The God of War franchise has been an important part of the PlayStation first party lineup for almost two decades. Gracing every console since the original game launched on the PS2 in 2005, the many adventures of Kratos battling ancient gods and beasts have thrilled gamers to great success. The most recent entry, God of War: Ragnarok, scored another high point for the series earning multiple accolades and bringing the series' interpretation of Norse myth to its creative peak.
Upon reaching the conclusion of Ragnarok, many players got to see the long, difficult road that Kratos' life has put him on come to an emotional conclusion. In the closing moments of the game, Kratos is now seen as a loved god, finally rising above all the heartache and loss he's experienced in his life. It's unclear where the God of War series will go next, but one more game following Kratos as he takes advantage of his positive new image would be a worthwhile venture.
Kratos As The Ghost of Sparta
Years before his redemptive arc in the most recent God of War games set in Norse mythology, Kratos was famous for all the worst reasons. Known as the "Ghost of Sparta", Kratos was a brutal warrior endowed with special powers from the Ares, the God of War. Chained to Ares both figuratively and literally (by his Blades of Chaos), Kratos was used as a weapon, pointed in a direction simply to destroy everything in his path.
Needless to say, Kratos looks back on this time of his life with a great deal of regret and sadness. His actions during this period killed countless innocents, including his own wife and child, not to mentioned destruction of numerous towns and cities. Even his quest for revenge in God of War 3 ultimately led to chaos and disaster in Greece, his homeland. The next time players see Kratos chronologically is in 2018's God of War, as he attempts to pursue a peaceful life. Now with a brighter future ahead at the end of Ragnarok, Kratos can return to Greece to right the many wrongs of his past.
Bringing Kratos' Redemption in God of War to a Close
In order to bring Kratos' redemption full circle, allowing him to return to his roots in Greece would be a fantastic way to finally send off the character. The last time we saw Greece, it was in complete shambles, having been left to ruin in the wake of Kratos' epic battles against the Greek gods of Olympus. With his newfound status as a respected and loved god, Kratos can use this reputation to rebuild his home from the ashes of his war fueled by endless vengeance.
There are surely still a wealth of Greek monsters and gods that Santa Monica Studio have yet to tap into for a future God of War game. Perhaps Kratos returns to Greece and sees a new threat looking over the wreckage of his old world, enslaving the survivors and manipulating its landscape into a new wretched form. This prompts Kratos to engage in one final battle against a corrupt god, coming out on top as a savior and new leader for his people.
It's been a long, hard journey for Kratos across the God of War franchise. He's dragged himself out of hell several times, watched loved ones die and fought towering enemies. However, allowing him to return to where he began and have a chance to redeem the many wrongs he comitted would be an immensely satisfying conclusion both narratively and thematically. After giving Kratos this final swan song, God of War will feel truly free to venture off and explore entirely new characters and plot lines in later games.
