Summary
Last year,God of War Ragnarokwas made available for the PS5 worldwide. The game was well-received by critics and felt like a natural conclusion to the story that was started in the 2018 game. The story ofGod of War Ragnarokwas largely informed by one theme in particular.
In the early games of the franchise, it’s made clear that the series protagonist is not a good person.Kratos was arguably the true villain of theGod of Wargamesand old habits clearly died hard for the seemingly unstoppable Spartan warrior. However, throughoutGod of War(2018)andGod of War Ragnarok, he is trying to be a better person for the sake of his son, which is something all parents should aspire to do.
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How Kratos Tries To Be Better For His Son
When players meet Kratos once again inGod of War(2018), it is clear that he has changed since the events ofGod of War 3. The Ghost of Sparta is no longer the same ball of rage he was in the Greece-based games, but it’s also clear that he has a lot of anger issues that he is only just keeping in check. This most often comes out when he is dealing with his son’s impulses and bad behavior as Kratos was clearly not prepared to raise an 11-year-old on his own. He still keeps his rage at bay all the same in order to be a better role model for Atreus and not repeat what happened in the past.
This is something that continues in the sequel and is arguably stronger in it.God of War Ragnaroksees Kratos changeeven further, reflected in his actions and dialogue throughout the game. The Ghost of Sparta isn’t interested in getting caught up in a war with Asgard and actively discourages everyone around him from doing so. It’s all an active part of him trying to be a better role model for his son and keep him from experiencing the same tragedies that befell him. As it turned out, Kratos isn’t the only one.
Thor Attempting to Be Better For Thrud In God Of War Ragnarok
Thor’s story parallels Kratos' in theGod of Wargames. Both start out as otherwise volatile ultra-masculine figures who do the bidding of their toxic fathers. Then a specific event happens to both characters related to the death of a family member which causes them to change their tune. In Thor’s case, it was the death of his sons Magni and Modi which was, at least in part, caused by the god of thunder. This, in turn, caused issues between him and his wife Sif and encouraged him to be a better father to his remaining daughter.
Thrud inGod of War Ragnarokis different from her Norse Mythologycounterpart in several ways but offers the best insight into Thor as a father. She doesn’t shy away from the way he used to behave but also seems to encourage her martial training and desire to be a Valkyrie. This causes a degree of tension between Thor and Sif as she has no desire to see her serving Odin. Like Kratos, however, his behavior around her is all about trying to be a better parent to her surviving child. Later in the game, it leads to a moment where the two characters have a moment of understanding, leading to Thor finally standing up to Odin.
Currently, it isn’t clear what direction the franchise will go in moving forward. Several characters inGod of War Ragnarokgot happy endingsbut there were just as many characters whose fates were somewhat ambiguous. Some have suggested that the best way for the franchise to go would be to focus it on Atreus, but there is currently no word on what Santa Monica Studio has planned. As it stands,God of War Ragnarok’s “Be Better” theme is a great parenting lesson expressed by the sequel.
God of War: Ragnarokis available now for PS4 and PS5.
