The much-needed deviation to Norse mythology in 2018’sGod of Warwas a stroke of genius from Santa Monica Studio, as it gave Kratos the reinvention he so desperately needed. Previous entries are by no means bad, but the franchise lacked the narrative quality and lovable characters that were being crafted by other studios under Sony’s umbrella.God of War Ragnarokpromises to end the Norse saga, and the previous game’s stellar reputation means it has a lot to live up to.God of Warleft some realms undiscovered, and finally seeing them in all their glory is one of the reasons why fans are excited.
God of War Ragnarokwill take players to the realms that were absent the first time around, and perhaps the one most in-demand is Asgard, home of the Aesir and the seat of the mighty Odin. Asgard has become familiar to fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but asGod of War Ragnaroklooks to forge its own path with its own tone, the overbearing draw of the MCU should be resisted entirely.God of Warproved that the Norse mythology toy box can be interpreted in different ways, and it’s clear that Santa Monica’s masterpiece doesn’t cater to the same audience as Marvel’s film offerings.
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God of War’s Bleakness is its Strength
God of War’s Norse venturesare somber, serious, and dark in tone. Uplifting moments are sprinkled in to craft some strong narrative moments, but the tone of the 2018 game is very different from the quasi-comedy movies of the MCU. Bringing Kratos to an Asgard that looks polished, untouched, and bright would feel like he was a fish out of water. The wayGod of Warremade Alfheim, the realm of the Light Elves, was beloved by fans, taking a setting that is separate from the game’s main path and merging it with the bleak feeling of the story. It balanced the light and the dark with relative ease, yet Asgard may prove to be more tricky.
Asgard in the MCU has shiny architecture, light as far as the eye can see, and CGI technology making it all possible. It facilitates the tone for theThorfilms, but Santa Monica looking for other sources of inspiration like the Prose Edda orcontemporary tales likeValkyrie Profilewould be a more natural fit.God of War’s Norse story only being spread across two releases shows that the developer understands the concept of restraint, but in being so short it has to leave a positive legacy, and veering away from Marvel for Asgardian inspiration is the right call.
Asgard is More than Just its People
At the close of2017’sThor: Ragnarok, the state of Asgard is unknown. New Asgard is founded in Norway with the people of the realm finding refuge in a small fishing village. It’s an interesting direction for the MCU to take, but after years of anticipation,God of War Ragnarokhas to present an Asgard that is epic in visuals and diverse in its inhabitants. It’s the home of the great and old Norse gods, so merging modern comforts with ancient sensibilities would do well to capture all sides of the realm. Including essential places like the sweeping rainbow bridge would putGod of Warin line with well-known retellings of the mythology. This would ensure it’s not just a generic setting for the gods to call home, as it can tend to feel like in the MCU.
God of War Ragnarokhas a plethora of interesting storiesand characters that it could use which will make it difficult to capture the full magic of Norse mythology. Some inclusions like Skol, Hati, and Tyr are confirmed, and Asgard has the potential to be the perfect cherry atop theGod of Warcake. Asgard may be the most familiar to fans for its appearance in a handful of Marvel films, but that’s not to say that Santa Monica’s latest efforts should be swayed by its success.
God of War Ragnaroklaunches on August 05, 2025, on PS4 and PS5.
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