Everything GREAT About God of War Ragnarok Valhalla!

[@GamingWins]

Get 10% off your order for GAMER SUPPS using code "GAMINGWINS" at checkout! gamersupps.gg/GAMINGWINS

[@jordanhunter3375]

@GamingWins If you ever got the chance to own your own Gamersupps flavor, what flavor profile and title would you give it?

[@fernosbonos5394]

we need both chains of olympus and ghost of sparta

[@antonissa8345]

Can you pls do Hades?

[@marqusmedina5983]

Please do the side games. Then the story will truly be complete...for now

[@TrazynTheKleptomanichad]

yes you should cover Hades btw. no second guessing. if not for the excellent roguelite gameplay...which it is mind you...then for the amazing family drama driven narrative and ALL the amazing characters.

[@jacksongirona6486]

This dlc was the best free therapy session we all didn’t know we needed

[@drdouchenozzle3556]

It really was tho. I actually did a lot of self reflecting when playing and after because of all the things I had in common with the story and its tropes etc.

[@Butter_Warrior99]

Devs really be looking out for our mental health.

[@hueco5002]

No joke - having a boxing lesson with a clinical psychologist might just be what men need to really get benefit out of therapy. The way we do therapy today has clinical results for women…not so much for men.

[@Butter_Warrior99]

@@hueco5002 I’ve been talking about this with my trainer, workout therapy sessions.

[@Offical_mhnd]

It really did wonders to me honestly and it patted me on the head so softly that I actually went to therapy

[@TheCakeCrusader-rq1tz]

“Brother, you went to bloody Valhalla to avoid her!” HE… HE JUST LIKE ME FOR REAL!!!

[@Comicbroe405]

Indeed

[@MaZaki721]

​@justingary5322are u serious?

[@ninjawolfgame]

@@MaZaki721 did... did he just write an entire 5 paragraph essay equivalent?

[@TheQuestion2.0]

​@justingary5322I ain't reading all of that but bro fr ended it with "Christian Kombatant"

[@Barbequed-Clorox]

@@TheQuestion2.0 There was no report for "Cringe", so I just picked "Terrorism"

[@MicahDarkFantasy]

Kratos giving his own monologue about how far he’s come and how further he is willing to go after seeing his younger self is without a doubt one of my favorite moments in modern gaming! ❤️

[@Darkessnight1608]

And they did it the best way. The camera looking at young kratos at first showing he talking to him at first but slowly go to old kratos showing at this point he is talking to him self is beautiful absolutely beautiful

[@kingofspades1576]

I remember yelling "Yo, What!" when the credits rolled but it wasn't until now that i realized its not from the cutscene with Kratos but the fact that it faded to black for the first time since GOW 3

[@066kshitizvsingh4]

tbf there's a fade to black after Broks funeral as well

[@TheSnomGuy]

@@066kshitizvsingh4and after you go back home after the story in god of war 4

[@ericschuller908]

Take it from a guy who has had more than his fair share of PTSD: recreational combat can be quite relaxing. I've been using swordsmanship as a means to relax my body to make it easier for my mind to process trauma for several years now. Tyr's use of fighting to help Kratos work out his personal demons and questions of his own worthiness makes perfect sense to me. It made the Valhalla dlc just that much more cathartic and even a little validating for me, seeing my own personal favorite process of dealing with pain and loss up on screen and being recognized by other people - the developers - as a legitimate form of therapy. And for all the naysayers out there regarding Kratos becoming a god of hope? What power do you remember him using to slay Zeus with? What power did he take into himself at the end of the original trilogy? It wasn't rage. It was hope. The only thing that was equal to Kratos' rage was his hope for a better outcome. It is what allowed him to become a better man. A good person. That is what makes him suited to be a god of hope because nobody understands how important it is better than Kratos. Hope is all that he had after the he realized what his rage and vengeance did to the world. And opening himself up to the hurt that he could suffer for trying to be a better man is the dark side of hope. It means risking more pain for a better tomorrow and still trudging through and trying anyway. To hope is to do more than simply endure, but to aspire and inspire. That is what makes Kratos the God of Hope.

[@raymondfisheriii791]

While my experience isn’t nearly the same as yours, since I’ve grown up learning different fighting techniques and martial arts over the years, and learning more of the philosophy behind a lot of those martial arts, I feel like training in sparing matches with friends or even shadow sparing alone, practicing the fundamentals, all of that does feel very therapeutic for me as well

[@ericschuller908]

@@raymondfisheriii791, there's no qualifying for it. The fact that you derive therapeutic experiences from martial arts is enough. I chose swordsmanship because swords were the one weapon I never used in self-defense as a kid, so for me it's a clean slate; a way to express through martial arts that is distant from my pain. What styles of martial arts do you practice? I use the fundamentals from a bunch of different styles for my own.

[@raymondfisheriii791]

@@ericschuller908 some Kung fu, tiger style I believe, but I was really young when I was learning it. A little bit of Tae Kwan Doe, some Karate, a bit of wrestling from high school, we had a class for it. Oh, and boxing from my dad’s old gym before we had moved

[@ericschuller908]

@@raymondfisheriii791 Nice! My hand-to-hand combat combines a bit of ba gua for balance and control - I'm very top-heavy - tai chi for muscle control, Muay Thai for close combat, judo for kicks, sweeps, and throws - and literally the only martial art where my kicks are my best moves and not my worst - and then some shotokan karate, aikido, hung gar kung fu, outboxing, and goju ryu.

[@raymondfisheriii791]

@@ericschuller908 hell yeah, dude! You sound like you’d be fun to spar with. Wouldn’t mind learning a few judo techniques, and I’ve always appreciated Tai Chi, just never found a teacher. Tried learning from videos, and it can be helpful, but it’s always more useful to get hands on experience with martial arts in my opinion

[@CassianBlank]

Valhalla, as another youtuber put it, is the 'end of Kratos' in a metaphorical sense. Gone is the god of bloody, rageful wars. And here we have Kratos learning to finally accept who he was, striving to change as much as he can, to finally become not a god of war, but a god of hope, love, and peace. as you said in your Ragnarok video, Kratos was becoming the "all father" from the very beginning of this journey, from making Mimir his advisor to wielding a magical spear made by dwarfs in order to help him win a war. Valhalla, to me, is the finalization of Kratos into a better, wiser All-father, where he leads the lands with wisdom and hope, and not lust for knowledge or power. he has personally brought the end of countless gods, most{if not all} of which were arrogant fools who let their vices get a hold of them. Zeus was a debaucherous, prideful fool, who tried to kill Kratos simply because he didn't obey him blindly. Odin was a man who prided himself on wisdom and Knowledge, doing everything he can to stop a prophecy. as we know, considering the prophecy that caused Zeus's death, avoiding a prophecy only leads to it happening quicker. Kratos was always a better All-father than Odin could ever be, simply because of one thing. Kratos lost his mother, his brother, and his wife and daughter to gods. He *knows* what it is like to be under a god, he KNOWS how harmful a prideful god can be, more importantly, he knows what NOT to become: a man who lets his fears and doubts control him. so, in short, Kratos is the final product of suffering, surviving, and changing is. in his own way, Kratos had achieved Apotheosis, a state over Odin, Over Zeus, Over fear, Over hunger for knowledge. He is no longer a god of war. He is a god of hope, of change, of wisdom, a god who the mortals would never fear his wrath, a god who knows what his purpose is, and isn't drunk on power.

[@XautnisLeonhart]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@KingKRool91]

You should write for Santa Monica because that was a godly comment!

[@CassianBlank]

@@KingKRool91 Ha, I wish, but no, I have nothing on Santa Monica's writers, I'm just some 17 year old who loves philosophy and psychology, they have years of experience over me.

[@xXDaRhTXx]

And Odin was also a god of war

[@voids4818]

Fat Brett! Love his character analysis videos on the GOW series

[@keandregreen5628]

The fact that this was tyrs first fight after centuries of captivity shows how much of a beast he is

[@anonisnoone6125]

I'm glad they didn't disrespect the character and make him look weak. Would've been one of the biggest disappointments of the game.

[@Vlugazoide]

And the fact that he's so pacient even though he was in prision for so long is awesome. Also, Odin tried to portray him as a cowardly pacifist, but he's so not like that, that he admits he still needs valhalla's combat to clear his mind. He doesn't bring peace because he's without courage or rage, but because he mastered both

[@AlexBadger]

I remember when i saw this 24:13 bit, i was a bit disappointed at first, thinking it would just be a reptition of the same boss fight, only for him to bring out the freaking paddle stick.

[@lightblazer1586]

​@@AlexBadger then the blades from Gypt, and then from Japan....the man went to so many different places we should have known he would have many different weapons.

[@lorenzogoglee1320]

i love the fact that when you get down to it this DLC is basecly two friends on a jurney to the therapist lifting each other up

[@MasterKombatBro]

"Come sam were off to see the Shrink!!!"

[@JAYDOG1337A]

I like hearing the journeys of Eir and Gunnr as they speak about their past, you get the feeling that they get along with Kratos swimmingly, and watching Sigrun leave to find her own way was great too.

[@TheFuzzyWuzzy]

Something I think I only noticed on a second rewatch. At 33:49 when he has reclaimed the throne, bathed in the light his skin almost looks normal. Like he’s no longer covered in the ashes of his family. Almost like he has metaphorically “shed his skin” to begin with something new.

[@JamesG1880]

10:48 “Best to reclaim it and make it yours than let memories of other haunt your past..” I needed to hear this. Going thru a brutal divorce that I didn’t want rn and everything reminds me of her. Thank you for your work to share such genuine commentary on games you love.

[@najibzulkafli5820]

I completely forgot the imagery of the throne started in the very beginning of the dlc, rowing your boat to the secret entrance. Thanks for pointing it out. For me, when Kratos confronted his younger self, he was completely vulnerable. Not only did he not have his weapons or armor, he was on his own without mimir by his side. Thus being able to truly express his thoughts, baring all his emotions and his need to wield anything.

[@neobladeproductions1474]

"you have always been more than what others saw" feels like a line for the fans. and as someone who has been a fan since the beginning, and someone who also been pigeonholed as Kratos has, it was everything i needed to hear

[@moonlightwarriorgaming743]

I don't see this as the end of Kratos, more so a spiritual or metaphorical end to the Ghost of Sparta. Kratos choosing to be more what he sees himself as, a father, a better God of War.

[@HassanAwdi-g4f]

God of Hope

[@TheNorthlander]

Christopher Judge is truly an excellent actor. I've always believed that he adds something of a shakespearean element to whatever he is part of, similar to what Patrick Stewart brought to Star Trek NG. The perfect example is Judge's presence in Stargate SG-1. At first his character is a typical Worf type, to the point that him sitting stoically in the background lead to him falling asleep during certain shots. But as the show progressed we gained a view into his character's past, psyche and complexity. Even him falling asleep in the background went from a joke about him being big into meditation to *actually exploring said meditation* and why it was important to him, especially as a way to accept his past. The fact that he even wrote some of the best Teal'c Episodes for that show speaks volumes.

[@daviddaugherty2816]

What I like about him, as both Kratos and Teal'c, is that he does do the stoic badass so well, but in such a way that that makes his emotional scenes so much more believable. I was sold the first time he said, "I die free."

[@zakstormcrow5912]

Kratos with the axe on his shoulder is absolutly the mural angrboda painted btw, thats definitely deserving of a win

[@sncbm]

I learned to love the spear as well during Valhalla. The upgrade that guaranteed I would be using the spear that run was the one that changes your element every time you throw a spear. If I got that one, I was certainly making it to Tyr and would only be using Drapnir for that run.

[@ra-TH_]

Elemental hunter.. shit's OP. I wish it was in the regular game 😢

[@phurbasherpa7441]

I mean it hurts when you have to kill Valhallas chose as the Gylph is good used from long range but whwn you reach tyr its so easy to kill him. And even more easily when you get the elemental storm perk.

[@tarrenrone6625]

Yes PLEASE cover hades it’s my #1 roguelike and the gameplay, story, character arcs, and soundtrack are all top tier quality. And the grind to get to the epilogue is so fun it hardly feels like a grind at all

[@LightingbladeShen]

We need to give a win(s) to CHristopher Judge for also respecting TC Carson. Since they wanted to have him voice younger Kratos in that one scene, but Judge refused, since younger Kratos IS TC Carson's character

[@McOverguard]

27:29 “Head is back on the menu boys” gave me a good chuckle.

[@SaserMaster]

@justingary5322I ain’t reading all that

[@Jlopezocasio]

I love Mimir’s answer to Kratos when asked if he was upset about Sigrun reffering to him as a close friend. “Show me someone for whom friendship means lack of love and I’ll show you someone who wonders why their lovers never end up being worth their time. “

[@oryxtheechos8739]

The change from the Valkyries to Bear’s score at the opening of the door!!! Chief’s kiss!!

[@jarrellmckenna2988]

We must be better” has honestly been my mantra for the last year

[@zacharypayne2903]

Another small detail of the Tyr fights is that when he brings out the Aztec, Egyptian, and Japanese weapons the music/theme takes a change to reflect the culture that weapon is from. War Drums for Aztec, a flute for Japan, and I forget the Egyptian one.

[@jaxentrap7773]

You absolutely should cover Hades. It's one of the best actino roguelikes and just generally a good gaem. For someone who likes soundtracks as much as you do, Hades also has that in spades (and hearts and clubs and diamonds). Art is also beautiful as well.

[@happywiz1833]

24:18 In the GOW 2018 there is a scene where Kratos and Atreus look at drawings of Tyr visiting other cultures. Namely Aztec, Egyptian and Japanese. And he uses weapons from exactly these 3. I don't know, just think it's a really cool detail.

[@williamstoycheff2130]

This seed was the greatest cinematic scene in gaming history in my eyes. We have walked with this man all his life and for him to come full. So cool. What's the coolest thing ever... The only way this could have been better is if Young kratos was voiced by his voice actor

[@HistoryMonarch1999]

Form god of war to god of hope god damn. Also something I’ve been thinking: even if redemption isn’t possible, even if forgiveness isn’t on the table, should be the fact that he changed anyways and continues to do so still admirable? He didn’t do it to be redeemed in their eyes and he might not be for some but he still made that change and that’s what’s important.

[@lemmisleep]

21:50 that's actually the troll you find if you go back to where "Tyr" was imprisoned in the mines

[@marcusthefluffy1033]

As much as I would love for you to do a Gaming Wins video, the narrative isn’t exactly linear and it’s a BIG commitment to truly complete in a way that would allow you to do so. That being said, that is an awesome idea

[@WelshGiraffa]

Finally becoming the God of Hope….that final scene was strong and I hope we get a new game of Kratos wandering the lands bringing Hope back to the world

[@KurtAustin2448]

"If anyone disparaged you the way you disparage yourself, I would wish to strike them with an axe." Kratos, buddy, you already did that.

[@Imma466]

HELL YEAAAAAH this was highly anticipated to me, as i did not expect Santa Monica to make me cry again in the span of just ONE YEAR And now my favorite channel just posted a video about this masterpiece of a dlc? Damn, the gods blessed me

[@102-d7i]

23:40 just to add it’s also revealed in the comics that kratos tried to throw away the blades after gow3 and he walked aimlessly for days but he he fell asleep and woke up with the blades by him

[@SanSan-ol3xz]

Makes sense, and then just hid em under the house not knowing that he may have to use it

[@Nicholas86753]

Mimir being Puck from a midsummer's night dream was the most amazing unexpected story for Mimir.

[@ianhammock4564]

5:55 ONE OF US! ONE OF US! ONE OF US!

[@Youconix]

The music during the 25:40 cutscene is masterful. Like a mix between Ragnaroks main theme with a slow Greek “twist”

[@Pancakelover09]

I love how in the ending when it's over the camera goes away and everything is darkening it makes it feel like curtains are closing making it feel like what we played was the greek play of Kratos: the man who doomed Greece turned to the GOD OF HOPE

[@cmccolton1383]

In GOW 2018 you go to the entrance of Valhalla during the Light of Alfeim dream sequence. I recognized the black beach and the rocks

[@little_nightfury1762]

I feel that as long as an individual is willing to accept change within themselves and learn from those changes then they will always be worthy of redeemption.

[@AlexTackett1998]

Personally i see Kratos' words of "you are more than that, you have always been more than that" as something that can be applied to the series as a whole,especially with people saying the series had "finally grown up" when 2018 came out, but that just ignores how og Kratos was always more than just an angry brute

[@marqusmedina5983]

A battle with the old kratos or cameo from his old family would've made it perfect in my eyes

[@Никогдатебянеброшу-л4к]

fighting younger Kratos wouldn't make sense imo, he's accepting his past not fighting it. An cameo from his old family maybe could've worked but we had Mimir instead which represents his new life and family better.

[@marqusmedina5983]

@@Никогдатебянеброшу-л4к I meant as a call back to the first god of war. Or maybe he fights his past self but resolves things peacefully

[@Никогдатебянеброшу-л4к]

@justingary5322 What in the actual fuck are you on about mate

[@georgethomas4567]

Ngl I legit thought that Kratos and Freya were together and Mimir saying "You went to Valhalla to avoid her." Was saying that they got into a fight or disagreement. Until they mentioned a counsel and then I got disappointed because I agree those two would make the ultimate power couple.

[@TheParadoxGamer1]

There is hope my friend, after all Danielle herself ships them!

[@andrewc31394]

HELLLLLL NO. That would fuck up the story so much. Just because there's a man and a woman doesn't mean they have to be a couple. Kratos and Freya both have fucked up family histories and he killed her son ffs. Making them a couple would be the dumbest story turn in the franchise

[@literallydemon_3018]

If they do end up continuing this franchise with Atreus I wouldn't be surprised if they call the new games "Son of War." If you didn’t go out and find the translations of the songs for both of the games from Old Norse to English, or whatever language you speak, then you would not know that Atreus is actually referred to as the “Son of War.” In both of Kratos’ theme songs they refer to Atreus as this and he is most notably referred to as the "Son of War” in Letting Go. This song is the one that plays at the very end of the story as Atreus says goodbye to Kratos. As Atreus exits stage left, the first words of the song are sung and they translate to “Son of War.”

[@jimstoesz3878]

I think the beauty of Kratos' redemption is that he **DOESN'T** deserve the second chance he's been given, not even close, but he knows that and therefore treats that second chance with a level of respect most redeemed villains never do.

[@kainskin5077]

In terms of kratos deserving redemption, I find myself constantly quoting Parthunax from Skyrim as cliche as it is, but here it works. “Is it better to be born good, or overcome your evil nature through great effort?” I’ve always believed that redemption isn’t just a certain milestone that one can hit, not something that once you do it you hear a “ding” mission completed. It’s something you work for, all the way to your death. Kratos wants to atone for what he did to Greece, which given the magnitude of it, it’s a Herculean (pun intended) task at the very least, but the point isn’t atoning for it, but living with it. In life, when a mistake is made, no matter how trivial or monumental it is, there is no changing it, there’s only learning to live with it, learning from it, and growing from it.

[@editating_2614]

People are born naked, not good or evil.

[@maxiguidetti7228]

I love that Valhalla's theme is actually a slower variation on the Valkyries' theme (one of my favorites from the whole Norse Saga). Thank you, Bear McCreary!

[@TheDemanour]

I played on the middle difficulty and did genuinely get through the dlc without losing a run, and only died once before getting all the trophies, but I'd practically gone from playing the story to playing this, and I'd 100% finished the base game

[@Co-s-micGod]

"No one ever talks about the good stuff since it's expected and preferred, but EVERYONE wants to mention the bad and when it's not going well." So absolutely TRUE!!! And today it's filled to the brim with negativity for pretty much anything. I almost wonder if people just search for things they don't like just to complain, rather than just let themselves enjoy something. I hope to breal that mold for myself and just focus on the good.

[@joelsimkins1248]

I got into these games through 2018, and I've watched your vids on the old games and it's crazy how much love and effort is put behind this story and these characters all wrapped up in gameplay that's second to none.

[@andrewstephens1531]

The one thing that hit me the most about the dlc when finishing it; the light shining down on Kratos in the chair made it look like he lost some of the paleness on his skin. Idk if that was intentional or not but it was flipping beautiful to me.

[@Barkhad-j1h]

i beat vallhalla in 6 hours and cried at the end cuz somehow it was not only therapy for kratos but for me

[@kiratheusagiisworkshop5266]

I love how Valhalla was like, "If you're not willingly going to therapy, then I'll make you."

[@Reediscoolig]

WITHIN A MINUTE FOR THIS PEAK CONTENT

[@isaiahdeas6219]

Kratos cannot simply give up the blades. They always return to him like Percy Jackson’s sword

[@spiderrocket8367]

Kratos is very much an interesting character on paper most people would say no he doesn't derseve the chance to be happy, have a family, have another chance at being a parent, but as this DLC showed us not everything was in black and white. As horrible as Kratos was he did accomplish good things and always had a twisted spartan sense of honor to him. And the fact that he constantly regrets his past and probably on some inner level never will forgive himself adds more to why this Kratos is making up for the actions of his past younger self. It's kind of like the old fashioned Christian saying “only god is the one who can truly judge us when our time comes”

[@patrick17736]

24:27 Another way I see Tyr’s fights when he brings out his weapons are the steps of mastery. The spear and shield being on of the first lessons a spartan learns, the Maucuhuitl being a weapon that’s a bit harder to wield for its weight and simplicity, the khophesh used by higher ranking soldiers in Egypt, and the katana for some of the most decorated warriors in Japan. Side note: love the instrumental changes when he pulls out a new weapon

[@silentassason]

"Head is back on the menu boys" you know what you did

[@AFlyingSwive]

22:00 just hearing this again brought a smile to my face. Kratos has grown so much

[@FantasticMrMac]

My favorite is the elemental spear. Every time you throw the spear, it becomes a new element. Pair that with the elemental storm when you tap the spear on the ground...bosses are done lol

[@MrSkabrus]

I heard a spanish youtuber analizing this DLC and how It gives a powerfull message about mental health,therapy and redemption

[@blnkblnk9985]

29:06 This part right here is what I need for Therapy, me confronting me, but with a more punch first talk later meeting.

[@generalnawaki]

5:55 oh the ship has sailed, found land and started a thriving colony. There is a lot going on in that part of the scene, a lot.

[@bucketboysx3129]

I’ll say it over and over until I die. Games are such a special medium. To be so lucky to play so many amazing games and to go on a journey with so many great characters. So man when you talk about coming to tears I feel that. It’s what makes us human and what makes games like this so compelling. From kratos, to Nathan drake, to Joel and Ellie, master chief, shit even with characters like Spyro and crash. These games and characters are special and grow with us! I feel so lucky to be apart of this era of gaming and to also watch the end of eras as well!

[@HassanAwdi-g4f]

my very first god of war was part 2 on ps2 and i loved both 2018 and valhala games also wasn't even surprised he changed into a calm person

[@falconknight4964]

This series(game and reviews) were so fun, thank you! Here’s to more GoW in the future possibly!

[@cb-9938]

I was expecting Young Kratos to be the final boss. But it goes against what he learns. Don't instigate war. negotiate for peace. That's still a way to fight wars. Prevent them before they start

[@arnoldasgasparenas5947]

Never thought I would click so fast on a video. I love this franchise so much and seing a KZbinr who loves the frachise as I do is just awesome. Thank you for making this. ❤

[@smiley625jcs]

Yo literally the earliest I’ve been to one of your videos, still love the content keep going dude

[@Finbars9]

I've just finished the DLC and it's wonderful. Something I loved in the final confrontation with young Kratos was how old Kratos still jumps to the same defences he did in Greece. His first response is an aggressive insult ("god of fools"), then to shout at young Kratos as an enemy, just another god to fight. Yet in that he goes up and down, bringing everything he's learned in this internal battle. From god of fools to hope, to the acceptance that he is angry and arrogant, but also complicated and broken. Healing isn't instant or necessarily linear, and in one scene he breaks back and forth before reaching peace

[@jerryreynolds2821]

Fantastically done video. Valhalla really was a sensational gaming experince. It's definitely dope to see you actually do a DLC for once because honestly, there are some for sure I hope for you to cover (Phantom Liberty, Ballad of Gay Tony/ Lost and the Damned) but hey a step is a step

[@daviddaugherty2816]

So I came to the series late (PS5 late), but still played through the classics first. I saw Kratos as a straight-up villain protagonist, and on some level, he might be. But seeing his actions recontextualized as Kratos, himself comes to terms with them was an incredibly interesting experience.

[@oolooo]

6:51 Can we please get an official Valkyrie (Peak gaming Waifus) choir album ? .

[@jordangraham1465]

Seeing the scene of young and old kratos was just perfection man. Kratos story and character development is truly something we can all learn from and I'm doing my best every day to be better. Be better than yesterday every day we walk the earth. For the sake of our loved ones. I really hope this isn't the end of kratos story but if it is? Fine because what a story it is and it can end perfectly right here. But santa Monica if you take kratos elsewhere I'll be there at midnight release. Absolute mastery in story character development and wish I could play it for the first time all over again

[@hliasmpouxras23]

Omg I have watched your god of war videos so many times and had a thought about commenting for the dlc...thank you so much for posting the video about the dlc

[@arknorth5581]

21:41 I will not let my troll boys be misidentified, not only are there 4 different troll fights in Ragnarok, the one you kill on the lift to Tyr is Daudi Vörðr, Miklimunnr is found in the applecore on a return trip

[@sushivision]

27:00 I think the best builds that people have figured out are Scorched Earth > Runic Reset for Blades, Elemental Hunter Spear throw, and Finisher build for axe. Overall axe is the weakest imo, but I quite like using the axe for how good it feels.

[@felsbywarcraft1017]

dont forget that in new game+ you not only get young kratos but you also get his armor (which is pretty good for a strength build) but also you get the blade of Olympus rage

[@IronheadEli723]

I will always remember the scene where kratos affirms that the bad parts of him exist, but that he’s more than just those parts.

[@erichfiedler1481]

This is awesome, but I wouldn't mind seeing an everything great on Hi-Fi Rush, especially when the rumors of it being ported to Switch and PS5 floating around

[@ShahryRKnoT]

27:50 "true monster" is referrence to the dialogue before fighting Ares in GoW1

[@turboyarag]

33:55 Well after Brok's funeral you get a fade to black credits with the blood upon the snow song.

[@garrettsweet9826]

And yeah, I think Kratos does deserve a chance at redemption. Hes experienced contrition, hes suffered for his sins, now I think theres a world or three where he can explore what it means to forgive himself. Honestly hes deserved it since the mid point of 3 imo

[@pacificwuxia]

I actually love that Kratos is still rehashing issues and feelings that he was grappling with in the main game. It illustrates very well how healing and forgiveness is not a linear process, and often involves circling back to hurts, failures, and shames over and over again.

[@bewildereye8301]

I've been on the edge of my seat hoping you'll do a video on Hades -- been a Supergiant fan since the beginning. No pressure, of course, but I'd adore that.

[@Edsama800]

32:00 when Kratos walk in to the light at the real throne the warm light make his skin less pale almost like his ghost of sparta curse has been lifted.

[@roninjinn3014]

I love when the shield maidens sing “Leifa”, they sound so divine and joining with them is fun

[@Bahbjr52905]

One thing that I personally haven't seen anybody mention that I love about the ending scene is that the lighting almost makes Krato's skin look more like his natural fair skin color, as if it's symbolizing how he's finally free from the guilt and shame of the ashes on his skin representing everything he had done in the old trilogy.

[@leonkenedy2988]

The Blade of Olympus reappearance is the GOAT moment of Valhalla! 🎉🎉🎉 But man, seeing Kratos sit on the throne and smiling happily with the best advisor "Mimir" broke me down into tears. 😢😢, Me and others who have been with Kratos ever since the beginning back in 2005 and till to this day. And I truly support whatever new and good direction Santa Monica is going to take Kratos and GoW franchise in the future. I also loved Mimir and Kratos banters, they have truly form brotherly bond that Kratos wish he can have with Deimos (RIP).😢😢😢

[@browneyes0403]

Omg yess you need to cover Hades! It's such a great rogue like, amazing voice acting, great visuals. And even tho I'm not much into the whole story of the game, I'd love for you to cover it!

[@sayansengupta5791]

Another thing that I noticed with this DLC was the parallels to going to actual therapy. Going to therapy often can feel like a repetitive process, just like the repetitive loop of a rogue like. Fighting with mental health often does feel like a battle. Helios represents the negative voices in our head that brings us down when we talk or think about our past. Tyr is obviously the therapist, often we "fight" against the therapist when they are trying to help us but they also offer insight into our traumas. So the parallels are very prominent

[@justinduncombe6680]

Chris judge as Kratos has a very similar arc to judge as Teal’c. And both fabulous characters

[@jentegeeraerts1119]

Hate to say it but the 3rd win isn't greek drapery, that model of throne is also used in GOW 2018 at the Council of Valkyries, where their spirits sit when you free them

[@XautnisLeonhart]

It's my head-canon that Kratos and Freya were trying to view each other as fellow warriors after Ragnarok (and are becoming attracted to each other), but in a snippet of the rare few who can survive that impossible opening, Kratos all but confesses to having a one-sided love towards Freya. In all honesty, I don't blame: yes, he'd killed her son in her defense, she spent 3 years trying to kill him in vengeance, and both were recently involved with the destruction of both Asgard and Odin. And assuming it hasn't too long since Ragnarok ended, the trauma of fighting together despite their bloody history will more than likely have lead to one or the other stealing a glance or two longer at the other. Granted, there's no telling if Freya may return for some future GoW game, I think chances are uncertain but acceptable to say that she and Kratos may attempt to get together down the line after denying it to each other for so long. Maybe not become married with another kid, but at least close like lovers or intimate friends. Something occurred to be when Kratos was looking at his younger self: it may be because he didn't have the beard like he does now, but the coloring of OG Kratos seems.... brighter? Shinier maybe? Like this was him at the height of his God fueled hatred and revenge. And then compare it to the older and wiser Kratos: physically, they're identical, yet his ashen skin seems almost pale, as is the red markings across his body. If anything, these differences (if they can be called differences) further emphasize how much Kratos has changed so dramatically since he'd killed Ares. Yes, he's killed thousands upon thousands, and he took pleasure from killing too many innocents, and his killing of the Greek gods had literal apocalyptic consequences, but he actually realized far too late what his revenge cost both him and the Greek world, and he had made an effort not to get involved with Odin and the others. Maybe he can never gain true forgiveness from others, perhaps doesn't even deserve it. But he is no longer that crazed man who literally beat his godly father to death and he actually was ashamed of it when Atreus saw that moment in Helheim. Not only that, he is making the effort to not only work with others, but try to forgive himself for what he'd done. He is giving himself the hope others see him in. And just like Pandora said to him all those years ago, hope is what keeps us going even when all hope is lost. Maybe he won't carry the new title of "God of Hope", but he is willing to carry the very hope that gave him the strength he sought to go on, no matter what he lost

[@firelight8565]

I am really excited to see the gaming win for "Hades"! Also, super not applicable to anything besides my chaotic mind, but I would love to see you tackle the Mafia games, especially the first!

[@WatcherCCG]

Yes you absolutely SHOULD cover Hades. You'll love it and there is SO MUCH LORE to unpack, especially in the postgame.

[@brother_bear_one7340]

The Norns were right about saying the Ghost of Sparta would die. Because in a way, he did. The ruthless, raging destroyer is dead, replaced by a man who's faced and accepted himself, not striving to simply be better.

[@ahabibo_4.376]

I‘ve been waiting for this finallyyyyyy, you are the best❤

[@DearAnem0ia]

Valhalla might be one of the best, if not THE BEST, DLC for any game I've ever seen. The way it treats Kratos' character, the connections he's made along the way, the way he handles the grief and the shame of everything he's gone through in the prior games. The combat, the callbacks, the acting from everyone involved. It's damn near perfection. My favourite DLC from a game is still Ringed City from DS3, but man, Valhalla does so much stuff right that it's a powerful contender. Kratos' last monologue and his fights with Tyr brings me to tears everytime. And it's all FREE?? Absolutely incredible.