Warning: Major spoilers ahead for God of War Ragnarok's Valhalla DLC.Announced seemingly out of nowhere at the 2023 Game Awards, God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla was initially described as a new free DLC heading to the game that would give players a roguelike mode. But God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla is so much more than that. Before its release, many fans thought that Valhalla would just have one or two cutscenes, one at the start and one at the end of the DLC, and that would be it. However, they were sorely mistaken.

God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla has so much more story than anyone was expecting. Not only are there multiple cutscenes dotted throughout Valhalla, with full motion-capture from multiple characters, but there are also brand-new lines of dialogue that play throughout the mode, often filling the would-be silence between each combat encounter with Mimir trying to help Kratos along his journey of self-reflection. As if that wasn't enough, Santa Monica has gone even further, using this DLC to directly tie together the Greek and Norse God of War sagas, with one Greek god making a special return.

God of War Ragnarok Valhalla Kratos Mid Swing-1
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God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla's Helios Cameo Explained

Helios' Role in The God of War Greek Saga

The Greek God of the Sun, and the literal embodiment of it, Helios makes a few pretty memorable appearances in the original God of War series. First introduced in 2007's God of War 2, Helios appears alongside Poseidon, Hades, Hermes, and Zeus right at the end of the game, being one of the few to witness the oncoming Titan invasion of Mount Olympus. Helios then played much more of a prominent role in God of War: Chains of Olympus, where he acted as the story's primary motivation. Having been kidnapped by Morpheus, Helios must be rescued by Kratos in order to wake the gods from their sudden slumber.

But by far Helios' most iconic God of War appearance can be found in 2010's God of War 3. Following directly on from God of War 2's ending, Helios participates in the battle against Kratos and the Titans, before eventually getting crushed in the Titan Perses' hand and thrown into the city below. Kratos eventually finds Helios lying injured on the ground, and after wiping out the soldiers that are protecting him, he goes to finish the job. Despite his desperate pleas, Kratos moves to rip Helios' head from his shoulders in what's become one of the franchise's most infamous moments.

Helios' Role in God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla

After a few attempts at trying to conquer Valhalla, players will encounter a familiar face. Taking the place of Mimir, Helios' decapitated head appears suddenly on Kratos' belt, where he proceeds to taunt and tease the God of War for his past actions. As Kratos makes his way through Valhalla, Helios makes several appearances, mocking him the entire time and bringing all of his insecurities to light, acting as another way for Valhalla to get Kratos to reflect and accept his past.

Helios' God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla cameo was completely unexpected, and it becomes an immediate highlight of the DLC. And thanks to another excellent performance by Crispin Freeman, the same man behind Helios' God of War 3 voice, Helios becomes a highlight even for those who haven't played the original Greek God of War saga, pushing Kratos' character arc forward while also recapping the events of that original series in a natural way.