Maddy's World

Plot

The story begins shortly after the death of Jötunn warrior Faye. Her husband, Spartan warrior and former Greek God of War, Kratos and her son Atreus prepare a funeral pyre for her, mourn her death and soon go on a hunt as per Kratos' desire. However much to Kratos' disappointment, Atreus proves his incompetence and lack of focus, making Kratos reconsider them embarking on a journey to spread Faye's ashes at the highest peak of all nine realms. Kratos is soon attacked by a mysterious stranger who cannot physically feel pain or pleasure and after seemingly killing him, reluctantly takes Atreus with him and begins their journey.

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Kratos and Atreus soon encounter many hurdles in their journey and fend them off, they meet the Dwarven Huldra brothers, Brok and Sindri who upgrade their weaponry throughout their journey. They also a meet a mysterious but friendly Witch of the Woods who also provides help in her own way after they save her deer, which Atreus accidentally shot. They soon travel to the realm Alfheim and restore the Bifrost.

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Kratos and Atreus soon find out the Stranger who attacked them is alive and has two henchmen, the sons of Thor, Magniand Modi at his side, interrogating an imprisoned man. After freeing him, he reveals his identity as Mimir and claims to be the smartest man alive. He provides information about those who attacked him, revealing the Stranger as Baldur, an Aesir and son of Odin who is the paranoid All-Father and king of Asgard. After having his head resurrected by the witch revealed to be the Vanir goddess Freya, Kratos angrily leaves due to his distrust of gods as a result of his past. Both Freya and Mimir warn him to tell Atreus about his true nature as a God, which Kratos keeps a secret from him.

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Items and Abilities

Weapons

• Leviathan Axe: Kratos's primary weapon is a one-handed battle axe with frost magic properties. Leviathan can be immediately recalled by Kratos after being thrown. The axe originally belonged to Faye, a Jötnar and the wife of Kratos and mother of Atreus. The brothers Sindri and Brok crafted the axe long ago and assist Kratos in upgrading it, giving it higher strength and, with the right skills, the ability to freeze and slow down enemies.

• Kratos' Fists: Kratos's uses his fists in unarmed combat and can perform multiple hit combos.

• Talon Bow: Atreus' primary weapon is a magical bow and arrows. The bow has the ability to summon spectral animals to perform attacks and assist Kratos in combat. Later on, it can gain the ability to weaken or shock enemies, among other things when used in various parts of the environment.

• Guardian Shield: Kratos has a gauntlet that transforms into a circular shield for parrying blows and wide-ranged attacks. The shield can be used to block attacks, projectiles, and a well-timed block can parry enemies' attacks. The shield can be upgraded to perform powerful slams and area-of-effect attacks.

• Blades of Chaos: Midway through the game, Kratos returns to his cabin and reclaims his trademark weapon from the previous games. The blades, while weaker, offer wider and faster attacks than the Leviathan Axe to make up for it. They also channel the fire element, making them effective against Hel-Walkers and other enemies resistant to the axe's frost element. Upgrades to them will increase their runic power and give them the ability to burn enemies, sapping their health.

Relics

• Spartan Rage: After Kratos builds his rage meter, he can channel Spartan Rage in combat. This powerful transformation ignites flames onto the fists of Kratos. His speed is drastically increased and the power of his unarmed attacks is increased, as well as adding invulnerability (His rage meter depletes in place of his health when hit) and slow health regeneration. Spartan Rage has its own moveset which includes channeling shockwaves, performing ground slams, and thrown rocks and projectiles. However this robs him of the ability to use the Leviathan Axe or Blades of Chaos until his rage runs out. Collecting 3 Horns of Blood Mead can increase his maximum rage so he can stay in it longer. 

• Bifröst: a relic that can be used as a key to travel between the Nine Realms. The Realms of Muspelheim, Alfheim and Niflheim can be unlocked by getting their respective realm rune ciphers whereas Helheim, Jötunheim are unlockable through progress. The only realms locked are Asgard, Vanaheim and Svartalfheim.

• Head of Mimir: The head of Mimir is severed by Kratos during the events of the game after which the character itself becomes a constant ally and companion to Kratos and Atrreus.  While the head doesn't actually have any gameplay elements, he can be used for unlocking certain content and lore.

• Stone Masons Chisel Tip: Kratos can use this open doors locked behind magic gates.

Artifacts

• Armor Sets: Armor sets consist of a combination of wrist, chest, and waist armor. Krato's can uncover armor from chests in the world, defeating powerful enemies, and by purchasing from the shops of Brok or Sindri.

• Boat: Kratos and Atreus use a boat to navigate across the Lake of Nine among other places.

Choose Difficulty

• Give Me A Story

• Give Me A Balanced Experience

• Give Me A Challenge

• Give Me God of War

Characters

• Kratos: The main character of the game. After the events of God of War III, Kratos seemed to have moved to Scandinavia and has started a family. He has become older and wiser, and he has better control over his temper, his actions are no longer simply based on rage and anger, and he shows moments of regret at lashing out. However, he does this to discipline his son and tells him that not to be sorry, but be better.

• Atreus: The son of Kratos and Faye, Atreus is a young boy who accompanies Kratos on his journey. He is taught how to hunt early in the game and is shown to be impulsive and undisciplined. He has the ability to read runic writings and is more knowledgeable about the world and its inhabitants than Kratos. He is unaware of the god status of Kratos. He is eventually revealed to be also named Loki, the mythological God of Mischief.

• Baldur/The Stranger: The main antagonist of the game. A man who attacks Kratos at his own home. He is tattooed with runes which gives him the strength equal to Kratos. Later, he is revealed to be Baldur, the son of Odin and Freya who was enchanted with invulnerability with the side-effect of being incapable of feeling sensations, pain or pleasure.

• Faye: The mother of Atreus and second wife of Kratos. She dies shortly before the events of the game. 

• Jörmungandr: Also known as the World Serpent, this mythical creature is the last of the Jötnar and is discovered by Kratos and Atreus in the Lake of Nine in Midgard. He has a fierce hatred for Thor and the two are destined to kill each other during Ragnarok.

• Freya/The Witch in the Woods: Encountered shortly after Kratos and Atreus embark on their adventure. She immediately senses that Kratos is a god. She assist the pair on their adventure, assisting them in traveling between worlds. Later, she is revealed to be Freya, one of the Vanir gods and ex-wife of Odin who banished her to Midgard and left her incapable of leaving or harming others and also robbed her of her Valkyrie abilities. 

• Sindri and Brok (Huldra Brothers): These dwarf brothers are encountered many times through the game and are renowned blacksmiths, having forged Leviathan and Mjölnir, the hammer of Thor. The two have renounced their formal partnership before the events of the game. They provide upgrades for Kratos' and Atreus' weapons and armor throughout the realms.

• Magni and Modi: The sons of Thor. They help their uncle Baldur in his quest to find someone and as a result come into conflict with Kratos and Atreus.

• Mimir: The figure of expansive knowledge and wisdom who claims to be the smartest man alive. He was banished to Midgard and sealed in a tree by Odin. Kratos cuts his head off and has it reanimated, after which he starts serving as the guide of Kratos and Atreus.

• Valkyries: Female entities who take the warriors that were killed in battle to Valhalla. There are a total of nine Valkyries, including their queen Sigrun.

• Thor: God of Thunder, son of Odin, father of Modi and Magni and half-brother of Baldur. He appears in the secret ending of the game, conjuring a thunderstorm and lightning over Kratos' house and issuing a fight between him and Arteus.

• Odin: The unseen but overarching antagonist of the game, he is the Allfather and King of Asgard as well as the Aesir gods. He is the father of Thor and Baldur, ex-husband of Freya and grandfather of Modi and Magni. He is noted to be responsible for the majority of the events of the game as he targets Kratos because of his fear towards him.

The Lost Pages of Norse Myth

Note: These characters are only mentioned in The Lost Pages podcast so far.

• Gróa: A powerful seer looking for her lost husband Aurvandil.

• Aurvandil: Gróa's husband, who went missing after setting out for Vanaheimr with Thor.

• Tyr: God of War and Law and another son of Odin

• Thamur: A Jötunn stonemason who was killed by Thor following an argument with his son Harinthur. 

• Hrimthur: The prideful son of Thamur who unwittingly caused the death of his father by running away after a fight with his father and is later mentioned to have constructed walls with a secret weakness which he passed on to Freya before Thor murdered him.

• Sif: Wife of Thor and mother of Magni.

• Bragi: The bard of the Aesir.

• Vili and Ve: Brothers of Odin.

• Hoenir: An Aesir, God of Silence.

• Heimdall: An Aesir with great foresight.

• Freyr: Ruler of Vanaheim.

• Fenrir: Destined to Kill Odin

• Sköll and Hati: One day will devour The Sun and Moon

• Surtr: A giant whom wields a flaming sword. Destined to destroy and ravage Asgard and fall to Odin and Thor.

Enemies

• Draugr: The most common enemy found in the Norse Realms. Draugrs are reanimated corpses that haunt battlefields. Many varieties of Draugr exist, some with magical abilities and others with different weapons and equipment such as shields. They are found commonly throughout Midgard.

• Hel-Walker: Humanoid foes with a blue and white coloration, they populate the realm of Helheim and come in different classes. They are mostly all resistant to the Leviathan Axe's attacks, requiring either fists or the Blades of Chaos to put down.

• Troll: Norse monsters are giant creatures with a set of giant tusks on the edge of their faces and they carry massive pillars as weapons. Some trolls utilize different elemental and area-of-effect attacks.

• Dragon: These flying reptilian creatures that inhabit Midgard and are extremely powerful. One dragon Hræzlyr is encountered on the way to the Mountain.

• Wolves: Massive wild canines, they can appear as pawns of Revenants and are almost always in packs regardless. They attack fast and can sometimes channel poison if paired with the Revenants.

• Ogre: These species of burly, powerful, appear throughout the Norse realms. There are many variations, all of which are very powerful and usually present a significant danger in battle.

• Revenant: These mysterious creatures appear in fog and summon enemies to do their bidding, they are difficult to defeat and must be stunned by the Talon Bow before being damaged.

• Wulver: These humanoid wolf-like creatures stand on their hind legs. When Wulvers howl, they will often attack in a frenzy with incredible speed.

• Nightmare: These floating eye creatures float and shoot magic projectiles, a wide variety of them can be found. While weak, they can inflict a number of status ailments depending on their element. Some can even possess Draugr and other enemies to make stronger and regenerate their health unless expelled out with a strong attack.

• Dark Elves: One of two elven races that make their home in Alfheim, they are capable of flight and utilize different weapons such as spears and magical projectiles. If left unchecked, they can also blind Kratos temporarily.

• Ancients: Ancient are powerful golems embued with various elemental powers including fire, frost, stone, and forest. They are stated to come from the flesh of primordial Jötunn Ymir.

  • Soul Eater: Ancients that have their souls removed. Those killed by soul eater will have their soul destroyed, leaving them with no afterlife. There are more powerful version of Soul Eater called Soul Devourer. Like Ancients, they possess their own elemental power.

• Legion:

• Reaver: Other humans or mortals left to fend for themselves in Midgard, usually resorting to plundering and looting as a gang.

• Shadow: Humanoid fodders with an ice and poison.

• Traveller: Giant, armored creatures with equally giant swords and sometimes shields whose block cannot be broken. They are very strong and tough to take down due to their armor unless shattered with repeated strikes, but offer great rewards to assist with armor crafting.

• Tatzelwurm: Burrowers that can launch out of the ground and launch their own projectiles.

Development

On the day of December 6, 2014, Corey Barlog, the lead animator of God of War and the game director of God of War IIrevealed that Sony Santa Monica was working on a new game, in the God of War Franchise. It was announced on Twitter, only taken down later by Sony.

The game is conceptually set in the pre-migration point of Viking history; a period in Norse culture where the Norse gods were said to walk among mortals.

The game's soundtrack was composed by Bear McCreary.

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Cast

Principal voice actors

• Christopher Judge - Kratos

• Sunny Suljic - Atreus

• Alastair Duncan - Mimir

• Danielle Bisutti - Freya

• Jeremy Davies - Baldur

• Robert Craighead - Brok

• Adam Harrington - Sindri

• Corey Burton - Zeus

• Nolan North - Modi

• Troy Baker - Magni

• Carole Ruggier - Athena

Additional voices

• Tony Alvarez

• Jon Bailey

• Laila Berzins

• David Boat

• Anna Campbell

• Ray Chase

• Sean Chiplock

• Sara Cravens

• Molly Daisy

• Darin de Paul

• Trevor Devall

• Jake Eberle

• Tom Fahn

• Dave Fouquette

• Crispin Freeman

• Nika Futterman

• Walter Gray

• Julianne Grossman

• Charles Halford

• Anthony Hansen

• Elizabeth Knoweldon

• Lex Lang

• Misty Lee

• Ben Lepley

• Jonathan Lipow

• Martha Marion

• Dave Mattey

• Matthew Mercer

• Bill Millsap

• Lani Minella

• Dave B. Mitchell

• Andrew Morgado

• Emily O'Brien

• Jon Olson

• Chris Parson

• Donovan Patton

• Jim Pirri

• Brock Powell

• Jamieson Price

• Jonathan Rourmie

• Sean Schemmel

• Sarah Sokolovic

• Michael Sorich

• Jason Spisak

• Ryan Stephenson

• Fred Tatasciore

• Tom Taylorson

• Chris Tergliafera

• Bill Watterson

• Matt Watterson

• Scott Whyte

• Debra Wilson

Motion-Capture Performers

• Bradley Allan

• Chris Jai Alex

• Randall Archer

• Kelli Barksdale

• Christopher Donaghue

• Richard Dorton

• John Duff

• Joe Fidler

• Dan Flanagan

• Shad Gaspard

• Andrew Gates

• Joseph Gatt

• Mark Ginther

• Thekla Hutyrova

• Eric Jacobus

• Reuben Langdon

• Jade Quon

• Kyle Roy

• T.J. Storm

• Steve Upton

Crew

• J.B. Blanc - Voice Director, Vocal Coach

• Harrison Deutsch - Voice Director

• Margaret Tang - Voice Director

Trivia

• God of War (2018) is the first game that doesn't focus on Greek mythology, as it has changed the narrative to Norse mythology. It is also first game to feature two characters (later on three, though Mimir only had a head and was not playable) throughout the gameplay and the first time another character is (though partly) playable (though in God of War III Pandora accompanied Kratos during certain segments of the game, she was not playable).

  • It is, however, not the first time the God of War franchise features characters from a different mythology. God of War: Chains of Olympus featured aspects of Persian, Arab, and Irish mythology, in the forms of the Basilisk, Efreet, and the Banshee, and God of War II features the Kraken, which originates in the Scandinavian areas of Europe.

• God of War (2018) is the first installment in which a major gameplay changed many traditions present in the past games of the series. The game mode had introduced: RPG elements, an over-the-shoulder style gameplay replacing the fixed camera style from previous entries, had no sex mini-game, no Save Altars, no Orb Chests and replace Nordic Chests, Orbs were replaced by Hacksilver, the Blades of Chaos-style HUD was adapted into a Nordic-style HUD, had less QTE segments, and most notably, Kratos' face is not shown on the main menu, however he is shown when players start the game for the first time and difficulty-level options are shown. The second is God of War: Ascension. It also marks the first time where a player transitions immediately into the gameplay rather than a cutscene being shown first.

• Early Indicatives of the fact that the game was a continuation of the series, the move "Spartan Rage" nods to Kratos' past as a Spartan, Kratos retains his Spartan tattoo, has scars on his forearms resembling the chains from the Blades of Exile, the scars on his abdomen and left eye, as well as the ashes of Lysandra and Calliope covering him.

• Due to the shift in genre, this game has far more bosses than even God of War II (14). However, only counting unique storyline bosses as true boss fights, then this game only has 4 (Baldur, Hraezylr, Magni & Modi, and Baldur again), the second least amount in the series on par with Ascension with only the first game lower than it.

• This is one of the 3 games where Kratos interacts with his non-godly family in real time, and not only in flashbacks. The others are God of War: Chains of Olympus and God of War: Ghost of Sparta.

• Christopher Judge voices Kratos in the game. He replaces Terrence C. Carson, who has voiced the character in all previous installments. Judge is well known for his role as Teal'c in Stargate SG-1. This marks the first game that Kratos isn't voiced by TC Carson.

• Director Cory Barlog and scenes from the last trailer repeatedly identified Kratos as a god, despite him losing his godly status post God of War II and technically being a demigod.

  • However, he did absorb Hades' Soul in God of War III, technically becoming a god once again.

  • There's also the fact that he reclaimed the Blade of Olympus at the end of God of War II, which stored Kratos' godly powers.

  • What's more interesting is that Kratos said to Atreus that he's born a god, instead of demigod. He does, however, acknowledge his mortal origin as he tell Atreus that he's part God, part Giant, and part mortal.