After a long wait, God of War: Ragnarok’s release date has finally been revealed, and gamers now know that they will be able to explore the frosty Nine Realms in November. After the events of 2018’s God of War, plenty of dangers await Kratos and Atreus. Fimbulwinter has arrived, which means the apocalyptic events of Ragnarok are just around the corner. While Kratos and Atreus try to stop Ragnarok from happening, they also must deal with gods with are out for vengeance, including Thor and Freya.
Throughout the God of War franchise, Kratos has gone up against several enemies, some so large that Kratos is only the size of their fingernails. However, Freya still seems like she will be a formidable foe, especially if she is in cahoots with Thor. Despite her ferocity, it is likely that Freya will be depicted in a somewhat sympathetic manner in God of War: Ragnarok, and that players will find themselves empathizing with her. The reasons for her rage are, to some degree, understandable, and players have spent enough time with her to know that she has a good side, too.
Freya Is Carrying a Lot of Pain
Freya is introduced in 2018’s God of War, and the goddess is the ex-wife of Odin and the mother of Baldur. She becomes the Queen of Valkyries, but after she parts ways with Odin, he seeks revenge by stripping her of her Valkyrie wings and hiding them. Left with nothing, she pours all her love into her son, Baldur. To prevent harm from ever coming his way, she places a spell on him which makes him invulnerable. Unfortunately for Baldur, this turns out to be both a blessing and a curse. Although he is protected from pain and injuries, the spell also prevents him from experiencing positive feelings such as taste. Consequently, Baldur grows resentful towards his mother.
Baldur begs his mother to remove the spell, but Freya claims she is unable to. However, Freya is likely aware that mistletoe breaks the spell, though she does not tell Baldur. Eventually, Kratos and Baldur cross paths after Odin sends Baldur to kill Kratos. Battles between Baldur and Kratos are ferocious, but Kratos always manages to make it out alive, though he is unable to defeat Baldur. Meanwhile, Freya is quite pleasant to Kratos, and she even helps him to cure Atreus when he falls ill. Freya and Kratos see a lot of themselves in each other, and though they never fully let their guard down, they learn to trust each other.
Their relationship comes to an end during Baldur’s last showdown with Kratos. Baldur is exposed to mistletoe, which destroys his invulnerability, finally putting him and Kratos on equal footing. It is an epic showdown that ends with Kratos killing Baldur, for if he did not, Baldur would have killed Freya. Kratos has seen too much parricide among the gods, and he is adamant that the cycle must end.
Rather than be grateful that Kratos saved her life, Freya is livid, and she vows to seek revenge against Kratos. It is possible to understand why Freya feels the way she does; after a life of hardships, Baldur was the one thing left that she had to live for, and her love for him was so strong that she was willing to die for him, even if it was at his hands. She is an overprotective mother who wants no harm to come to her son, and she is so blinded by her love that she is unable to see the bad side of her son or appreciate that Kratos saved her.
Players Have Seen the Good Side of Freya
Recent God of War Ragnarok art released by PlayStation Arabia depicts Kratos and Atreus in an epic battle with Freya which suggests that players can expect a monumental showdown between them in the game. Usually, it is quite satisfying to take down Kratos’ foes. However, things may be a little different with Freya.
In 2018’s God of War, players get to spend a little time with Freya, and they realize that she is not a one-dimensional villain. She helps Kratos and Atreus several times, including by placing marks on them so that they will be hidden from the Norse gods, and by resurrecting Mimir’s head. Freya also takes special interest in Atreus’ welfare, and she constantly advises Kratos to tell Atreus that he is a descendent of the gods. Through these moments, players learn that Freya can be a helpful and caring goddess, although she does have her flaws.
Her rage is ultimately fueled by her love for her son, and however twisted her logic may be, she believes that by hunting down Kratos, she is avenging his death. None of this excuses Freya’s bloodthirst, nor does it erase the fact that she cursed her son to feel nothing. Nevertheless, analyzing Freya’s character makes it apparent that she is not fueled by hate but rather by love. She is more like an incensed mother bear than a nefarious demon. If players do end up battling Freya, it will likely not be quite so satisfying to bring about her demise, and Kratos will probably not be keen to do it either. Hopefully, Freya has a change of heart before her encounters with Kratos become deadly.
Pre-orders for God of War: Ragnarok go live on July 15th, and players will be able to choose from several editions, including a God of War: Ragnarok Jotnar Edition which contains a 7-inch vinyl record with music by Bear McCreary, the Legendary Draupnir Ring, Brok’s Dice Set, a Yggdrasil Cloth Map, and a 16-inch Mjölnir Replica, among other cool items. Soon enough, players will get to return to the Nine Realms and bring Kratos' journey in Norse mythology to a close. Although Freya positions herself as a foe, players will likely have a hard time defeating her, as her backstory is a sad one.
God of War: Ragnarok is scheduled to release on November 9, 2022 on PS4 and PS5.
