He used to just be a ball of rage. If you played the original games on the PS2 back in the early 2000s, you remember a Kratos that was basically a walking blender of Greek limbs and screaming fury. It was great. It was visceral. But nobody really thought the series would eventually become a masterclass in fatherhood and emotional trauma. Yet, here we are in 2026, still dissecting the God of War franchise as if it’s a piece of high-brow literature. Because, honestly, it kind of is.
The shift from the Greek era to the Norse era wasn’t just a change in scenery. It was a total reinvention of what an action game could be. Sony Santa Monica, led by Cory Barlog and later Eric Williams, did something risky. They took a mascot known for mindless violence and gave him a soul. They gave him a son named Atreus. And suddenly, the guy who ripped Helios' head off was struggling with "the talk." Not that talk—the one about being a god and the weight of a blood-stained legacy.
The God of War Formula Has Changed Forever
The 2018 soft reboot changed the camera angle to a tight, over-the-shoulder perspective. It felt claustrophobic and intimate. You weren't just watching Kratos; you were right there behind his scarred back. This "one-shot" camera technique, where the game never cuts away from the action or the cinematics, created a sense of immersion that most games still can't touch.
Combat shifted too. In the old days, it was about the Blades of Chaos—swinging them in wide, fiery arcs to hit fifty enemies at once. In the newer God of War games, it's about the Leviathan Axe. It’s heavier. More deliberate. Throwing the axe and recalling it with the triangle button feels so satisfying it’s ruined other games' combat for a lot of people. It has weight. It has "thunk." But don't worry, the blades came back, and when they did, it felt like welcoming an old, dangerous friend back into your life.
Why the Norse Saga Hit Differently
It wasn't just the combat. The story in God of War Ragnarök took things to a level of complexity we rarely see in triple-A gaming. We met characters like Freya, who went from a grieving mother to a vengeful warrior and back again. We saw Thor, not as a shiny Marvel hero, but as a bloated, tragic alcoholic dealing with a toxic father of his own. Odin wasn't a soaring god in a golden palace; he was a manipulative, fast-talking cult leader.
The writing team handled these mythological figures with a level of nuance that made them feel like real people with messy lives. It wasn't just "good vs. evil." It was about breaking cycles of violence. Kratos’ famous line, "We must be better," isn't just a cool quote for a trailer. It’s the entire thesis of the modern series. It’s about a man who was a monster trying to teach his son not to be one.
💡 You might also like: Why You Can't Actually Resident Evil 4 Blue Medallions Farm and What to Do Instead
Misconceptions About the Gameplay
Some people think the new God of War is just a "movie game" where you walk and talk. That’s just wrong. If you crank the difficulty up to "Give Me God of War," it becomes one of the most demanding action games on the market. The Berserker fights and the Gná encounter in Ragnarök require frame-perfect timing and a deep understanding of your gear builds.
There’s a massive RPG layer now. You aren't just mashing buttons. You're balancing Runic power, Cooldown, and Vitality. You're choosing between different shield types—some for parrying, some for blocking heavy hits. The depth is there if you’re willing to look for it. It's not just about the story; it's about mastering a complex combat system that rewards aggression and strategy in equal measure.
The Technical Wizardry of Santa Monica Studio
We have to talk about the tech. Even on older hardware, these games look like magic. The facial animations in God of War are some of the best in the industry. You can see the micro-expressions on Kratos’ face—the way his brow furrows when he’s proud of Atreus but doesn't know how to say it. Christopher Judge’s performance isn't just voice acting; it’s a full-body transformation that earned him a well-deserved Game Award.
Then there’s the sound design. The way the ice crunches under your boots in Midgard or the metallic ring of the axe hitting a shield. It creates a "game feel" that is incredibly tactile. You don't just see the world; you feel the cold.
What’s Next for the Franchise?
With the Valhalla DLC, we got a glimpse into Kratos’ psyche that we’ve never seen before. It was a roguelike mode, which was a weird but brilliant choice, forcing Kratos to literally fight his past. It wrapped up his personal arc in a way that felt earned. He’s no longer just the God of War; he’s something else. A God of Hope? Maybe.
Rumors have been swirling for years about where the series goes next. Egypt? Japan? Mayan mythology? The beauty of the God of War universe now is that Kratos is a traveler. He carries his past with him, but he’s no longer a prisoner of it. Wherever he goes, the core of the game will likely remain the same: a deep dive into what it means to be a god in a world that might not need them anymore.
Real Talk: Is It Worth Playing the Old Games?
If you started with the 2018 game, you might be tempted to skip the originals. Don't. While the gameplay is very different—more arcadey and fixed-camera—the sheer scale of the Greek games is still breathtaking. Seeing Kratos climb a mountain-sized Titan while fighting a god is an experience that holds up, even with dated graphics. It also gives you the context you need to understand why Kratos is so guarded and broken in the newer titles. You need to see the monster he was to appreciate the man he became.
Actionable Steps for New and Returning Players
If you’re looking to get the most out of the God of War experience right now, here is how you should approach it. Forget the "standard" way of playing and try these specific things:
- Play Valhalla First if You’re Rusty: If you haven’t touched Ragnarök in a while, the Valhalla DLC is a perfect way to retrain your muscle memory. It’s free, it’s fast-paced, and it forces you to use different weapons and abilities you might have ignored during the main story.
- Turn Off the HUD: Once you get the hang of the controls, try turning off the Heads-Up Display. The game is designed so that visual cues (like Kratos’ back glowing or Atreus shouting warnings) tell you what you need to know. It makes the "one-shot" camera feel even more cinematic.
- Focus on the Side Quests (Favors): In most games, side quests are filler. In God of War, they are essential. Some of the best character moments and toughest boss fights are tucked away in the "Favors." Specifically, the crater area in Vanaheim is basically a mini-expansion on its own.
- Experiment with the "Amulet of Yggdrasil": Don't just slot in the highest-level enchantments. Look for set bonuses. Some combinations drastically change how your dodges work or how fast your Permafrost gauge builds up.
- Watch the Documentary: If you want to see the "why" behind the game, watch Raising Kratos on YouTube. It’s a feature-length look at the five-year struggle to make the 2018 game. It shows the human cost and the passion that goes into making a masterpiece.
God of War isn't just a series about killing monsters. It's a series about the monsters we carry inside us and the struggle to keep them at bay. Whether you're in it for the brutal combat or the crying-in-your-living-room story beats, there is nothing else quite like it in gaming. It’s a rare example of a franchise that grew up alongside its audience. We were angry teenagers when Kratos was an angry god; now, we're mostly just tired adults trying to do right by the people we love. That’s why it resonates. That’s why we’re still playing.