Why is Kratos so weak in gow4?
Hey friend, if you‘ve played the new God of War game, you may be wondering: why is Kratos seemingly weaker than in the original Greek-era trilogy? This is a great question, and there are some fascinating explanations rooted in Kratos‘ evolving character and the unique magic of Norse gods. Let‘s take a deep dive into the lore!
Kratos the Furious vs Kratos the Father
The Kratos we met in the first three God of War games was consumed by rage and single-minded revenge against Ares and the rest of the Greek gods who betrayed him. Fueled by fury, he would rip mythological beasts apart with his bare hands and directly challenge the gods themselves. But as we saw at the end of God of War 3 after that epic rampage – Kratos seemed hollow and lost after exacting his vengeance.
The Kratos we meet in the 2018 God of War soft reboot is literally eons older and wearier. More importantly, he now has a son to care for. As a father, Kratos has matured and become more introspective about his legacy of violence. He knows he needs to control his power to set a better example for Atreus. This fatherhood has mellowed the Ghost of Sparta in many ways.
Throughout God of War (2018), we see Kratos restrain his full might which would easily destroy the Norse creatures and gods he fights. Let‘s look at some key examples:
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Against Baldur: Kratos spends much of this epic boss fight dodging and blocking rather than going on the offensive, trying to reason with Baldur and later protect his son. The old Kratos would have counter-attacked relentlessly.
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Thamur‘s Corpse: When battling on the giant‘s body, Kratos needs Atreus‘s help to bring down the massive hammerConstructs rather than single-handedly smashing them himself. Past Kratos would have made short work of these enemies.
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Magni and Modi: Atreus helps protect Kratos and finish off one of the sons of Thor. Previously lone wolf Kratos would‘ve insisted on defeating them both alone.
This pattern repeats itself throughout the game – Kratos strategically advances towards his goals rather than mindlessly killing everything in sight with his demigod strength. Which brings us to the next point…
The Strategy Has Changed, Not the Raw Power
Make no mistake, the Kratos we see in the Nordic lands possesses the same earth-shattering power he always had. He just chooses to restrain it and fight in a more focused, controlled manner for Atreus‘s sake. Let‘s analyze Kratos‘ strategy shift:
| Greek Era Kratos | Norse Era Kratos |
|---|---|
| Unleashes full rage immediately | Holds back, fights just hard enough to win |
| Uses brute force to overpower enemies | Uses technique to exploit weaknesses |
| Fights alone without backup | Works as a team with Atreus |
| Merciless, will kill anything in his path | Spares enemies if possible |
This table illustrates how the fundamental nature of Kratos‘ power has not actually changed between eras – it‘s just being applied more thoughtfully to set an example for his impressionable boy.
Atreus even calls out Kratos for holding back, suggesting he could easily win certain fights if he stopped restricting himself. Kratos dismisses this, not wanting Atreus to know his true capabilities yet. But make no mistake…that legendary strength still flows through his veins, ready to be unleashed.
The Norse Gods Are a Greater Challenge
While the Greek gods Kratos killed were certainly no pushovers, the Norse gods seem to be even greater rivals that can truly challenge him. After all, Baldur significantly injured Kratos in direct combat, which no Greek god ever accomplished. Let‘s examine why the Norse gods pack even more punch:
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Magical Mastery: Norse gods have deep mastery over elemental and magical energies, able to infuse their weapons and bodies for greater power. This contributes to Baldur‘s invulnerability and Thor‘s storm powers. Greek gods relied more on physical strength.
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Better Tacticians: Norse gods show craftier battle tactics and mastery of deception, likely from centuries battling other pantheons. The Greek gods arrogantly relied on brute force.
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More United Pantheon: While Greek gods like Zeus and Poseidon battled each other, the Norse gods seem to work together with more unity. They are a more cohesive force for Kratos to fight.
These factors combine to present Kratos with greater opposition than ever before, testing his skills and forcing him to fight more intelligently. The Norse gods may still fall to his power, but they won‘t make it easy!
Atreus Will Likely Unlock More of Kratos‘ Power
Looking ahead to future God of War sequels, many fans theorize Atreus will eventually learn about and accept his father‘s true divine nature as a demigod. As Atreus comes into his own power and fights alongside his father as an equal, Kratos may be able to unleash more of his own strength that has been dormant.
Atreus has the potential to become an incredibly powerful god based on his parentage – perhaps equal to or greater than Kratos one day. Here‘s how their father-son dynamic may evolve across the coming games:
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Atreus Unlocks His Powers: Atreus will likely continue developing his skills in magic, combat, and his hidden godly abilities.
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Kratos Begins Letting Go: As Atreus needs him less, Kratos can start removing the self-imposed limits that have weakened him.
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Atreus Learns Kratos‘ Past: At some critical moment, Atreus will finally learn his father‘s full violent history as the Ghost of Sparta.
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They Fight Together: Parent and child, demigod and demigod, together at their full potential against whatever new threat emerges!
This is an exciting prospect for God of War fans! Seeing Atreus and Kratos standing shoulder to shoulder in the game‘s finale unleashing their true power would be a sight to behold. Kratos may not need to hold back any longer to set an example once Atreus understands his legacy and embraces his own destiny.
So in summary, friend, while Kratos may seem weaker than before, it‘s mainly by choice to raise Atreus right. The Ghost of Sparta is as powerful as ever, and that legendary strength will likely be on full display once again when the time is right. I can‘t wait to see what‘s in store for the pair – Ragnarok awaits! Let me know what you think.