The Epic Evolution Awaiting God of War's Next Game
God of War's next game must avoid repeating the past mistake of seamlessly transitioning to a new pantheon and environment like it did with Norse mythology The undisclosed journey of Kratos and Atreus to the Norse lands should not be overshadowed
Highlights
God of War needed to address how Kratos reached the Norse lands and provide context for his reaction to the new environment.
The next installment of the mythology should extensively explore and delve into the development and character growth of Kratos or Atreus, showcasing their transition from the Norse saga to their destination. It is crucial that Atreus' journey into a different mythology is portrayed transparently, allowing players to gain understanding of his perception towards the unfamiliar surroundings and his interactions with non-player characters (NPCs).
God of War is on the verge of reinventing itself once again by exploring culturally rich mythologies such as Egyptian, Japanese, Aztec, Chinese, Celtic, and more. It appears that Atreus, also known as Norse mythology's Loki, will embark on this journey alone while Kratos remains behind to aid Midgard and the Nine Realms in recovering from the battle of Asgard in God of War Ragnarok. With plenty of unresolved storylines for Kratos to address, Atreus is poised to traverse yet another mythological setting on his own.
Regardless of the circumstances, God of War cannot approach a new mythology in the same manner as it did with the Norse saga. The decision to delve into Norse mythology was a brilliant move by Santa Monica, as it allowed for the depiction of a rugged bearded demigod and introduced a harsh environment filled with extraordinary creatures and NPCs. However, failing to explicitly explain how Kratos arrived in that realm or provide insight into his reaction to such a dramatically different part of the world were significant oversights that should not be repeated in Atreus' own mythological journey.
How Kratos Got to the Norse Lands After God of War 3 is Left Unknown
The franchise takes fans on a journey to the Norse lands with Kratos, but the abrupt transition raises questions about how he got there. It requires fans to suspend their disbelief, especially considering that Kratos should have been near death. Despite this, he manages to make the treacherous journey across a vast sea to a significantly colder place.
While Kratos has shown his immense strength in the past, it is a stretch to believe that meeting Faye suddenly made him aware of his rage and prompted him to pursue a family once again. This crucial plot point is left unaddressed, leaving a gap in the story. These choices place Kratos in a challenging position as a father, which becomes a central theme in the Norse saga of God of War. However, Santa Monica never delves into the explanation of how and why Kratos experienced such a significant transformation, simply attributing it to Faye's influence.
Either way, after a few episodes in which Kratos's character was defined mainly by his thirst for violence and his sorrow, it still feels inadequate that his personal growth was never fully addressed by both the Greek and Norse deities. It is crucial at this point that the upcoming God of War mythology leap will, hopefully, take note of this mistake.
Atreus’ Journey to a New Mythology Shouldn’t Be Obscured
While it may not be necessary to chronicle every aspect of Atreus' actual journey within the game, providing some explanation about these details could clarify how the protagonist managed to reach their destination and shed light on their potential response. The specific mythology that God of War will explore in its upcoming sequel remains unknown, but once Ragnarok's follow-up is unveiled, fans will likely discover which mythology it delves into. It would be fascinating to witness how Santa Monica Studios establishes a connection between this mythology and the Norse mythos that Atreus must navigate.
Simply sailing through a thick mist and entering the new mythology's landscape would accomplish that. However, it is essential to witness Atreus' reaction to the new landscape and observe his first interactions with non-player characters. In the previous God of War game, Kratos was already familiar with the gelid woods he resided in and had a wife and son. This prevented players from seeing how he reacted to an unfamiliar environment and his initial interactions with Faye. Therefore, if the next God of War game follows the same pattern and updates fans on Atreus' established life in a new mythology, it would be equally unsatisfying.
