In the pantheon of video game protagonists, Kratos is up there with Mario and Master Chief. The original “God of War” in 2005 introduced players to the ruthless Spartan warrior molded by savagery and haunted by his past. Subsequent titles throughout the 2000s and early 2010s saw Kratos carve a bloody path through Greek mythos. The narrative in these early games often took a back seat to the theatrical boss fights and brutal combat. At their best, these games portray a deeply troubled man reckoning with the monster he’s become; at their worst, they cement Kratos as a caricature of barbarity.
2018’s “God of War” rebooted the series and marked the beginning of a more serious take on the brutal anti-hero — one that’s been met with near-universal acclaim for its portrayal of themes of fatherhood and redemption.
“I think a lot of people going in [to the reboot] had felt like Kratos was a pretty irredeemable character,” said Matt Sophos, narrative lead on the latest entry in the series, “God of War Ragnarok.” “Going into the last one and then ['Ragnarok'], you know, we evolved that hopefully in most people’s eyes.”
Longtime fans were quick to portray the franchise’s tonal shift as the “daddification” of Kratos; the change corresponded with the introduction of his son, Atreus, who accompanies his father through the realms of Norse mythology.
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