Summary
In order to fulfill the prophecy of Ragnarok inGod of War Ragnarok, Kratos was tasked with traveling between the realms, recruiting certain key players, and enacting proceeding events. 2018’sGod of Warintroduced players to a new method through which Kratos could move between locations –Yggdrasil, the World Tree– which Norse lore depicts as holding and connecting the nine realms. While Yggdrasil gave rise to an effective mode of travel, as well as some deep storytelling, the feature was not without its problems. In order to improve players’ overall experience, and avoid the repetitious issues ofRagnarok’s World Tree, the nextGod of Warneeds to make a major decision with its version of Yggdrasil.
God of War Ragnarokis the sequel to 2018’sGod of Warbringing the chief narrative of the Norse Saga to a close. In December 2023, a DLC epilogue for Kratos, titledValhalla, saw the former Greek God of War confront his past with the help of Tyr, the Norse God of War. Battling through Valhalla, Kratos faces Tyr in a series of bouts, before the latter aids him in understanding the nature of his past. By the DLC’s end, Kratos is on a new path and sets off to bring hope and unity to the Norse Realms.
God of War: Ragnarok’s Yggdrasil Was a Blessing and a Curse
InGod of War Ragnarok, players can travel between realms byentering Mystic Gateways. These gateways lead Kratos to the branches of Yggdrasil, the World Tree, which he safely travels until he reaches the gateways of other realms. Along the way, Kratos and Mimir often engage in conversation, leading to some of the most personal and poignant moments of storytelling the game has to offer. Players travel Yggdrasil many times overRagnarok’s nearly 30-hour narrative, and, while effective, the travel segments feature some glaring issues.
God of War Ragnarok’s Yggdrasil segments see Kratos walking and discussing, in an otherwise empty environment, until the next Mystic Gateway suddenly appears before him. While the conversations are compelling, players often don’t get to hear the full conversation, as usually the next gateway suddenly cuts off the dialogue with a scripted interjection.
What’s more, Yggdrasil’s segments become tediously repetitive by the story’s end, with countless conversations cut off as Kratos is given free rein to travel to and from the realms completing objects, side missions, and collectibles. While Yggdrasil’s issues seem quite simple to fix, the repetitive and unpredictable nature of its travel segments leavesthe nextGod of Wartitlewith a big decision to make about its own realm travel.
The Events of Valhalla Leave Future GoW Titles With Various Realm Travel Options
After confronting his past for the duration ofGod of War Ragnarok: Valhalla, Kratos resolves to take up Tyr’s former mantle as the Norse God of War and Peace. While Tyr classically used the Unity Stone to travel between realms,Valhallareveals that he continues to do so long after losing it. As Tyr’s successor, Kratos may gain access to this new method of realm travel in future titles. What’s more, the nextGod of Warcould see him following in Tyr’s footsteps, by traveling to new lands and new cultures.
Were the nextGod of Wartitle to continue Kratos’ story, this new method of travel leavesdeveloper Santa Monica Studiowith two clear options. The first sees the developer employ longer, more detailed segments, with a focus on deep conversations and environmental storytelling. This would avoid the frustrating cutoffs ofRagnarok’s Mystic Gateways.
The second sees the traditional mode of travel replaced with instantaneous fast travel, removing this storytelling altogether and avoiding the repetitious wandering of past titles. It remains to be seen which route the next majorGod of Warwill go, in realm travel and beyond. However, fans ofGod of War Ragnarokmay return to the Norse Saga, and Yggdrasil, before these changes take hold, as a smaller Atreus-led title is rumored to be in development.
God of War Ragnarok
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting goFrom 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.
