Highlights
- The heart of the God of War games lies in the developing relationship between Kratos and his son Atreus, though Atreus has the potential for a compelling solo adventure.
- Atreus's talkative nature contrasts with Kratos's silence, and if an Atreus-centric game is developed, it is likely that he will have companions to aid in his character development.
- With plenty of characters to choose from, like Angrboda, Thrud, and potential new additions, several companions could follow Atreus on his journey.
Sony has a stellar first-party line-up, but few can be viewed in the same way as Santa Monica's success story. The company's woes were well documented in the excellent Raising Kratos documentary, staving off significant problems by rejuvenating its reputation and restoring its industry-leading status with the excellent God of War and its 2022 sequel God of War: Ragnarok. Both games tell a grand tale in Norse mythology, while also being a very intimate affair.
The heart of God of War: Ragnarok and its predecessor is the developing relationship between the Ghost of Sparta and his child, Atreus. It was a questionable narrative decision given Kratos' tragic past, but Atreus shone from the opening scenes of the rebooted series. The chatter around the son's' future could suggest his story is far from over, and while a solo adventure would be a fresh change, the series and its creator are strong indicators that Atreus would get company.
God of War's Norse Adventure is a Sociable One
Though Kratos takes center stage, his journey across Midgard and the rest of the Norse realms is far from lonely, with personalities following him to the end of the earth and beyond. Each one is unique and puts the Spartan in a different position, as spending time with Mimir he becomes a history student, whereas being with Atreus he has to be the protective father. It does such a good job showing different sides of the protagonist, despite his regular reluctance to speak freely.
God of War: Ragnarok gave players sufficient time with Atreus away from his father, and even in these segments he was rarely alone. Getting to know Angrboda or dragging Sindri around against his better judgment are narrative decisions that go a long way to developing all the featuring characters and the world itself, as well as showing off the series' excellent voice acting and writing. Sony Santa Monica rarely leave their main characters without someone around, and it wouldn't make sense for the studio to start now given how Atreus often has a lot to say, much to the annoyance of dad.
Kratos is Little More than Mute, Atreus Loves to Chat
If God of War was a lonely affair, it would also be a very quiet one, as Kratos is far from chatty. It's an essential part of his character, making it so rewarding when he does decide to offer insight, wisdom, or information. Surprisingly, his son is more of an open book, as Atreus spends most of the 2018 game asking questions, and the second game searching for answers. He's a perfect contrast to Kratos, but the scenes away from his father are also compelling, and show that he's more than ready to carry a story of his own.
However, that doesn't mean that someone else can't have the same impact on him that he had on Kratos. Having a companion follow Atreus to wherever the developer decides to take him could be the catalyst for exploring sides of the character that are yet to be thought about, let alone explored in any depth. It's more than possible that he'll be given company if an Atreus-centric game ever comes to light, as it's a formula that the studio knows can work wonders.
If Santa Monica does decide to pivot to an Atreus-led adventure, it's hard to imagine that he will spend much of it alone, as he's always had the luxury of stalwart allies and menacing villains. Isolating him by not including a companion would be a waste of a good opportunity for great character development.
God of War Ragnarok is available now for PS4 and PS5.
