The often-forgotten prequel to the God of War series, Ascension, came out after the bombastic finale of God of War 3. With developers Sony Santa Monica having tied up the main God of War trilogy’s narrative, Ascension goes back in time to when Kratos renounces his master Ares after he tricks Kratos into killing his family. Kratos is then captured and tortured by the three Furies for breaking his blood oath with Ares.
While the God of War reboot that was released in 2018 was a massive success both critically and commercially, the series originally had a very different look and tone. Rather than the bearded, viking inspired Kratos of the newest title, the various older games instead featured a leaner, meaner Kratos ripped straight out of Greek mythology. However, it seems God of War: Ascension may have had a very different visual design for Kratos planned if a piece of character concept art is anything to go by.
A Reddit user has posted a startling image of an early model of Kratos in God of War: Ascension to Reddit. This rendition is meant to show a weak Kratos broken at the hands of the three Furies. With a scrawny frame and torn-apart flesh, fans would hardly know this beardless Kratos if it wasn’t for the iconic tattoos and ash-ridden skin.
The art was created by James Van Den Bogart, an American artist who worked as the Senior Character Artist for God of War: Ascension at Sony Santa Monica from 2011 to 2013. James has also done environmental, character, and creature art for companies like Riot Games of League of Legends fame and ArenaNet, developers of Guild Wars 2. James now works for Valve, creators of Half-Life, Portal, and gaming marketplace Steam.
If there is one thing that has been constant of Kratos’s character in all the God of War games, it is his incredible strength and ferocity. He may have mellowed out slightly in the rebooted God of War, but he is still a whirlwind of fury and violence when he needs to be. That is why it is so shocking to see Kratos reduced to such a frail shell of himself in James’s art.
Of course, the Ghost of Sparta has pushed through many other turmoils throughout his gaming career as well. Fighting his way out of Hell many times throughout the series after certain death, Kratos is not one to stay down and out. Should he have been so broken and beaten in this alternate version of Ascension, it’s likely he would have managed to get himself back to the physically imposing Kratos we all know and love. With God of War: Ragnarok currently in development, fans will get to see Kratos again soon.
God of War: Ragnarok is scheduled to release on the PS4 and PS5 in 2022.