Highlights

  • Ratatoskr's inclusion in God of War Ragnarok sets a precedent for fun, comedic characters in future games within the franchise.
  • Despite initial pushback, Ratatoskr's friendly nature helps soften the devastating blows in the game's narrative.
  • Embracing the weird and humorous aspects of Norse mythology, like Ratatoskr, opens the door for even stranger stories in future games.

Kratos isn't much of a comedian in the God of War franchise. He's famously stoic in the recent Norse entries given his penchant for monosyllabic answers and frowns, but the games could be much more heavy in their tone if not for the side characters that provide levity and comic relief. In God of War Ragnarok, the Yggdrasil-dwelling squirrel Ratatoskr provides much-needed laughs during Kratos' and Atreus' journey across the Nine Realms.

Ratatoskr was almost excluded from the game entirely, but his inclusion has set an important precedent for future games: fun, comedic characters can be a part of the God of War formula. In fact, Ratatoskr opens the door for the more absurd aspects of mythology to be welcomed into the franchise. Norse mythology especially has some odd, even silly stories that could come into play thanks to Ratatoskr clearing the way.

God of War Ragnarok Kratos and Ratatoskr
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God of War Ragnarok: Why Ratatoskr Was Almost Not Included

According to Ragnarok director Eric Williams, there was some pushback on the inclusion of Ratatoskr. The game's music director was utterly thrown as to how to approach this sassy, talking squirrel meeting the dour Kratos. But Williams insisted on Ratatoskr's inclusion and him being voiced by YouTube personality SungWon "ProZD" Cho. Though certain scenes, including a rap battle in the style of Norse flyting, were cut for being too contrary to God of War's usual tone, Ratatoskr was ultimately accepted and enjoyed by many players.

Despite there being a lot of death and destruction throughout, God of War Ragnarok's Ratatoskr helps to prevent some of this chaos and clean up after it inevitably happens. His friendly, comedic nature helps to soften otherwise devastating blows that the narrative deals. In the end, knowing that Ratatoskr is around to care for and guard Yggdrasil, players don't have to worry about the World Tree falling and taking the Nine Realms with it.

Weird Norse Stories Are Fair Game in God of War

There are some comedies amid all the tragic stories described throughout Norse mythology. Some of them are even stranger than a gossiping squirrel running up and down the World Tree. In the original Norse myths, Ratatoskr was something of a troublemaker. He would ferry insults from the eagles at the top of the Yggdrasil to the roots where the dragon Nidhogg dwells. He would encourage this rivalry, even to the point that Nidhogg began to chew on the World Tree's roots out of anger.

Now that Ratatoskr is included in the lore of the games, he opens up the way to even stranger stories, like Thor's brief time as a blushing bride. In the ancient stories, Thor's hammer Mjolnir was stolen by a giant who demanded to marry the beautiful and powerful Freya. Loki dressed Thor up in Freya's best dress and took him to the wedding in Freya's place, where they nearly went through with the ceremony before Thor revealed himself, retrieved Mjolnir, and proceeded to slaughter the whole of the wedding party.

Other cultures' myths are just as rife with weird, but ancient tales. Since the series departed from the world of Greek mythology and entered the Nine Realms of Norse mythology, fans have speculated that Kratos could one day move on to yet another culture's mythological world.

The fact that the God of War franchise has embraced some of the stranger parts of Norse mythos, namely Ratatoskr, paves the way for Kratos to encounter the oddities found elsewhere.

There is no word as to what is next for Kratos and Atreus. There have been rumors of a third game in the modern series and a possible half-sequel, but until Santa Monica gives the official word, fans aren't yet sure when, if ever, they will again enjoy Ratatoskr's banter and the new tone he brings to the games.