Summary
Before he cemented his position as a fierce warrior and the ultimateGod of War, Kratos, like other Greek gods, has always been plagued by the troubles that come with mortality. The aspects of emotional vulnerability and manipulation, whether they deal withKratoshimself or those close to him, have not only given us one of the most nuanced characterizations in video games but have also allowed players to witness the complexity of his journey toward redemption and self-discovery.
Underneath all the stern expressions on Kratos’ face, the tough shell of his white ashen skin, and his battle-hardened physique, there lies a human aspect, one that is susceptible to weaknesses challenging his reputation as theGod of War, but not necessarily his reputation as a relentless protector of others. It is all of these most significant weaknesses that paint the character of Kratos with depth and richness to show his tormented journey in all facets of humanism.
5Illusions
Kratos has had a tragic past, to say the least. Every time, any character brings back those haunting memories, especially his foes, Kratos’ blood starts coursing through his veins. The immediate regret, rage, and despair that entails from these“visions” of Kratos’ pastis something his greatest enemies can exploit and use to their advantage.
Numerous instances exist throughout theGod of Wargames to demonstrate this. InGod of War 3,Hera muddles the focus of Kratos by bringing backpast illusions of his murdered family, ultimately weakening him in battle.God of War 2has more “nightmare” moments riddled throughout, filling Kratos with guilt and challenging his resolve.God of War: Ascensionsees the Furies set up an illusionary trap for Kratos, causing him to suffer from visions of his past in Sparta.
TheGod of Wartitle in 2018 sees more of these tormenting illusions return to toy with Kratos’ emotions. Navigating through the Mirror Realms often reminds Kratos of his violent past as the Ghost of Sparta, while the goddess Athena offers conflicting advice to urge Kratos towards his possible violent fate. The Sisters of Fate return from God of War 2 (albeit the Norse variation this time) inGod of War: Ragnarök,recalling his troubled actions of the past and reiterating the consequences he must face in the future. All of these illusions disturb the physical and emotional comfort of Kratos as he becomes more tense and weak, whether it’s in the heat of battle or outside it.
4Atreus
Another form of manipulation employed by the many foes of Kratos is when they choose to single out Kratos’ living son,Atreusinstead of his deceased family of the past. Anyone who has playedGod of War(2018) and its sequel knows how pivotal Atreus is, not just to the whole story, but to Kratos individually as the God of War aspires to leave his troubled past behind for a chance at becoming a responsible and protective father.
InGod of War(2018), early sections of the game contain visions of Atreus’ death causing Kratos to always be vigilant and on the run for a safer refuge for themselves. This emotional connection between father and sonis directly targeted byBaldurwho threatens Atreus’ life provoking Kratos in battle. The Dark Elves also create illusions directly concerning Atreus to show him being in distress, thereby weakening Kratos’ focus in battle and bringing down his combat effectiveness.
InGod of War Ragnarök, there is the whole matter ofOdinexploiting the riftsbetween Atreus and Kratos, in an attempt to use Atreus against his own father. Kratos’ rightful care and dedication to protect Atreus at all cost, turns into a weakness to be exploited by his foes throughout the Norse saga.
3Vengeance
Much of Kratos’ violent suffering and trauma can be attributed to his quest for quenching the thirst for vengeance. Though revenge is critical to the character of Kratos, it is also one of his bigger weaknesses, plunging him deeper into chaos and the endless cycle of violence. Much of the firstGod of Wardeals with Kratos trying to exact revenge on the gods of Olympus.God of War: Ghost of Spartatakes a similar turn with Kratos seeking vengeance against the godswho separated him from his brother,Deimos.
This cycle of vengeance continues intoGod of War II, with Kratos being blinded by seeking revenge againstZeus, culminating in a brutal war against the gods of Olympus inGod of War 3. God of War: Ascensionsees Kratos set a new goal of vengeance against Furies who torment him for breaking his oath toAres.
Although revenge remains the central motivation for Kratos in the earlierGod of Wargames, it is also an attribute that comes at a great cost leading Kratos to suffering and emotional turmoil, ultimately weakening his resolve.
2Elemental attacks
Throughout theGod of Warseries, enemies of Kratos find a way to apply certain status effects orelemental weaknesseson him. These weaknesses are significant purely from a gameplay perspective. Across the different installments, Kratos must face challenges like immobility caused by icy attacks, continuous burn damage due to fire attacks, temporary stun state inflicted by electricity attacks, and impairment of abilities due to poison damage.
God of War (2018) and Ragnarökintroduce a couple of new status ailments that can potentially weaken Kratos’ combat effectiveness. These include the build-up of “Bifrost” to do massive chunks of damage to Kratos' health and the “blind” status inflicted by Dark Elves to decrease Kratos’ visibility.
Theeffects of elemental attacksare more significant in boss battles as Kratos takes on the gods of Olympus. Ares’ fire attacks inGod of Warwhittle Kratos’ health down over a period of time, while Poseidon’s powerful water attacks inGod of War IIcan impair Kratos’ movement. Hades’ soul-based attacks inGod of War 2can adversely affect Kratos’ health and abilities. Finally, the main antagonist, Zeus, employs lightning attacks to electrocute Kratos (not too different from Thor inRagnarök)
1Rage
Kratos’ single biggest strength, but also his single biggest weakness remains his rage. The pure anger that stems out of Kratos, becomes an integral part of his motivation as he continues along his journey of vengeance, redemption, and transformation. The God of War’s rage is triggered on multiple occasions through Zeus’ taunts, Ares’ provocation of Kratos’ painful memories, and Baldur’s inability to feel pain. One of the Furies, Tisiphone inGod of War: Ascension, sparks Kratos’ fury by repeatedly using provocative comments.
Magni and Modi fromGod of War (2018)take a page from the playbook of triggering Kratos, by insulting and belittling him, once again putting Kratos into a state of uncontrollable anger and leaving him oblivious of some of the ways he can be vulnerable in battle. Although Rage is a power element to Kratos, both mechanically and narratively, once in that mode, Kratos can hardly see or value anything beyond violence. This makes him a threat to himself and those around him, even if it may be his close ones.
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