Highlights
- The depth and development of characters in God of War: Ragnarok continue the tradition of intriguing individual stories within RPGs.
- Mimir's overconfidence and oversight allow Odin to spy on the group and nearly foil their plans in the game.
- These flaws may be frustrating at times, and Mimir's past actions could disappoint players, but they also make him a more well-rounded and interesting member of the cast.
Character diversity is an essential component of RPG gaming, and developers find creative and perhaps humorous ways to fill up a title's cast to appeal to a broad audience. Franchises often feed gamers with tales of self-assured characters falling from grace and others who seem unassuming rising to the top since the underdog storyline still reigns supreme in narrating. The God of War franchise exemplifies this dynamic, as players have followed Kratos on his journey to cast down entire pantheons from their lofty positions through the years. With God of War: Ragnarok, journeying through the Nine Realms with Kratos and Atreus on their quest to thwart Odin thrusts Mimir into the spotlight, and the story progression reveals the character gets in his way and can be considered his own worst enemy.
The individual stories of characters in the God of War saga have intrigued fans since the first iteration, and the sheer depth of God of War: Ragnarok's participants continued the franchise's longstanding tradition. The development of characters like Sindhi and Angrboda in the latest installment was a pleasure for fans to witness, as the latter played a much-expanded role in Ragnarok's events after a maligned appearance in God of War 2018. However, the fantasy tale of the Nordic end of the world isn't kind to many cast members, and Mimir - for all his self-acclaimed wisdom - would've been better off paying attention to details, as his oversight nearly cost Kratos and Atreus dearly.
Overconfidence is Mimir's Downfall in Ragnarok
In God of War 2018, Kratos and Atreus first met Odin's former advisor Mimir at Midgard's peak, the place of his imprisonment by the All-Father for 109 winters. The God of War sets him free from his post by severing his head as he promises to show the father-son duo how to enter into the tallest peak of all the realms located in Jotunheim. Mimir joins Kratos and Atreus on their quests, lending his vast knowledge of the realms' workings in a testament to his touted reputation as the smartest man alive throughout their journey in God of War 2018. Although he wasn't without his shortcomings, like his inability to detect the reason behind Baldur's hunt for Kratos and Atreus at first, Mimir proved his worth time and again in the title, proving crucial in Kratos' fight with Baldur.
In Ragnarok, Mimir continues his consultancy role with the duo as they seek out Tyr, the God of Justice. In characteristically flippant fashion, Mimir believes Tyr is dead but is proven wrong with evidence the three find that indicates otherwise. Locating Tyr becomes the crux of Kratos and Atrus' purpose, and with the help of Durlin, they find the god in one of Svartalfheim's mines. However, there's a twist the group didn't see coming despite Mimir's abilities, as Odin was masquerading as Tyr to gain the trust of Kratos and the others and learn their plans. The All-Father's ruse fooled the group, and players only figured out his identity after he murdered Brok in a rage.
Given Mimir's near-omniscient reputation, his inability to see through Odin's facade confused many gamers, and the reason behind his oversight is unclear. However, this is not an isolated event, and he also couldn't see Baldur's intentions in the early portion of God of War: Ragnarok. Mimir expressed his disappointment with not recognizing the All-Father and regret for not exploring the imposter's wardrobe, where he would have come upon Odin's raven companion.
The Norse God's advisor, in his overconfidence in his abilities, unwittingly allowed Odin to spy on the group for almost the entire game, nearly throwing a wrench in their plans. Mimir's past involvement with the enslavement of the dwarves and the pollution-riddled Nidavellir may have weighed on him, perhaps leading him to ignore the warning bells and join hands quickly with Tyr, dulling his once-keen deduction skills, and making himself the tool for his downfall in God of War: Ragnarok.
God of War Ragnarok is available for PS4 and PS5.
