Kratos easily ranks among the most iconic video game characters ever. The God of War protagonist is famous among not only avid PlayStation fans, but the larger gaming community. Part of that comes from his anger and stalwartness. He's always ready for a fight, and he's sure to finish it in the most brutal manner imaginable. This gift for violence has helped him defeat countless would-be adversaries, whether they be god or mortal. Kratos takes down anyone in his way, making him an extremely cathartic power fantasy for gamers everywhere. It just feels good to play as an unstoppable force of vengeance.
Despite first impressions, the Ghost of Sparta has also grown from his experiences, going from a merciless killer to a contemplative father. That change is reflected in his dialogue. Kratos has surely spouted some scary threats; he's also imparted some truly thoughtful wisdom. They say actions speak louder than words, but these words leave quite an impact.
Updated September 10, 2021 by Joseph Heindl: Kratos easily ranks among the most iconic video game characters ever. The God of War protagonist is famous among not only avid PlayStation fans, but the larger gaming community. Part of that comes from his anger and stalwartness. He's always ready for a fight, and he's sure to finish it in the most brutal manner imaginable. This gift for violence has helped him defeat countless would-be adversaries, whether they be god, mortal, or even other game characters. Kratos takes down anyone in his way, making him an extremely cathartic power fantasy for gamers everywhere. It just feels good to play as an unstoppable force of vengeance.
Despite first impressions, the Ghost of Sparta has also grown from his experiences, going from a merciless killer to a contemplative father. That change is reflected in his dialogue. Kratos has surely spouted some scary threats; he's also imparted some truly thoughtful wisdom. They say actions speak louder than words, but these words leave quite an impact.
13 "I Have Been Away Far Too Long."
Among the only memorable scenes in God of War: Ascension is a vision of the past. Kratos seemingly comes home to his wife and daughter, cracking a smile for the first and only time in the series. He then laments his own absence in his family's lives.
On one hand, this refers to his literal absence during his life as a Spartan commander. He was always concerned with glory rather than his loved ones. More so than that, this line carries more pathos as his happy times become distant memories. Kratos may want to forget his traumas, but he wouldn't trade moments like this for anything.
12 "You Succeeded."
Fans never forget their first godly victory. After conquering countless trials, finding Pandora's Pox, and crawling back from death itself, Kratos confronts Ares, the god who orchestrated his family's murder. The deity pleads for his life, stating that he was trying to make Kratos a great warrior. The Spartan agrees that this strategy worked before dealing the death blow.
It's a one-liner straight out of an action flick, adding a hilariously ironic twist to Ares's evil scheme. You reap what you sow after all. Kratos knows that all too well, and it's a lesson he happily teaches the God of War.
11 "A Spartan Never Lets His Back Hit The Ground."
Few lines epitomize God of War more than this. When the Ghost of Sparta prequel flashes back to Kratos sparring with his younger brother, Deimos, the kid furiously imparts this mantra about Spartan soldiers.
This idea of never faltering perfectly sums up his warrior mindset, killer physique, and unrelenting attitude toward every challenge. The fact that he's stuck to this code since childhood also shows the lifetime devotion he's had to it, which helps players buy his unbreakable resolve in the present.
10 "I Won't Take Your Riches, But I Will Take Your Life."
It's not often Kratos deals with human enemies. When the Persians invade Attica in Chains of Olympus, however, the gods task the Spartan with quelling this attack. He easily overwhelms their king, who begs for his life and offers his kingdom, women, and gold. Kratos responds by bashing the guy's skull in with one of his treasure chests.
On top of being a cool sendoff line, this shows the Ghost of Sparta's utter disdain for mortal toils. After all of the suffering and bloodshed, earthly riches mean nothing to him. Plenty of things are more important (yet ultimately unattainable for Kratos), so it's only appropriate that he spits in the face of such a petty offer.
9 "It Is All I Have, Atlas."
After imprisoning Atlas beneath the earth at the behest of the gods, Kratos prepares to continue his servitude to the Olympians, who promised to relieve him of the nightmares of his past. The titan asks the Spartan whether he can trust the word of the gods, to which Kratos replies that he has no other option.
This hammers home the desperation that permeates Kratos's life. He's placing his own sanity in the hands of the gods, knowing full well that it's a fool's hope. At the same time, the memories of his misdeeds are destroying him, so he feels he has no other option but to count on this act of mercy. He's a slave to the gods as well as his own circumstances.
8 "A Choice From The Gods Is As Useless As The Gods Themselves."
Even after joining their pantheon, Kratos despises the other gods for their pettiness and indifference toward everyday folks. Zeus thinks he's a loose cannon and promptly kills him at the start of God of War II. The King of Olympus tries to take the high ground, saying that Kratos didn't have to die had he chosen to respect the gods. Hacking up blood, the Spartan argues the futility of such a choice.
Not many people would have this resolve. The fact that Kratos spits his last breath at Zeus shows the true depths of his hatred. More than any battle or insult, this last moment proves this man is fundamentally against the gods and everything they stand for.
7 "Zeus, Your Son Has Returned. I Bring The Destruction Of Olympus."
Surprise, surprise. Zeus is Kratos's father. A big revelation like that would normally make the hero pause and reevaluate whether his target is really his enemy. Nope. If anything, Kratos becomes even more fixated on the Olympian king's downfall. God of War II concludes with the Spartan recruiting the Titans to his cause and leading a massive assault on Mount Olympus, mockingly declaring his heritage before the credits roll.
Now, that's a cliffhanger! Starting a war on this scale guarantees excitement, getting the battle-hardened players pumped for even grander things to come. In addition, let's not forget that Zeus killed Kratos (his own son) to prevent this very event. Bringing it about gives the Spartan the same ironic satisfaction he had against Ares. As such, his statement is a verbal middle finger that fulfills his father's fear.
6 "You Will Not See The End Of This Day."
During the grand finale of the original trilogy, Kratos confronts Zeus atop Mount Olympus. The Spartan boasts that neither the hands of death nor the Sisters of Fate could stop him. He then proclaims that Zeus won't see another sunrise.
For fans who followed the series, it's satisfying to recount some of their greatest accomplishments. After all they went through in the previous games, they've earned this climactic moment. Plus, this statement carries extra weight as a threat. Kratos is basically saying, "I've done the impossible time and time again. What chance do you have?". Even the folks at NetherRealm knew it was a scary line since they used it as an intro quote when Mortal Kombatincluded Kratos as a fighter.
5 "Hephaestus Did What Every Father Should: Protect His Child."
The smith god may have tried to kill Kratos, but the Spartan took no pleasure in his death. He actually liked Hephaestus to an extent. Both failed fathers cast out of Olympus, they were kindred spirits in many ways. Worried Kratos's quest would destroy his daughter, Pandora, the poor sap naturally places himself in harm's way as he did when Zeus came for her years before.
The Ghost of Sparta rarely reflects on those he's killed. To see him admit this small respect to Hephaestus is oddly refreshing yet perfectly in character. It's a welcome bit of humanity in an otherwise vengeful story, and it shows that Kratos has more dimension than meets the eye. He's not the mindless killing machine many make him out to be.
4 "My Vengeance Ends Now"
It's over. Kratos has slain the Olympian gods and brought ruin to the land. Now, in exchange for her help, Athena's spirit demands the power he claimed from Pandora's Box. She wants to remake the world as she sees fit. Given new perspective from Pandora herself, the Spartan instead pierces his own body with Blade of Olympus, releasing the power to the people of the world and concluding his pursuit of revenge.
Kratos has had a few turning points, but this line marks the transition from the bloodthirsty warrior of the old games to the regretful recluse of the recent reboot. That would be significant in itself, but it also works as the final moment of the original trilogy. It shows how far he's come since his early days. For once, he jumps into death willingly, trusting in a better tomorrow and delivering an unexpected yet fitting payoff.
3 "We Are Not Men. The Responsibility Is Far Greater."
As Kratos journeys with his son, Atreus, in 2018's God of War, it's only a matter of time before the kid learns of his true heritage. What's already a coming-of-age story now has the added twist of godhood as Kratos desperately tries to teach the need for restraint.
The line comes from not only his own regrets, but also the mistakes made by the other gods. He's seen firsthand how these beings become drunk on their own power and abuse those they deem inferior. Kratos has even fallen victim to this temptation. Given that weight, the pressure he puts on Atreus's growth feels justified. On top of that, it shows how much Kratos himself has changed.
2 "The Cycle Ends Here."
Consumed by vengeance, the Norse god Baldur tries to murder his mother, Freya. Kratos steps in at the last second, proclaiming that the cycle of violence must end before snapping the guy's neck.
This line carries plenty of weight on its own, but it's even more significant in the context of the other games. It's exactly what Zeus said to Kratos upon executing him. Fans know how that turned out. Will this come back to bite him the same way? Probably (especially considering Freya's reaction), but players just have to wait and see. Either way, harkening back to the man he hates the most could lead Kratos to an even darker place.
1 "The Ghost Of Sparta Bends To No Mortal."
Kratos may be a seasoned warrior, but this is a different arena than he's used to. During PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, he comes across Sweet Tooth of Twisted Metal fame. The Spartan's feeling especially mean today, so he knocks over the clown's ice cream cone. Sweet Tooth demands he pick it up, but Kratos adamantly refuses and challenges the masked maniac to a fight.
The fact that Kratos is so vehement about picking up the ice cream is just ridiculous. His tone suggests he sees it as a matter of honor. Yeah, it's a paper-thin reason for these two to go at it, which is the point. It's supposed to be silly. Their radically different speech patterns cement that, creating a farcical disconnect between their two cultures. That juxtaposition is most of this crossover's charm.