In God of War Ragnarok, a player has noticed a small but significant detail that highlights Kratos' fierce protectiveness of his son and his deep-seated mistrust of the Aesir.
The Kratos seen in God of War and its sequel, God of War: Ragnarok, is a character who prioritizes the safety of others above his own desires. A small but telling detail from his first encounter with Odin in the latter game illustrates this change in Kratos' character. In earlier games, Kratos was driven primarily by revenge and his own interests, only showing a softer side to certain characters like Athena and Pandora. However, as the saying goes, "with age comes wisdom," and Kratos has grown to be more protective of his son, Atreus, and cautious in ensuring that he does not suffer the same fate as Kratos' daughter, Calliope.
God of War: Ragnarok picks up three years after the events of the previous game, as Kratos and Atreus set out on a new journey to potentially prevent Ragnarok and save the Nine Realms from destruction. Standing in their way are Odin and Thor, who are also looking for a way to save Asgard from Ragnarok, even at the cost of the other realms. In a scene where Odin attempts to reach an agreement with Kratos and Atreus to keep them from getting involved, Reddit user Rainbozuka noticed a small detail which most players may have missed. As Odin puts his hand on Atreus' shoulder, Kratos quickly reaches for his Leviathan Axe to protect his son, showing his distrust of Odin and the Aesir.
It is small details like this that have endeared players to the latest entries in the God of War series and how Kratos' character has evolved over time. From a character driven by hatred and revenge to one who is ashamed of his past actions and willing to risk his relationship with his son to keep a secret, Kratos has grown and changed, and players can expect to see more moments like this in future games.
God of War: Ragnarok is available for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.