ModernGod of Waris defined by several factors, not the least of which being its radical shift away from Greece and into the realms of the Nordic gods. In retrospect, this was a rather elegant creative choice by Santa Monica Studios, introducing a slew of interesting new ideas to theGod of Warlore while also ensuring that this distinct chapter of the franchise doesn’t retread old ground.
Now, it would appear thatGod of Waris revisiting its old haunts. According to Jeff Grubb of Giant Bomb, there’s anew GreekGod of Wargame in the works, unrelated to the long-rumored remasters of the original trilogy. Grubb claims that this new Greece-set game will be a “side-story,” making it more manageable post-Ragnarokand possibly serving as a stopgap before the next large-scale entry in the series. There’s certainly potential here, but there are also several risks, including a story that feels derivative and risk-averse: Kratos has already reckoned with his messy history in the last two games, not to mention theValhallaDLC. But one more mechanical, practical issue could pose a greater obstacle for this rumored project.
This Greek “side-story” would align with the olderrumors of aGod of Warhalf-sequel, which many assumed would be similar toSpider-Man: Miles Moralesin scope and ambition.
God of War’s Return to Greece Could Come With a Combat Problem
God of War’s Greek Pantheon Doesn’t Have Many Villains Left
Over the course of the Norse saga, Kratos has come to terms with his guilt and vowed to be a better, more responsible man moving forward, remembering his misdeeds but ultimately forgiving them. This is whatmodernGod of Waris all about, and returning to Greece could serve as a nice ribbon on this personal journey: Kratos could apply what he has learned in a direct and practical manner, helping to rebuild the damage he caused and possibly make amends with certain injured parties. This could make for a great narrative, but what about gameplay?
For better or worse,God of Warlives and dies on the back of its combat. Puzzles and story content are all well and good, but if Kratos has no one to fight, then there’s not going to be a whole lot of meat on the bone, as it were. The problem is, Kratos has decimated most of the Greek pantheon already, devastating Greece itself in the process. In short, there are painfully few enemy forces for Kratos to oppose. And if he were to go toe-to-toe with the remaining gods, such as Artemis or Aphrodite, it would greatly undermine his personal journey in the Norse saga, as he would just be visiting more destruction on his homeland.
A Greek God of War Could Introduce a New Pantheon
There could be a clever solution to the aforementioned narrative and combat issues: introducing a new suite of gods. There has long been speculation about whereGod of Warcould take players next, as the series has already set a precedent for multiple coexisting mythologies, while directly referencing some. If there really is going to beanother GreekGod of War, Santa Monica could opt to make one of these new pantheons the villains, taking advantage of Greece’s vulnerable state, thereby prompting Kratos to return as a savior.
This approach would kill (at least) two birds with one stone: Kratos would have new enemies to fight, and he would be able to redeem himself as a hero rather than a vengeful force of destruction. In the process, Santa Monica could tee up thenext chapter in theGod of Warstory, integrating yet another real-world mythology.
God of War Ragnarok
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Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting goFrom Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.
