The God of War series has had its fair share of great enemies that players can utterly demolish while controlling The Ghost of Sparta, Kratos. None of these enemies have had the same impact on Kratos’ life as his father Zeus, who along with the other gods first sent Kratos down his path of destruction and death. After finally defeating his father, Kratos has now left Greece and resides in Midgard where a new threat has unveiled itself in the form of God of War Ragnarok’s Odin.
While Odin has been kept a secret for some time now, a recent leak may have revealed the character's appearance in the upcoming game. The God of War series has taken a step away from giving the gods “perfect” bodies riddled with abs and muscles to show the peak of the human form. Rather, with the reveal of Thor’s character, the series has gone down a more historical approach. Unlike Thor, who resembles a burly strongman, Odin’s appearance seems to be more similar to that of Baldur, which could mean that he will not possess the same level of strength as Zeus. Fans should note that these leaks have yet to be verified, so Santa Monica Studio could have something else in mind, but for the moment, the potential leaked image provides grounds for speculation.
God of War Ragnarok’s Odin Potentially Leaked
God of War Ragnarok’s Odin leak came courtesy of a Reddit user called Dusk Golem, who revealed that Odin will not resemble the big bad of the first set of God of War games, Zeus. Odin does not have a heavy build like Thor, or a muscular build like that of the Greek Gods, instead, he seems like an old, thin man. While looks only go so far as to reveal what kind of character he will be, Odin may be a God who does not want any more fighting, and one just waiting for Ragnarok.
Of course, through the course of 2018’s God of War, both Mimir and Freya reveal that Odin is the one God that is feared above all else, so his thin appearance may have more to do with his use of Vanir magic than his outlook. In the previous game, Mimir revealed that Odin married Freya to reach a treaty with Vanir, but his intentions ran deeper, seeking the powerful magic Vanaheim. While using this magic does not seem to affect the Vanir themselves, it is possible that Odin now possesses a great amount of this power, which has led to his physical body deteriorating.
What Role Will Odin Play in God of War Ragnarok?
Odin will most likely be the main villain in God of War Ragnarok, simply based on all the conversations about him in 2018’s God of War. Even Baldur constantly talks about how his father had sent him to kill the last of the Jotun; however, there are also many theories that point to Thor actually being the final boss for players. Whether Odin is the final boss or not, he will undoubtedly play a significant role in the events of God of War Ragnarok.
Following the death of Baldur, Kratos and Atreus will need to be wary of Freya as well as the other Norse Gods who are likely angered by the death of their kin. Aside from Thor's threats, Freya will be attempting to kill Kratos to get revenge for her son’s death, however, Odin’s role in God of War Ragnarok has continued to be shrouded in mystery. It is more than likely that he will command his forces from the shadows and wait for Kratos and Atreus to reach Asgard before engaging them in battle.
What Could Odin’s Appearance Say About His Personality?
The decision to step away from the big muscular figure of the Gods opens the possibility of making the characters in God of War more varied in terms of personalities, powers, and traits. Odin is no exception with his scrawny-looking build and aged face as well as the same vision of giants that Mimir seems to possess. If the leak of Odin’s appearance is true, then it could mean that he will possess more magical abilities and wisdom than strength and that his powers have started to decline as Ragnarok draws near.
Throughout 2018’s God of War, a lot of information was revealed about Odin, mainly through the many stories that Mimir tells Atreus when the group is traveling in the boat. Odin is extremely wise and cunning, capable of outthinking his enemies than beating them down with brute strength, which is also likely why he sends out other Gods like Thor and Baldur to take out his enemies. This along with the leak of his appearance shows that Odin may now be too old to effectively combat Kratos and others, which is why many think he will not be the final boss in God of War Ragnarok.
While it is possible that Odin is not too old to fight and does possess unreal strength that even Kratos cannot handle by himself, it will not be surprising if God of War Ragnarok takes his character in another direction. Thor has been one of the most anticipated villains in the series and will serve as a more fitting final boss thanks to all the hype that has already been generated around him, especially after the secret ending of the first game. Whatever the case, fans will need to wait for the release of God of War Ragnarok to truly find out what will happen to Kratos, Atreus, and their allies as the events of Ragnarok begin to unfold.
God of War Ragnarok is scheduled to release on November 9, 2022, for PS4, and PS5.