I’m sorry, but it’s kind of true. God of War: Ragnarök will go down as a fantastic game with one of the greatest gaming protagonists ever in Kratos of Sparta, but I just don’t think he quite managed to redeem himself in the end…
He may have earned redemption, but did he ACTUALLY deserve to get out of Ragnarök scott free?
Despite having one of the most emotional redemption stories in recent memory, Kratos didn’t ACTUALLY achieve his goals of seeking FULL absolution and redemption in God of War: Ragnarök in my humble opinion. And, yes, I know this is not a popular belief.
Okay, Kratos’s redemption. Maybe the most beloved and emotional element of the God of War Norse edition gaming duology. Right? And here I am craping all over it?
Is there something wrong with me?
Well, probably, but that’s not the reason why I think Kratos, despite having one of the best character arcs in gaming history over the last two God of War titles, failed his redemption arc.
At least in my opinion, Kratos had three major hurtles he needed to make in the realms of the Norse gods to fully achieve redemption: 1. Forging A Bond With Atreus And Preventing His Son From Following Down His Own Path Or One Like Bauldr Or Thor, 2. Giving Up The Anger, Rage, And Hatred He Held For His Own Past, and 3. Choosing To Be Better Than The Killer And Monster Aries Made Him To Be Back In GOW 1.
I won’t rehash the entire story Norse story here, but I will say that Kratos nearly did all of those things by overcoming his hesitancy of fatherhood to bond with Atreus and truly become his father.
He let the hatred he had for himself and all the gods subside by accepting and opening up to Atreus, befriending and aiding Freya and her Vanir allies, and showing mercy to those innocents in Odin’s schemes. And then he choose to become better by nurturing Atrus sympathy for the suffering of other and helped redeem Thor.
(Sony/PlayStation-God Of War: Ragnarök-PlayStation Showcase Reveal Trailer)
“Sounds like Kratos did redeem himself? Why am I watching this buffoon keep rambling on?” you may be wondering to yourself right now. But that’s the thing. Kratos DIDN’T fully redeem himself. Or at least he didn’t do so until the VERY LAST MOMENT when he really should have paid the ultimate sacrifices for the mistakes he made as Thor did.
Kratos may have become a true father to Atreus, relented on his hatred for all gods, and showed sympathy to the innocents stuck in the crossfire, but he didn’t choose to be better in Ragnarok. Actually, the entire final act of the game specifically had Kratos go against EVERYTHING the Norms warned him NOT TO DO. You know, letting his god-killing and Spartan general days go forever? But he didn’t do that. He just went out and “Kratosed” his way across the Nine Realms, and yet he survived Ragnarök and Asgard’s destruction scott free.
How is that redeeming one’s past as Kratos sought to do the entire game?
I’m not saying that Kratos completely failed his arc or doesn’t deserve forgiveness for his past transgressions.
No, not at all. But being a toned-down version of your god-killing, merciless, and destructive self for 97% of a story before fully shedding away your destructive past doesn’t really constitute a character change. Or at least not one that not only survived a world-ending disaster you caused, but also was rewarded for your actions by being given the title of “God of Hope/Peace”.
Yet, that’s exactly what Kratos did in GOW: Ragnarök.
He didn’t permanently change until the VERY, VERY END…and that only came about when his son, who was the foil for his character the whole game, nearly turned out like him.
So, even though I think Kratos had a great personal arc, I just don’t think he fully achieved a redemption that warranted his new title as the “God of Hope/Peace”.
Images Source: Featured Image: (Sony/PlayStation) (God Of War Ragnarök – PlayStation Showcase 2021 Reveal Trailer | PS5 Games – YouTube)
In Text Image 1: (Sony/PlayStation) (God Of War Ragnarök – PlayStation Showcase 2021 Reveal Trailer | PS5 Games – YouTube)
