Now that God of War: Ragnarok has a release date, the game looks more tangible than ever. No one expected such a heartfelt story to come from a series previously known for gratuitous violence and one-dimensional characters. But thanks to a new vision and respect for the previous games, 2018's God of War managed to surpass everyone's expectations. Fans have waited long for the sequel to God of War, and come November 9, everyone will finally be able to experience the continuation of Kratos and Atreus's tale.
To go with God of War: Ragnarok's release date announcement, Sony Santa Monica released a cinematic trailer showing Kratos and a much older Atreus fighting off hordes of Draugr as well as the great wolf, Fenrir. Along with the reveal trailer that was released last year, it looks as though Kratos and Atreus are still using the same weapons they had in the last game; Kratos with his Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos; Atreus with his Talon Bow. With so much history steeped into these weapons (and seeing as Kratos doesn't have much need to carry more gear), it would be a mistake to increase players' arsenals with weapons that have no connection to the characters.
The Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos Are Central To Kratos' Story and Gameplay
When the Leviathan Axe was introduced in 2018's God of War, players were confused. Replacing Kratos' iconic Blades of Chaos was this axe that hit slow and dealt frost-based damage. While the Leviathan Axe felt good to use, it didn't have the same history the Blades of Chaos did with its wielder. As it turns out, the Leviathan Axe was Kratos' way of distancing himself from his troubled past. The weapon was a gift to him from Faye - his late wife who is central to both the new Norse setting as well as Kratos and Atreus' journey.
Players spend a good amount of time with the Leviathan Axe, and just as they are getting used to it, they find that the weapon won't be effective in the frozen realm of Helheim. It is here where players are reintroduced to the Blades of Chaos - Kratos' iconic weapons from the original God of War games. The Blades are faster, and their attacks have wider sweeps and are fire-based - making them perfect for fighting off the hordes of Helheim. The weapons also tie heavily with the past Kratos so desperately wants to forget - a past he must ultimately face if he wants to move forward with Atreus. Both the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos tie so heavily into God of War's mythos and gameplay that adding more would just complicate the narrative and the straightforward gameplay players have gotten used to.
Most of Kratos' Older Weapons Weren't Memorable
It isn't as though Kratos hasn't used other weapons before. Past God of War games had Kratos wielding all kinds of armaments - from the Blade of Artemis in the original God of War to Hercules' Nemean Cestus in God of War 3. Though these weapons are powerful in their own right, they don't tie as closely to Kratos as the Leviathan Axe or Blades of Chaos. Most of them are picked up by Kratos after he defeats their previous wielders - enemies whose movesets and weapons don't really fit into the base playstyle introduced by the Blades. To this end, some weapons (such as the Claws of Hades) tried to mimic the Blades' playstyle, but this just led players to prefer the more tried-and-true Blades instead.
Adding More Weapons Isn't Completely Off The Table
This isn't to say Sony Santa Monica can't introduce more weapons for Kratos to use in God of War: Ragnarok; it's just that doing so would be extremely difficult. Players are already used to the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos. The former is slow but deals high damage; the latter is fast and excels at crowd control. Gameplay-wise, the two weapons cover almost all the bases when it comes to fighting enemies.
Lore-wise, the Blades of Chaos now represent Kratos' acceptance of his past. What used to be a shameful weapon to Kratos is once again an integral part of his persona. Likewise, the Leviathan Axe represents Kratos' present - a continuing task to look after the world and son that Faye left behind. As of now, there is still no weapon that signifies Kratos' future, but considering that he already has two weapons to choose from, chances are he won't be getting a new toy anytime soon. If God of War: Ragnarok does outfit Kratos with new weapons, they have to be just as integral to the gameplay and story as the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos are.
God of War: Ragnarok is scheduled to release on November 9, 2022 on PS4 and PS5.