The Ghost of Sparta went from the lands of Greek Gods to the lands of Norse Gods. Although Kratos drastically changed, a handful of Norse Gods still suffered the same fate as those in the Greek Pantheon. The story in the Norse saga was much different than in the Greek era. It was deeper, more complex, and with more diverse emotion. Which is perhaps the reason why Amazon Prime will be adapting the Norse era for their development of a live action God of War series. Kratos will finally be adapted outside of the games into a new form of storytelling. If anything could be predicted at this point about the series, it’s if Amazon Prime were to stick to God of War (2018) and God of War: Ragnarok the series would be another huge and successful hit. But is that the right course to go? Fans of the franchise, and gaming itself, know Kratos did not get his start in the Norse saga but in the Greek saga. Should the series have started there instead?
At the time Kratos was being a wrathful and genocidal menace to the Greek Gods, the game was summarized into one emotion, one word; rage. All the games – the four on consoles and two portable – had the rageful Kratos hellbent on getting his revenge on all matter of gods and monsters. His rage was the driving force and a weapon. It was so strong, it got him out of literal hell – The Underworld – several times. All those games were stuffed with the biblical rage of Kratos. So much, the games ran with it. A true and through and smooth hack and slash game filled with violence and brutality. It didn’t really leave a whole lot of room for anything with a softer touch. Which is perhaps why, Amazon favored the Norse era more since there were plenty of moments where heartfelt moments lived.
However, that does not mean the Greek Saga was without those same moments. Near the end of God of War (2005), an emotional part happened when Kratos had to protect his wife and child by giving them his own health. In God of War II, Kratos felt some remorse when he killed Athena. But perhaps the most emotional part in the Greek saga occurred near the end of God of War III when Kratos felt sympathy for Pandora because he saw his own daughter in her. And went even more ballistic when Zeus threatened her, like any father will. So, there are moments in that era than can set the foundation for deeper and additional emotional parts. The games during that time still slowed down so these moments could truly shine. It proved those games weren’t just a freight train of fury. It proved that they still cherished those moments where Kratos could show a softer side of his nature.
God of War (2018) did a reboot/sequel that many stories tend to do. But it did it well. Santa Monica Studios find that perfect balance of being brand new but keep that old DNA. They did a great job of making God of War (2018) a great stand-alone game. So great, it does feel like a brand-new game in the gaming industry. Mechanics, gameplay, story, character and lore were so drastically different from previous entrees, it felt like it was God of War just by name. Everything was so fresh and different, brand-new players to the franchise could have picked up the game and played through without being reliant on what came in the past…for the most part. Since the series will be adapting the Norse saga, it would be believable the same course of action will be taken. God of War (2018) did not heavily rely on any previous games until perhaps the middle of the game but the stakes and tension still remained. So, the series could do the same. Provide all that tension without relying on lore that maybe wouldn’t even be touched on in the live action series. The Norse saga in the God of War franchise does serve as the second part in Kratos’ arc. So, the series will be starting on chapter two so to speak. But again, God of War (2018) did a phenomenal job of creating a captivating story without a direct link to the Greek Saga. That strategy allowed the fan base, old and new, to step into the game being fresh but interested. Something that the live action series might mirror.
But, God of War (2018) and God of War: Ragnarök definitely had scenes that mention and even fully called back to the Greek saga. Perhaps the best moment in all of the God of War franchise is when Kratos went back to retrieve the Blades of Chaos to enter Helheim to save Atreus. The tease of the return, the buildup, the unwrapping of the cloth they’re in, Kratos slowly touching them, Athena mocking him as he regrettably puts them back on and using them right away was such as a powerful moment that only players of the previous games were able to fully feel. Seeing Zeus and his past self in Helheim was something that previous players could feel. All the callbacks to the Greek days between Kratos and Mimir was something only previous players could fully appreciate. Then that rolls over to God of War: Ragnarök. Thor and Odin were bating him to became that type of God again. Thor only had interest in fighting that old version of Kratos. Then it comes to its peak when Kratos warned Odin if he did not return Atreus, Odin will meet the god Kratos once was. That line specifically is a line that calls up all the moments of the Greek saga that only players of those games could understand. When it came to the Valhalla DLC, there were plenty of moments that brought the Greek saga back. Parts that made old players feel nostalgia. All those emotional, nostalgic moments were felt because the Greek saga were in a sense, the building blocks for the Norse saga. Since the live action series is going straight into adapting the Norse Saga, all those heavy moments that referenced the Greek Era would either be absent or lack the punch that they deserve.
Quite honestly though, this series needed to start in the Greek Era. Some of the best moments in the Norse games came because they called back on moments in the Greek games. Without setting the base in the Greek Era, those moments where they are referenced – and that’s if there’s going to be references at all – will lack a lot of emotion, at the least. They would feel like throw away scenes or lines of dialogue that hold no value. Or at the most, those call backs won’t even be in the series at all. Which will do a huge injustice in the series because one of, if not the main, elements in the Norse God of War games is seeing Kratos going through a redemption arc with the KNOWLEDGE of what he did in the Greek era. The series may lose some of that emotional value that the game did a great job in capturing and showcasing. If Kratos did not spend all that time and effort killing Greek Gods, the impact of nearly everything in the Norse saga does not exist, as it does, in those games. There will be a lot left out since the Greek Era won’t be fully explored or explained at all. Again, if Amazon Prime did go the Norse route because there is more emotional substance there, then perhaps they may have undervalued the Greek games. The Greek games have enough emotional moments to explore and expand. But regardless, the Greek Era will be crucial chapter in Kratos’ life that will lose a lot of weight and impact since the Norse path is the one taken.
This isn’t to say the series will be bad. Not at all. In fact, there are a few positive signs that it will end up being another huge hit for Amazon Prime. The streaming service has a great record of adapting established franchises; The Boys, Invincible and Fallout. And Fallout and The Last of Us have proved that a video game could be adapted to live action pretty damn well. So, there’s a lot of confidence going into this new series. However, fans of the franchise will know, without a doubt, something will be missing. Something that is crucial to the story and to Kratos. Without adapting the Greek Era first, there’s a chance a very clear gap will be felt in the series. Something fans will definitely be aware of. Stepping over the Greek Saga and stepping right into the Norse Saga may be not be damaging, but it does take a pivotal part away from Kratos.
