim, Helheim, Muspelheim, Jötunheim, and Niflheim. In God of War Ragnarök, we finally have access to Svartalfheim, Vanaheim, and Asgard. These new realms will be an exciting venture into unknown territory and will hopefully exhibit the same scenic beauty of the other realms.
A great deal of the trailer focuses on the mysterious character referred to as Tyr. Tyr, is the Aesir god of war - especially treaties - and known as an agent of justice, law, and order. Tyr was betrayed by Odin due to Tyr's alliance with the Jötuns. Tyr also shared an unbreakable bond with Laufey, Atreus's mother; which will no doubt form a trusting friendship between Tyr and Atreus. Tyr, a natural pacificist, was known for his calm nature, his level-headed approach to crises, and his skills in diplomacy. This will form a strong dichotomy to Kratos's short temper, lack of rationale, and his uncanny 'punch now, talk later' approach.
A young, female giant sports a jubilant smile as she utters "You'll get your answers soon enough. Well...some of them". This is the giant, Angrboda; known in the Poetic Edda to be the wife of Loki and the mother of Jörmangandr and Fenrir. Santa Monica Studios is fully transparent that they bend Greek and Norse mythology to fit their narrative. So they might potentially erase details from the original myths, especially since Magni and Modi survived Ragnarök in the Poetic Edda. Angrboda and Atreus will very likely have romantic chemistry due to their Jötun heritage, young age, and attractive looks.
By Lucas Daniel Barker, a niché gamer with a passion for games with visceral combat, thrilling gameplay, aesthetic environments, well-developed characters, and complex story plots. 11/6/22
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