Summary
- A strong narrative with great villains has always been a key component of the God of War franchise.
- Zeus and Odin have set high standards as primary antagonists in the Greek and Norse sagas.
- The next God of War villain will have big shoes to fill in terms of performance and uniqueness.
Narrative has always been a vital part of the God of War franchise. Though the hack-and-slash gameplay of the original Greek saga and the more methodical over-the-shoulder combat of the Norse saga have been major selling points for God of War, they wouldn't have felt nearly as impactful if the stories behind each entry didn't drive that action forward. And at the heart of every great story lies a great villain.
The God of War franchise has had no shortage of iconic adversaries over the last few decades, from gods to monsters and a whole slew in between. But, naturally, the most iconic villains in God of War's rogue's gallery have been each saga's big bad, and no matter where the God of War franchise decides to go next, its primary antagonist is going to have a difficult time reaching the heights of those who have come before them.
The Next God of War Antagonist Has Big Shoes to Fill
The Next God of War Villain Needs to Fill a New Niche
The series' first big bad, God of War's Zeus is one of the all-time greats when it comes to video game villains. As the ruler of the Olympians and the king of the gods, Zeus remains the primary antagonist of the entire God of War Greek saga, and his omnipotence is conveyed well throughout the series. A towering mountain of muscles with glowing white eyes, it's clear from the moment that players first lay eyes on Zeus that he's a force to be reckoned with, and the several boss fights against him dotted throughout the Greek saga reinforce this nicely with gameplay. God of War's Zeus is a classic, all-powerful overarching villain, and he's left quite an impression on fans.
When it came time to deliver a new big bad for God of War's Norse saga, Santa Monica made the smart decision to shake things up a bit. While Odin doesn't appear in God of War 2018, he's mentioned frequently through character dialogue, building the character's persona to impressive heights long before fans would eventually see him. When players do meet Odin in God of War Ragnarok, he appears to be the visual antithesis of Zeus. Where Zeus was a hulking behemoth, Odin is rather small, and even a little frail-looking, especially when compared to the likes of Thor and Kratos.
But this unassuming visual design goes hand in hand with Odin's more conniving personality. Rather than use brute force to take down Kratos, Odin attempts to manipulate those around him, including Atreus. Odin only strikes when Kratos and the rest of the group are at their most vulnerable, and it's a refreshing form of villainy after the Greek saga's more obtuse antagonists. But with the franchise already having covered both master manipulator and all-powerful tyrant villain archetypes, it's going to be tough for the next God of War to deliver someone completely different.
The Next God of War Villain Has Some First-Class Performances to Live Up To
The next God of War villain is also going to have a hard time reaching the same heights as its predecessors when it comes to performance. In the vast majority of God of War games, actor Corey Burton voices Zeus, delivering the right amount of gravitas and regality that fans of Greek mythology would expect from such a famous character. But it's Odin actor Richard Schiff who set a new bar for God of War villain performances, striking the perfect balance between unhinged, calm, and at times even charming.
God of War Ragnarok
- Released
- November 9, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting go
From Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.
- ESRB
- M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Franchise
- God of War
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- Metascore
- 94
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
