God of Warfare: Ragnarok’s Valhalla DLC packs lots of story into Kratos and Mimir’s roguelike journey via the titular corridor of heroes. With Santa Monica Studio framing the sequel because the finish of the collection’ Norse mythology arc, there’s been a lingering query of what’s subsequent for Kratos, his son Atreus, and the God of Warfare story shifting ahead. Whereas followers have been debating what Ragnarok’s ending means for our heroes over the previous 12 months, Valhalla provides some readability to what Kratos will probably be as much as within the instant future.
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Valhalla is Kratos’ remedy
The Valhalla DLC fills within the emotional gaps of Kratos’ arc in each the 2018 reboot and Ragnarok. The place the primary sport targeted on Kratos attempting to cover his violent previous from Atreus, Ragnarok raises questions on what Kratos’ title because the God of Warfare means if nobody follows him. The All-Father Odin confronts him about this, claiming he is aware of nothing of the devotion between mortals and gods, and the service they supply in variety. In principle, at the least. It’s simple to throw out platitudes about serving mortals whereas upending the 9 Realms out of worry of Ragnarok’s incoming cataclysm. However his level rings true. What was godhood ever to Kratos past energy? The title represented that he annihilated his enemies greater than him being within the much less gory elements of being a god.
Ragnarok ends with Kratos seeing a Jötnar shrine that depicts him as a god within the 9 Realms beloved by the individuals. The revelation strikes Kratos to tears, however he’s bought rather a lot to work via earlier than he’s able to be a benevolent chief of males. As such, it’s apt that a lot of the quests in Valhalla are titled some variation of “The Work.” Valhalla is an prolonged remedy session for Kratos. He has to confront the heinous issues he did throughout God of Warfare’s Greek arc. He travels to Valhalla and faces his inside demons as his recollections create environments to journey via, enemies to face, and manifestations of his previous like Helios, the Greek God of the Solar, showing as a speaking, severed head all through the growth.
All through his journey in Valhalla, Kratos discusses his previous as a violent tyrant and wonders if he’s worthy being any form of public servant in spite of everything he’s achieved. He’s been requested by Freya to change into the brand new Norse God of Warfare, and his journey via Valhalla is kind of him working via all these conflicting emotions by throwing his axe at enemies and going through Tyr, the earlier God of Warfare, every time he reaches the highest. After doing this a number of occasions, Kratos lastly confronts a picture of himself, and actor Christopher Decide provides a stellar monologue as he chooses to not forgive what he’s achieved however to maneuver ahead regardless of it because the God of Hope. He’ll serve the individuals as an alternative of himself and can combat to guard the 9 Realms alongside Freya. Will it’s sufficient to be a god worthy of the title? He doesn’t know, however he has hope.
Valhalla could possibly be a brand new starting
Whereas we might take Santa Monica Studio’s claims that Ragnarok is the top of the Norse mythology story at face worth, there’s nonetheless rather a lot that isn’t clear at this level. As followers have identified, Ragnarok’s unique ending units up a couple of threads for the subsequent sport to comply with, and it doesn’t seem to be Kratos goes wherever anytime quickly. Following Brok’s loss of life in the principle sport, Kratos and Atreus’ relationship with the dwarven blacksmith Sindri is in shambles, and if Kratos goes to proceed to serve the individuals of the 9 Realms, serving his pal and ally after the devastating lack of his brother is a relationship that also deserves exploration.
Nonetheless, the extra overt sequel/spin-off set-up doesn’t actually contain Kratos in any respect. Atreus, having found extra about his origin as one of many final Giants alongside Angrboda, decides to half methods along with his father to seek out the remnants of his individuals. Kratos’ son has a extra particular, concrete objective proper now that would drive the plot of a online game. Whether or not that’s in a Spider-Man: Miles Morales-style spin-off or Atreus getting the starring position in a correct, mainline God of Warfare sport is but to be seen.
Whereas Atreus’ instant future appears extra concrete, followers aren’t satisfied that he’s going to be the face of the collection shifting ahead. Positive, Santa Monica Studio has mentioned Ragnarok capped off the Norse story, however Kratos has his butt firmly planted on the throne of the God of Warfare in Norse Mythology after Valhalla. Atreus has definitely change into a fan favourite over time, however he doesn’t have the identical cultural cache as Kratos, his playable sections in Ragnarok had been divisive, and some followers really feel just like the collection can’t proceed with out the offended previous man. What’s extra, a God of Warfare TV present remains to be in manufacturing at Amazon—it wouldn’t make lots of sense to toss apart the collection’ central character simply earlier than introducing him to an entire new viewers.
There are some hints {that a} potential God of Warfare sport might happen in Historical Egypt and give attention to gods of its mythology. Kratos has already been to Egypt as soon as within the Fallen God comedian collection, however there are extra refined references to it all through the collection. Within the 2018 reboot, a couple of Egyptian artifacts like a pharaoh’s criminal and scarab are present in Tyr’s Temple. Ragnarök additionally comprises an Ankh as one in all its collectible Stolen Treasures. Mimir is aware of of this merchandise and calls Egypt the “River Empire,” which suggests it’s a recognized amount within the 9 Realms. So whereas it’s not a direct affirmation, it does present there’s precedent for Kratos to discover this pantheon of mythology subsequent.
Regardless of the future holds for Kratos and Atreus, Valhalla does really feel just like the end result of the the Norse collection’ arc for the God of Warfare. He has moved previous disgrace, anger, and reached acceptance. Can Kratos, a personality largely outlined by his inside turmoil and rage, work when he’s absolutely reached peace? I’m keen to seek out out.
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