God of War Ragnarok's Director Eric Williams has given an explanation as to why Kratos can't wield Thor's iconic weapon, Mjolnir, in the game. Since it launched earlier this month, God of War Ragnarok has blown players away with its hard-hitting combat and weaponry. While seeing Kratos decimate enemies with the iconic weapon would have been a sight to behold, Williams provides solid reasoning.
The release of God of War Ragnarok has proven to be another massive success for developer Sony Santa Monica and fully lives up to the expectations set by its predecessor for many gamers. The game continues the story of Kratos and his son Atreus as they set off on an unforgettable journey across the nine realms in search of answers before Ragnarok. Kratos once again wields his trusty Leviathan Axe and the Blades of Chaos along with a third weapon that is unlocked in the game's final act.
In an interview with IGN's Beyond podcast, Williams went into detail about the decision-making process behind Kratos' arsenal of Norse weapons. Kratos and Thor's clash was heavily teased in God of War, and Mjolnir is perhaps one of the most well-known aspects of Norse mythology. For Williams though, he wanted a weapon that would subvert expectations and represent Kratos' status as a general which is why they went with the Draupnir Spear.
The weapon is also designed to be viewed as a parallel to Thor's Mjolnir with Williams referring to both as the "good and evil weapons" respectively. Williams further elaborated that the weapons reflected the two characters' mindsets. Thor tears Frost Giants apart with Mjolnir in a crazed battle lust, while Kratos' Draupnir Spear requires precision and represents "his will as a general with a thinking mindset." Williams ultimately felt that Mjolnir was too obvious a weapon for Kratos and that the Draupnir Spear better represented the character in his "end of everything campaign."
God of War's combat is impressive, and while Mjolnir could have been a worthy addition to Kratos' arsenal, it wouldn't fit the character's arc based on William's logic. The Norse Saga has transformed Kratos from a ruthless and bloodthirsty anti-hero to a protagonist with real depth. Equipping the Spartan with Mjolnir could very well have been a setback and further shows the dedication and care that Sony Santa Monica has shown the franchise by including subtle storytelling in gameplay mechanics.
God of War Ragnarok is out now on PS4 and PS5.
Source: IGN
