Revolutionizing God of War: Embracing a Bold New Era

Highlights

God of War may hint at the exploration of different mythologies, but it seems Kratos could actually remain in the Norse mythology to repair damage caused by Odin.

Atreus' pursuit of the giants may potentially unveil an entirely different mythological realm, commonly believed to be associated with Egypt.

The forthcoming sequel of God of War ought to prioritize and leverage the advanced capacities offered by the PS5, rather than being constrained by the limitations of the previous PS4 era.

After introducing the potential of exploring different mythologies, God of War faces a challenging decision in selecting where Kratos and Atreus will venture next. With the father and son now separated, Santa Monica Studio has the opportunity to depict multiple mythologies simultaneously. However, the conclusion of God of War Ragnarok hints that Kratos is firmly rooted in Norse mythology.

Meanwhile, Atreus embarks on a personal journey to find the giants, which may eventually lead him to another mythology, with Egypt being a popular choice among fans. On the other hand, Kratos is determined to remain in the nine realms of Norse mythology, seeking to mend the destruction caused by Odin and embracing his destiny as a compassionate god. While the franchise has already explored Norse content extensively, it is essential for God of War to move beyond the era of PS4.

God of War Can’t Afford to Hang Around the Norse Mythology Any Longer

God of War Ragnarok has previously been mentioned as the concluding chapter in the Norse saga of the franchise. This news left many fans disappointed, as the frozen landscapes of Midgard played a pivotal role in revamping the series. It also meant that Santa Monica Studio had the challenge of incorporating Odin, Thor, and other Norse mythology elements into this installment. While the developers managed to accomplish this to some extent, Thor's story felt somewhat overshadowed by the need for him to serve as an antagonist for Kratos. The ending of the game, however, provided opportunities for the narrative to deviate from the mythology on good terms.

Interestingly, Kratos does not appear to be exiting the stage just yet. God of War Ragnarok hints at the possibility of another complete story centered around Kratos in the nine realms, rather than transitioning to a different mythology. It seems that Atreus may take on a more prominent role in future installments. However, it might prove challenging for Santa Monica Studio to sustain Kratos' relevance in Midgard and further expand the storyline.

God of War's Future Can’t Be Anchored to the Past PlayStation Generation

Suggesting that the sequel to God of War is anything short of a technical masterpiece on the current-generation PlayStation hardware would be a gross understatement. However, it is intriguing to consider how much more impressive it could have been if Santa Monica Studio had focused solely on the PS5 version. While the PS4 version still managed to satisfy players, unlike some underwhelming non-exclusives released since the launch of the PS5, games exclusive to the PS5 consistently perform at a higher level since they don't have to compromise for accessibility.

This accessibility is great for fans who haven't been able to get their hands on a PS5 yet. However, it would be absurd if fans were still unable to experience the next God of War when it releases. Hopefully, in a couple of years, the PS4 generation will be put aside so that developers can fully harness the capabilities of the PS5. Just like Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man 2 will benefit from being a PS5-exclusive, there is no reason why the next God of War couldn't do the same, regardless of where Kratos and Atreus' journeys take them.