Sony is gearing up to provide the PlayStation 5 with another healthy lineup of top-tier content. Aside from Horizon: Forbidden West launching in February, the other heavy hitter for next year is easily God of War: Ragnarok. The latest entry in Santa Monica's critically acclaimed action-adventure franchise continues exactly where 2018's God of War left off, continuing the story of Kratos and Atreus. Information has been kept under lock, but the gameplay shown off so far teases a quest just as epic and bombastic as its predecessor.

This is hardly a surprise, however, as the God of War series has always been known for its grand scale set pieces and larger-than-life characters. Another huge component to the series' success has been the spectacular boss battles. From the opening moments of the original game on the PS2 in 2005 to the climactic finish in 2018's God of War, the franchise has had no shortage of incredible boss fights. God of War: Ragnarok certainly has a high bar to meet in terms of these clashes, based on the franchise's pedigree for both deeply personal and absolutely huge confrontations.

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God of War Bosses - The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall

god of war 3 kratos poseidon

The God of War franchise, as mentioned above, is recognized for including a vast array of absolutely massive boss battles. Truly emphasizing the David and Goliath motif of a small protagonist against a colossal opponent, these boss fights pit players against insurmountable odds. From the beginning, the series wanted to capture the epic scale of Greek mythology, something made evident from the Hydra boss battle at the start of the original God of War on the PS2.

From that point on, it had become almost a tradition for each God of War game to include at least a few of these monstrous enemies to face off against. Additionally, these epic clashes are often used as an opening sequence, to kick things off with a bang. God of War 2 and God of War 3 similarly kick off in epic fashion, with the Colossus and Poseidon boss battles respectively. Even the PSP entries, despite the limited technology of being on a handheld, still begin with grand scale fights.

God of War Bosses - High Stakes

Kratos vs Zeus

Sometimes these boss battles bring things back down to earth for a more close-quarters showdown. However, just because the fight has been reduced in terms of size and scope, doesn't make it any less impactful and engaging. Return once again to the original PS2 adventure, as the main goal of the narrative sets up a deeply personal climax. To summarize, Kratos spends the entire game searching for an ancient power to face off against Ares, and because of how Ares had wronged him in the past, their inevitable battle is all the more emotionally epic.

Kratos has made other enemies over the course of the series as well, and all have faced the edge of his blades (not to mention the knuckles of his fists). Zeus, head honcho of the Greek gods, served as the main antagonist in both God of War 2 and God of War 3. Zeus is in fact the final boss battle in God of War 2, as Kratos once again spends the entire game searching for a way to eliminate his enemy. However, this time around he does not succeed in killing his opponent, resulting in a second showdown at the end of God of War 3 This creates more suspense and dramatic weight, something which spills over onto the player, making the battle just as thematically gripping as it is visually dazzling.

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God of War Bosses - Monsters and Myths

God of War Fighting Hydra Kratos With Kid

When not bringing down the Greek pantheon or ticking off the Norse gods, Kratos comes head to head against many of the most infamous creatures in ancient mythology. From Cerberus and Medusa to Trolls and Valkyries, Kratos has had no shortages of menacing monsters to contend with over the course of the series. Nothing gets in his way, however, allowing the player to take control of Kratos as he brutally tears apart these many barbaric foes.

While many of these monsters generally serve as mini-bosses to help pace out the experience, they are no less crucial to the overall series. In fact, many of these creatures can arguably be seen as some of the most memorable moments from each respective game in the franchise. Facing off against a Troll is one of the first big battles in 2018's God of War, and serves as an opportunity for players to put together everything they have learned up to that point. Furthermore, the appearance of these creatures helps add to the world-building and immerse the players in these fantastic worlds.

This all looks set to continue with God of War: Ragnarok in 2022. The mighty god of thunder, Thor, has already been teased to be a major player in the sequel. Seeing Thor and Kratos throw down is sure to be a sight to behold and a battle for the ages, but it is likely that Santa Monica has other surprises in store for the highly anticipated game. Time will tell what's in store for players, but based on the franchise pedigree for incredible boss encounters, it is a safe bet to expect another relentless thrill ride.

God of War: Ragnarok will release on the PS4 and PS5 in 2022.

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