God of War (2018) is considered by many to be one of the PlayStation 4's best exclusive. Kratos' journey through Norse mythology is revered by fans and has been showered with praise by critics. It was a huge turning point for developer Santa Monica Studio, as before this project the company was working on a new sci-fi game in the hope of recovering from the lackluster sales of God of War: Ascension. Returning to the God of War franchise in 2018 resulted in something truly special, and its sequel God of War: Ragnarok has left fans curious.
With any sequel to a beloved game, expectations skyrocket. Detailed storytelling, increasingly elaborate puzzles, and improved visuals are what many presume will be included, and with a title as distinctive and epic as God of War: Ragnarok, the hope is that it will be bigger and better than ever. Much like Horizon Forbidden West did for the original, God of War's follow-up could present a larger, more carefully crafted world and story. As winter sets in and old enemies reemerge for Kratos and Atreus, there's every chance God of War: Ragnarok will be huge.
Ragnarok: The End of Days
Norse mythology, unlike Greek or Roman, has a pre-determined destiny for many of its figures. Ragnarok (loosely translating to "fate of the gods") is an event consisting of many events that result in the end of the world. God of War introduced players to some key figures in the mythology that have a substantial role to play in Ragnarok, and though the game takes artistic license in its depiction of Loki, there are pre-set occurrences that will likely be at the forefront of the game.
Fimbulwinter was teased at the end of God of War, with the land being submerged in snow. This is the first sign that the end is near, and with so many things happening during the events of Ragnarok, Santa Monica Studio will have a tough task of making it all fit into a cohesive story. Ragnarok has so many characters and smaller skirmishes that in order to do the event justice, it will likely require more than the 30 hours it took to roll credits on the first release. The game probably won't cover it all, but even a fraction of Ragnarok's epic story would be enough for dozens of hours of content.
Sequels Like God of War: Ragnarok Come With High Expectations
Development cycles are getting longer, and the wait between entries is often double what it used to be in previous generations. With such a significant amount of time between releases, the expectations of players get larger with each passing trailer. Batman: Arkham City, Mass Effect 2, and Red Dead Redemption 2 all built upon the foundations of the original, with the latter taking eight years to develop.
One of the main ways that developers look to improve upon their formulas is in level design. Expanding the environment to grant more opportunities and activities adds more longevity, and providing side-quests can massively increase the time it takes to finish. For example, The Last of Us 2 utilized similar gameplay mechanics to the first, but by bringing a more open-ended level design it was far longer than The Last of Us, meaning its impact was felt for longer.
God of War's Frequent Combat
Kratos' approach to combat has always been brash and unapologetic. Hacking and slashing his way through a litany of enemies, he's found success with numerous fighting styles across mythologies. With God of War: Ragnarok hinting at yet another different weapon for the character to use, the frequency of combat encounters will have to be plentiful, adding even more hours to the total play time. It's surely an exciting thought for fans, as the epic fights with towering enemies made for some of the best moments in God of War.
God of War (2018) also introduced a familiar weapon from the past to drastically alter combat. It's a power trip that is surely expected in God of War: Ragnarok, so with the leviathan axe and another new weapon looking likely, there has to be a significant portion of the game dedicated to battling, as well as the heavy emphasis on worldbuilding and storytelling.
A Realm For All Seasons
The nine realms in Norse mythology are known to many, but in 2018's God of War, players only got to see a few. Three aren't seen, and rarely mentioned, as Kratos and Atreus never set foot in the Vanir-inhabited Vanaheim, Svartalfheim, or the Aesir wonderland of Asgard. The latter is a location that many are interested to experience, and it can be expected that a large portion of the story will take place in the realm.
Though there are new areas to explore, players should still experience some of the realms that were featured in the first game. The fires of Muspelheim or the gorgeous pasel colors of Alfheim were a marvel, and for God of War: Ragnarok to omit them from the festivities would be a shame. Thor is feared in all nine realms, so Santa Monica Studio would do well to bring Kratos' rivalry with the God of Thunder to some familiar settings as well as new ones.
God of War was an ambitious game when it released four years ago. With its sequel set to arrive in 2022, the bar that the developer has to overcome is higher than ever. God of War: Ragnarok has more narrative threads to explore now that the wheels of destiny are in motion. Ragnarok is a huge event in mythology, and the need for a lengthier runtime and larger world is apparent as all the major players in Norse lore have a role to play in the impending calamity.
God of War Ragnarok is set to release on PS4 and PS5 in 2022.
