Warning - This article delves deep into some of the main plot points of God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarok.The recent God of War stories are just as much Atreus' as they are Kratos'. After the death of his mother Laufey, Atreus is pressured into becoming a warrior that is capable of fulfilling his mother's dying wish of spreading her ashes on the highest peak in the nine Norse realms. At the same time, he must also deal with his half-god, half-giant nature. With the help of his father and friends, Atreus manages to find balance and become a fighter worthy of standing beside Kratos. Now in the early stages of adulthood in God of War Ragnarok, Atreus is slowly stepping out of his father's shadow.
Gone is the fumbling boy of the previous game. In his place stands a capable adolescent who has just as much to offer in terms of powers, abilities, and opinions as Kratos does. God of War Ragnarok focuses once more on the father-son dynamic between Kratos and Atreus (and then some). And while the narrative takes care of the bigger nuances of their relationship, the gameplay also makes subtle nods to how Atreus has changed over the past few years.
God of War Ragnarok: Atreus is No Longer A "Boy"
Quite possibly the most memorable line from 2018's God of War was Kratos calling his son "Boy". Kratos calls out to Atreus so many times with so many different inflections that it was impossible for people not to latch on to the catchphrase. Whether it be to reprimand or command Atreus, Kratos would often use the monosyllabic word in favor of Atreus' true name.
But as the years passed and Atreus got older, Kratos eventually stopped treating his son like a child and more like a man. In addition to Atreus's age, Kratos has also learned to respect his son and what he has to say. Kratos mostly drops the use of "Boy" in God of War Ragnarok and calls Atreus by name.
Farewell To The Atreus Backpack
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Those who played the previous God of War game will remember how Atreus used to always hop on Kratos's back whenever the duo needed to traverse something. From climbing sheer cliffs to sliding down chains and ropes, Atreus's size and stature meant that he wasn't able to navigate the world as efficiently as Kratos. To this end, Kratos would do all the hard work while Atreus relaxed and conversed with him on his back.
With the passage of time, Atreus has gained an affinity for climbing and thus no longer relies on Kratos when it comes to exploration. He can now climb much faster than his father, the latter of whom sometimes asks Atreus to scout ahead. Kratos' added traversal options also don't slow down Atreus. When Kratos uses the Blades of Chaos to reach far-off ledges, for instance, Atreus will employ a rope arrow to quickly pull himself along to his father's side.
A New Atreus
While not quite on par with Kratos's physical prowess, Atreus has definitely gotten stronger. He can carry a deer's carcass by himself and heal his physical body by focusing on his injuries just like Kratos can. When players control Atreus for themselves, they realize that he can also break open the many crates Kratos does (though not without some physical exertion).
In terms of God of War Ragnarok's combat, Atreus has added some new close-range options to his repertoire. He can damage enemies with a flurry of attacks involving his bow and his feet. These eventually open opponents up to stun attacks which make them easy targets for finishers or bow shots. When he is with his father, Atreus is more capable in combat. Atreus is still very much a ranged specialist, but his new moves make him a more rounded fighter than before.
Players will very much see Atreus's gameplay changes as a natural evolution of the character. While some elements of his old fighting style and traversal mechanics are still present, they have changed just enough to make him a more capable ally. He may not be a boy anymore, but Atreus can still fight foes alongside his father just fine.
God of War Ragnarok is available now for PS4 and PS5.