Unleashing the Epic: God of War's Epic Boss Battles Make a Mythical Return!

Highlights

The new God of War games lack the colossal boss fights that made the earlier ones so memorable, with only two comparable boss fights in the new games.

The original games featured epic boss battles, such as facing a colossal Ares or defeating a dismembered Cronos, which were not only more frequent but also left a greater impact and delivered a thrilling experience.

However, the recent games fail to capture the same level of suspense and excitement in the fights against Hraezlyr the Dragon and Garm the Giant Wolf. Nevertheless, there are rumors circulating about a possible follow-up installment that might bring back these intense battles.

The two God of War games based on Norse mythology were highly successful, receiving praise from critics and achieving strong sales. These games brought significant changes to the franchise's gameplay, shifting the focus from revenge-driven narratives to a compelling story about a father and his son. However, there is one aspect where the new God of War games fell short compared to their predecessors.

Both the original games and their Norse counterparts are known for their unforgettable boss fights, and the new games are no exception. Villains like Heimdal, Thor, Odin, and Baldur present formidable challenges for Kratos to conquer. However, one drawback of these games is that, for the most part, they lack the awe-inspiring boss battles that made some of the earlier games so memorable.

The Massive Boss Fights In the Original God Of War Games

The older games had fewer giants for Kratos to face, but the proportion of these large boss fights compared to regular human-sized ones was much higher. In the first game, players encountered a colossal Hydra in the opening battle, although it was never fully seen. Later, Kratos confronted a massive mechanical Minotaur guarding Pandora's Box. Even in the game's finale, he battled Ares in his enormous form.

While the second game had fewer colossal bosses, they were still quite memorable. The first boss was a variation of the Colossus of Rhodes, which the new God of War had to dismantle piece by piece. However, it was in the third game where the truly massive enemies started to appear.

God of War 3 is frequently mentioned for its exceptional boss battles, many of which are massive in scale. The game opens with Kratos facing off against Poseidon, who transforms into a colossal water creature while atop Gaia. Hades, too, presents as a monstrous figure who surpasses most of the later game antagonists in size. Throughout the game, the protagonist battles and defeats other titans, confronts a gigantic scorpion, and ultimately engages in a final showdown with Zeus, who progressively grows larger in various stages of the fight.

Perhaps the most unforgettable colossal boss battle in God of War 3 is the confrontation with Cronos. This antagonist stands as a true embodiment of vastness, being the size of a mountain. Kratos must systematically dismember Cronos before delivering the finishing blow. While the newer God of War games introduce similar enemies, they fail to capture the same awe-inspiring impact and thus lack a lasting impression.

Why the Massive Boss Fights In the New God of War Games Didn't Measure Up

The newer God of War games only feature two boss fights that can be compared to the massive ones in the original games. These fights are against Hraezlyr the Dragon in the 2018 game and Garm the Giant Wolf in God of War Ranganork, who later becomes Fenrir. In both of these fights, Kratos relies on the environment to defeat the bosses, making them enjoyable and memorable. However, these battles lack the same impact and sheer excitement as the earlier enemies.

The final phase of the fight against Garm, where the battle mostly takes place in one spot, lacks the suspense that was present when Kratos had to navigate his way up Cronos' body while avoiding being smashed. Similarly, Hraezlyr's fight does not provide the same thrill that came from battling the Colossus throughout an entire city. Overall, neither fight is bad, but they do not quite capture the same essence as the earlier ones. Fortunately for fans, there may be some larger enemies to look forward to in future games.

Rumors circulate that Santa Monica Studio is developing a God of War installment, serving as a half sequel, that centers around Atreus' pursuit to uncover the fate of the ancient giant race. If confirmed, this presents an exciting prospect for the character to engage in battles against monumental creatures, a facet that was somewhat absent in the previous games, thus revitalizing the God of War franchise's signature colossal boss fights.