Summary
TheGod of Warfranchise isn’t really a happy one. WhenGod of Warmade its debut back in 2005, it quickly made waves for a plethora of different reasons, and one of its most talked about qualities was its edginess, which at the time felt like a breath of fresh air for many gamers.God of Warwasn’t afraid of showing some heinous acts of violence and brutality, and those same acts are the reason why the series' protagonist never really got to have a happy ending. But almost two decades later,God of War Ragnarokfinally gave Kratos an ending that wasn’t overly tragic.
Starting with 2018’sGod of War, the Norse Saga marked a fresh start for the franchise, while also not forgetting the series' roots. One of the biggest changes made with 2018’sGod of Warwas the series' approach to storytelling and character development, putting it at the very forefront of the entire experience. WhileGod of Warhas always had a compelling narrative, 2018God of Wartook things a few steps further, andGod of War Ragnarokonly continued that trend, delivering one of the most satisfying narrative arcs in all of gaming. ThoughGod of War Ragnarokstill has plenty of violence and death, it has a handful of character endings that could almost qualify as happy.
RELATED:The Next God of War Game Can’t Abandon 2018 and Ragnarok’s Best Feature
Atreus Finds His Purpose
When Atreus is first introduced in 2018’sGod of War, he’s a petulant child that’s desperate for his father’s affection and attention, and is clearly suffering from the recent loss of his mother. Despite this, Atreus does prove himself to be a worthy warrior during the course of the game, and by its end, many players felt a strong connection with the boy, mirroringKratos' own character journey.
By the timeGod of War Ragnarokrolls around, Atreus is more than capable of defending himself and his family and friends, but he has an overwhelming feeling that he belongs somewhere, and that his purpose is something greater than just surviving in the woods with his father. WhenGod of War Ragnarokwraps up, Atreus has found that purpose, choosing to seek out the rest of his giant kin with Angrboda. Though the moment of leaving Kratos itself is a tear-jerker, it also feels satisfying and earned, and Atreus finally embracing his identity is the closest thingGod of War Ragnarokhas to a happy ending.
Kratos Becomes the God He Never Thought He Could Be
Quickly following on from those final moments with Atreus inGod of War Ragnarok, Kratos gets his own bittersweet, almost happy ending. For practically the entire franchise, Kratos has been primarily portrayed as a figure of pure vengeance, often only showing extreme anger. 2018’sGod of Wargave fans a much calmer, and more understanding Kratos, albeit one that’s still struggling with solo fatherhood and the fear that his son will become just like him. When Atreus takes his leave inGod of War Ragnarok, it’s clear that all of Kratos' fears have subsided, and the two share a wonderful moment of understanding and genuine familial love. This moment is only made better when Kratos finds a giant-painted mural of himself being worshiped and revered by humans, an ending that he never thought he would be able to achieve.
Thrud Takes on Her Father’s Mantle
Though her journey is filled with plenty of tragic moments, Thrud’s very last appearance inGod of War Ragnarokis another ending that could almost be considered as happy. After seeing her father Thor killed in Ragnarok by Odin, Thrud reunites with her mother Sif, and the two begin the long journey of healing together. Following this, players can find Thrud in the Alfheim desert, where Thor’s hammer Mjolnir has landed. After taking a moment to tell her father that she’ll make him proud,Thrud takes Mjolnir, and launches into the sky. Though the inciting incidents are tragic, Thrud taking on her father’s mantle is the perfect encapsulation of the series' cycle of violence and vengeance coming to an end.
God of War Ragnarokis available on PS4 and PS5.
