Kratos: The Incredible Transformation of a Gaming Icon - Part One

By end of God of War 3, Kratos had lost much of his humanity. By God of War 4, he's begun the long journey of regaining what makes us human.

[@fatbrett]

This is a reupload. KZbin killed the original. This version has been edited to protect the children.

[@JohnSmith-YT]

👍 Re-watching for the algorithm 💜

[@MrLeoTheAsian]

Re-watching for the content

[@resongeo2743]

Which parts?

[@pilawustukuru6134]

Thanks for the Content Brett!❤

[@owencarrick3775]

God we love this platform, re-watching for the algorithm gods

[@Xehanort10]

12:27 He even says to Atreus "Do not mistake my silence for lack of grief. Mourn how you wish. Leave me to my own."

[@ShadowKamehameha32]

Atreus: "I didn't know." Kratos: "No. How could you? You do not know my ways." The way Christopher Judge delivers that line has such compassion in it, that it changes the dynamic for the conversation between Kratos and Atreus. One could read that line as one of pettiness and sarcasm, a way for Kratos to get a point over his son, but that's not the case here. Kratos had his outburst, in the line you mentioned. But he immediately retracts, speaks softer to his son and opens up to him in a subtle way. He goes from "Leave me alone!" to "I DO care, I just don't/can't show it how you do" He is admitting a failing in himself, without outright saying it. His soft delivery of that line, to me, is an admission of guilt. "You do not know my ways" Because he never opened up to his son ABOUT said ways, leading to the assumption from Atreus, that Kratos doesn't care about Faye's death. I love talking about stuff like this in detail so I'm sorry if I've rambled. To summarise, the delivery of that line is one of the first bigs steps to Kratos being honest with Atreus, by admitting his own failing.

[@Darkinu2]

Exactly. Everyone has a different way to mourn.

[@sadtitties222]

​@@ShadowKamehameha32 No, no don't apologize for rambles! I love rambles, lol. It shows your passion for the subject matter and I completely agree with everything you've typed out. Great analysis! 😊👍✨

[@marcopohl4875]

@@ShadowKamehameha32 He's basically saying "How could you know how I feel? I never talk about my feelings."

[@themostokperson]

Mourn how you wish is what he said to Sindri at Tyr's temple

[@skippyjones4254]

Only just now do I realize the great symbolism in Kratos’ weapons of choice. He started out using savage blades of angry, searing flames, but once he moves into Norse territory he opts to use a powerful axe of bitter, icy cold. A fitting metaphor for his change in demeanor

[@treyatkinson7564]

That's an excellent view. And it carries through both games. His fierce rage has been tempered. And yet, he can be both cool, and fiery. And then a spear imbued with wind. Breaking down even the mightiest of mountains. Much how kratos has overcome insurmountable odds

[@654kyu]

My guy, the Leviathan Axe deserves better than being called "powerful axe of bitter icy cold". While the Chaosblades are weapons of war and destruction, the Leviathan Axe is more than that. Sure, he fights with the axe but imo the Leviathan Axe is the tool which helps him redeem himself. The first scene he used, was to chop wood, not going haywire through Midgard. The axe symbolizes the possible destiny beyond the spiral of violence and war he was trapped in from birth.

[@jonathan0225]

@@654kyu axe was the literal counter to Mjolnir. ironic that the axe is more of the symbol of a builder/fixer than the Hammer should have been.

[@654kyu]

@@jonathan0225 yeah exactly. Faye really gambled with trusting Kratos. She knew who Kratos was, she knew what he was capable of, but she also realised how unfortunate this mans destiny had been up until this point. She saw that this man never had the chance to live up to his true potential. So she entrusted him the tool to go beyond his rage-fueled existence, which only knew how to destroy, but not how to create.

[@bag4592]

What does the spear symbolize

[@FallenOne669]

My favourite thing about the moment Kratos retrieves the Blades of Chaos is how he reacts to Athena calling him 'father'. He pauses, glaring at her, and begins wrapping the chains around his arms more forcefully.

[@marcopohl4875]

"I am your monster no longer!"

[@jayW1992]

In that moment he was reminded why he was there picking up those cursed blades again. Not for the Gods of Olympus any longer, but for his beloved son.

[@davidactylus9990]

@@marcopohl4875In the "Raising Kratos" video, Cristopher Judge actually Started to Cry or Tear up when he said... "I Know" 😢Just Amazing acting by Judge. 10/10

[@Lucky-bx8zh]

He is the son of Odin. Kratos knows he is odins son. That’s why he pauses

[@MLaak86]

I loved that touch, he's been trying and relatively succeeding in ignoring the bait but the SECOND Athena (whatever she actually is, either something existing beyond the physical or a mere apparition created by Kratos' guilt and self loathing) questions his ability to be a father it has his full undivided attention... Also how she seems to hesitate before throwing out the word, as if she's afraid pushing that button will bring out the Ghost of Sparta.

[@enderaceofspades8579]

I love how KZbin still forces people to make things watchable for kids, despite having a whole section called "KZbin for Kids."

[@Daniel-tb8mu]

Crowder did a bit like a year ago where he was showing the stupid shit youtube allows. There's a video of a gay couple playing dick or dildo (may or may not have been taken down after it got brought to attention of parents, I don't know) but these dudes just had a blanket up but you could see both of them. At the least KZbin was cool with that for a time

[@anthonymartinez1421]

They should rename that to "KZbin for Infants" since the .0000001% of infants of the world are the biggest group of viewers for YT Kids

[@owenleal]

​​@@Daniel-tb8muI dont think anyone gives two shits about what Crowder says or thinks, but speaking of two shits, there is a video where a dude just smears hair removal cream all over his bare, winking asshole and he was just able to get that off with no censorship or anything, because he tagged it under educational lol.

[@ramus93]

funniest thing is ads arent kid friendly at all lol

[@NathalieHaHa]

It's not making it friendly for kids, it's making it friendly for advertisers

[@cryptomancer2927]

For me I always thought that Kratos at some point realized he was wrong. That he screwed up. That he'd become just like the gods he slayed. Ruthless. Destructive. Retributive. And deserving of death. Yet he was able to continue on because he, in the most Kratos way possible, tokd himself: Don't be sorry. Be better. And he's been struggling with that quest since.

[@transcendentsacredcourage]

Well put. 👑

[@Karnagie]

also, kratos is canonically cursed to be unable to die by his own hand. we've seen him try multiple times, from jumping off the cliff to stabbing himself with the blade of olympus. after gow 3, he was forced to live with himself with no hope of escaping his torment, guilt, and regret. all that time to think and reflect on his past was good for him, but he hit an emotional plateau which Faye probably noticed and pushed him and atreus out into the world like the video discusses.

[@lightmohamed5700]

He became ruthless because he was almost pushed into the brink of madness

[@Fukei_Mono]

​@@lightmohamed5700 Almost?

[@lightmohamed5700]

@@Fukei_Mono sorry yes they absolutely pushed him to total madness Righteous anger and a man with nothing to lose two of the most dangerous things ever were incarnated perfectly into Kratos

[@AngryNerdBird]

Fun fact: Performing the blades scene in God of 4 was so emotional for Christopher Judge, it made him cry.

[@Diamond_2403]

You know what else was super emotional for him but didn't make it into the game? "Lamb's crest... I'm a fucking God of War."

[@nightlasher]

@@Diamond_2403probably got removed because it was out of character for Kratos

[@fatorc4228]

Kratos’s story in the original trilogy was like a classic Greek tragedy, a man who by faults both his own and divine looses everything and suffers great loss. The whole trilogy was pushing kratos deeper and deeper into his wraith by the gods constantly screwing him over and over again, taking away everything and everyone he ever loved. His wife and daughter/ his brother/ his mother/ his entire homeland, the Greek gods stole everything from him. His extreme and bloodthirsty violence being a side effect of becoming emotionally unstable and having nothing less to loose. Becoming the exact same monster as those monsters he fought so hard against. It’s great to see kratos grow and finally find peace. Growing into a better man and living a better life with the love of people who care about him.

[@thewerdna]

And its interesting that by going to Norse Mythology, he gets to grow as the story now reflects a Norse Saga. He is no longer in a tragedy and thus can escape the fate inflicted by his own flaws

[@fist-of-doom487]

In Greek Tragedy’s the “hero” is defined by a single flaw that will paint everything that comes after. Kratos’ biggest flaw was his wrath. He did what he did out of anger, all of it. From his pact with Ares to the death of Olympus. Kratos was ruled by his wrath and his wrath led to ever growing tragedy

[@ElvenRaptor]

@@GamfluentHe was a Villain Protagonist and "revenge bad" IS part of the point of the originals. They clearly show how his wrath and need to pay people back for their slights against him only made things worse. It doesn't matter if his actions were against people who deserved it.

[@ElvenRaptor]

@@GamfluentThe Apocalyptic ruins of all ancient Greece say otherwise to both your claims.

[@ElvenRaptor]

@@Gamfluent"some will survive" Press X to doubt.

[@lucyann1573]

Christopher Judge gave everything he had to playing Kratos. If I remember correctly, I once saw an interview where he said his performance was a message to his children. It was an apology. Then he started to cry and said he didn't want to talk about it anymore. In the BTS of him filming the scene where he retrieves the blades while Athena mocks him, he looks at her when she calls him "father," then looks back down. You can see tears falling from Judge's eyes. This portrayal clearly meant so much to him and you did a great job getting the point across in this video. This is good work, dude

[@P0rk_Sinigang]

Wow, I didn't realize how personal this performance was to Judge. That's pretty amazing.

[@Squurdnack]

That’s really amazing

[@quinnfletcher3906]

So what was he apologizing to his kids for?

[@adamtheriault6743]

​​@@quinnfletcher3906his job always meant he was on the road, never home, never there to see his kids growing up Parallels how kratos was always distant from atreus as he was growing up Though to be clear, i doubt his kids have any animosity for him for that compared to atreus, he just feels bad about it

[@Junkyardproduxtions]

​@adamtheriault6743 we also don't know. Like the other dude said, Judge made a point of saying he doesn't care to get too into WHY he relates to Kratos. I think it'd be best we try not to speculate too much on it especially with how he expressed that desire for not revealing.

[@vanndymaywho1910]

One detail I really like when Kratos kills Baldur, is that Kratos looks really uncomfortable and almost sad in doing this. Like he really doesn’t want to kill Baldur not because he cares about him as a person but because he knows how much Baldur means to Freya, because to him it feels like the ultimate betrayal of her trust after everything she’s done for him.

[@AluminumFusion22]

He also just doesn't feel good about killing needlessly. It's not really a case of story and gameplay segregation but because the multiple combat encounters the two/three face are a life and death situation and if they didn't fight, they'd be killed and even then a majority of their enemies are undead anyway.

[@Jake38nine]

Kratos holds back until there's a genuine threat to those he cares about. We as the player are FORCED to play as a holding back Kratos. Think about it, if only 1 twist of the neck was all it took, but several hundred to thousand axe cut did not, that means Kratos power was held back. Just like at the beginning they show him cutting down the tree like a normal person, then 3 or 4 swings in he cuts it down in one feel swoop. He could've done that from the very beginning, but he held back. A human's head can be chopped off much easier than a tree can be chopped down, yet Baldur's head had never been chopped off from all the axe swings. Even for a god. Chopping down a tree is as easy to Kratos as us mortals cutting something's head off. But in godhood, it's harder to cut a god's head off than it is to chop a tree down. Even then, an axe is still so much more effective than your barehands. So Kratos was holding back. He only final gave his full power when he saw that the cycle would continue of sons killing their parents, and instead killed Baldur so Freya could live. And Kratos holds no ill feelings for Freya and her hatred of him.

[@gabrielgills597]

​@ANIMALSEMEN-lm4jk What shit you smoking? Pass me some brother

[@rekt_gaming823]

​@ANIMALSEMEN-lm4jk wtf how do u watch this video and have a opinion like that go play gow 1-3 then since u don't care about character development

[@limppickle4306]

​@ANIMALSEMEN-lm4jkare you retarded?

[@kirstenwyatt9675]

It just occured to me, Magni and Modi are also representative of possible futures for Atreus. If Kratos goes back to his old ways, they represent what Atreus could grow into, depending on if Kratus instills more Pride or Fear in him.

[@TheSSBBfan666]

Baldur too

[@kirstenwyatt9675]

@@TheSSBBfan666 of course, but he went into how Baulder is

[@TheSSBBfan666]

i know, wonder if he'll do a vid on Tyr and the Thorsons@@kirstenwyatt9675

[@andrewmah2962]

I never noticed that

[@Dctctx]

Ah yes the Greek god of war “kratus”

[@theevilgood]

An excellent touch in the opening scene is that right after Kratos loses control, as he tries to compose himself, the wraps on his arms loosen and dangle the way his old chains used to. You mentioned how they reveal the scars, which is legit. I do think it's more so meant to be evocative of his chains. It's a reminder to the audience, and himself, that the man he once was is still in there. He's come a long way, but not so long that he doesn't get to have an arc across these two games. It's like the story is saying, "Look at that, Kratos. After all you've worked to better yourself, you might as well still be wearing those chains. At the first tragedy in your new life, you lose yourself to anger yet again."

[@Lightna]

Good eye. I never caught onto the rags draping down as a symbol to the chains. I always took it as the rag slipped and he could see the burn scars of his chains once more but that, oh boy that's another hard hitting layer.

[@gryfon_gamez8184]

Exact! I always saw it as new self unravelling to reveal his old self as he slipped into old habits

[@johnyendrey5590]

After seeing Kratos' protection and love for Atreus, even if he keeps him at an arm's length, its easy to think that Kratos would never harm Atreus, would never use corporal punishment. However, taking into account that he, as a Spartan child, was probably beaten often, its suddenly understandable why he has such a lack of understanding when it comes to parenting. He doesn't any any other reference. Then you brought up Modi, beaten and bloodied by Thor after the death of Magnus. The scene focuses on Modi and Atreus, but I realized that Kratos MUST be looking at Modi like a realization of his worst nightmare: turning his anger on his own son. The scene hits so differently from Kratos' perspective.

[@Lightna]

It must have hit him and helped him make his choice on how to discipline Atreus later. I would not be surprised if Spartan punishment looked exactly like how Modi looked and Kratos recognized it and knew it was too extreme an action to take.

[@lawmanlawman2210]

Man, seeing even relatively basic takes like this one after watching efap's breakdown of Synthetic Man's God of War review feels like a massive breath of fresh air.

[@Satherian]

Makes sense why Kratos was so adamant about not killing the beaten Modi and why he was so angry at Atreus doing it so brazenly

[@Humorless_Wokescold]

No probably about it. Children in the Agoge were made to work barefoot and make their own beds from reeds. They were deliberately underfed to encourage them to learn to scavenge food and steal what they need from others. Whippings were given out not for stealing but for being sloppy enough to get caught or too weak to protect your own supplies. And then there was Ancient Greece's tolerance of pederasty. Kratos' childhood had to be the stuff of nightmares.

[@zimdemort5617]

It's also interesting considering Atreus himself asked why he never was raised as a Spartan, if Kratos thought he was too weak to endure, and Kratos responds something along the lines of it's because no child should have to endure such cruelty.

[@ClericOfPholtus]

Also damn man Seeing that deer knifing scene with all the hindsight? How much we think it was so hard for Atreus because he could hear/feel its fear, anxiety and pain? He might feel the killing of animals on an unimaginable level.

[@tincano-beans2114]

He would definitely mention stuff like that, though. Maybe subconsciously, but killing something like that is just gonna be hard.

[@klaushammer8687]

Omg man. Atreus transforms into animals. Which is another added level of his resentment to kill that animal. At the time in that game it's about Kratos view. But Ragnarok is about Atreus, where that scene hits different. These games get deeper and deeper

[@helpumuch6887]

@@klaushammer8687which is also why it’s crazy right after that scene he loses his cool and stabs that big creature a bunch after it’s already dead

[@AkweliParker]

Seeing the deer scene again made me think of how casually Atreus would later unalive Modi. After he fell into his god complex and was being a little shit. Truly spectacular foreshadowing.

[@taddad2641]

honestly was trying to aim for the head when i played the game. if one msut kill, kill with mercy. even the crueltest of beasts are simply trtying to survive and make the kill quick to survive. even the infamous ferocity of wild dogs and hyenas, eating prey sitll living, is simply a means of survival, cause they must compete with powerful rivals and every second wasted increases the possiblity of their hard earned meal being stolen.

[@The_Libationist]

There’s nothing more dangerous than righteous anger, because when we feel righteous in our violence we can do the worst things without guilt or reflection

[@johnnycage112]

When all is said and done that anger probably wasn't even righteous at all.

[@Lightna]

​@@johnnycage112from the outset, yes it is. But when you finally reflect on what you did while on your warpath, then the uncertainty sets in.

[@kidtruck9157]

The line between Vengence and Justice can be very blurred, especially in the heat of the moment.

[@ethanarnold4441]

Again, so true.@@kidtruck9157

[@Lorendrawn]

The lawful good is the most violent character when they're killing a chaotic evil.

[@Omni-Man]

I love how Freya switches from "I'm still a God go away" to running at Atreus when she hears he's ill. She really does care about him like a Son, even more so in Ragnarok.

[@Merlewhitefire]

She knows better than anybody what it means to fear for your child's life. She wouldn't wish it on anybody.

[@plug-intypeasacoco]

It's funny that the first thing Atreus said after finding out he was a god was asking if he could turn into an animal, and lo and behold he can actually turn into one.

[@comeridewithmeAE]

I love how they animated Kratos eyes in that scene, you can see him processing the question, totally blindsided by it haha. Just not the question or response he was expecting in the slightest.

[@HawkWall66]

I can't wait for an essay of Atreus. As a teen with dad and anger issues with a kind and caring personality I relate to him a lot. I feel like he's one of the more hated characters for just a few scenes where he acts irrationally, ignoring all the kind acts and small details of his kindness in the 2 games that don't get recognized. That's how kind and caring people feel like: Their efforts not being recognized and end up giving more than receiving back. But that's also for themselves to blame. No child can repay a parent's work of raising them, neither can anyone repay one's endless well of kindness. Now that I think of it, Atreus' and Sindri's stories aren't that far apart in Ragnarök. They're both small and somewhat weak people in a big and dangerous world who give their best but are still disrespected.

[@davidharner2481]

So many people forget. HE. IS. A. CHILD. And he acts like it at many points

[@HawkWall66]

@@davidharner2481 Yeah. Writers are too much into putting an adult in a teen's body. Teens aren't generally dumb, just confused and can be led by the wrong people to do stupid things like Odin did to Atreus. He was lost, no direction for answers, but Odin offered his helping hand and Atreus took the bait.

[@GabePlaysYT]

I think the hyper-violence of the Greek Trilogy wasn't looked at as a bad thing. It was actually novel at the time. There's been hack-and-slash games, Greek games, violent games, but never anything that put the pieces together until God of War. It's very much a part of the 2000's and all the edginess that came with it. The Kratos of the Greek Trilogy just wouldn't work today because players want more than just random violence. Cory Balrog gave Kratos a depth that nobody asked for or even knew he needed, but he did and it reinvented a dead franchise for modern audience and it absolutely paid off.

[@erikbrown6645]

I'd argue that the God Of War franchise was never dead. But that it's first era was concluded. And that there was always more to the old games than ultra violence (And some sex scenes), just for the sake of ultra violence. There was always a deep, tragic story to God Of War. There was always more to Kratos than rage and the endless quest for vengeance, it's just that the newer games are finally giving us (And Kratos himself) the chance to fully see that other side of him. And give that other side the chance to fully develop. I personally can't wait to see where Kratos's new character growth takes him next, and what other forms of growth await him in his future journeys.

[@tonts5329]

Kratos has always had depth, he's a man that's been made into a monster by his cruel and harsh life. In Chains of Olympus it takes all of Kratos's might, the same kind of energy he puts into those QTE's to kill Minotaurs and Cyclopi to abandon his daughter in Elysium to save her and the rest of the world from Persephone and Atlas. He's been haunted for at least a decade over the things he's done and the nightmares he endures because of his actions just in the first game. He tried to commit suicide to try and escape the pain, after he managed to kill Ares. He tries to find and save his brother, only to watch his Mother warped into a monster and later his brother gets murdered by yet another god. Which of course sets Kratos on the warpath we see him on, in God of War II, leading Sparta to wage war across Greece. Much like Ares presumably did, before he went on to solo Athens. Also it's not like the series was dead or forgotten, the third game got re-released in 2015, just three years before the Norse saga.

[@dr.calibrations7984]

​@tonts5329 Noooo!! he was never deep! I didn't play those crummy old games because it's not SoPhIsTiCaTeD enough for me

[@erikbrown6645]

....I can't tell if you're serious, and that's very concerning.@@dr.calibrations7984

[@jacksonfurlong3757]

'People don't want over the top violence.' The alive and booming Doom series (the one where you rip apart demons in increasingly gory fashion) would beg to differ with this assessment.

[@melthezombie8802]

Actually teared up when Kratos said "I did this to him?" When Atreus was sick

[@RickyUzumaki993]

Same here

[@bfranciscop]

It's not just covering the scars. The wraps are also visually a symbol of the chains which formed his old weapon. He's tying them up, binding them, keeping them trapped. It's why his original weapon was hidden, bound, trapped. Note how the wrapping gesture is natural and practiced, because he has done it a hundred times... and how when he wraps the chains about his wrist again, it is the exact same gesture.

[@ВладиславБулаев-л3э]

Damn, never thought about it that way... I love this comment section.

[@danielferrieri7434]

Kratos Then: A Killing Machine with Daddy Issues Kratos Now: A Father with Dark History and BOI

[@altermike3197]

I like modern Kratos

[@Takejiro24]

Still with Daddy Issues tho

[@transcendentsacredcourage]

​@@Takejiro24 So what?

[@lightmohamed5700]

Kratos wasn’t a killing machine he killed for a purpose

[@OdinArrow28]

@@lightmohamed5700even with a purpose, he’s still a killing machine lol. Now he just does it to protect instead of vengeance

[@sopranophantomista]

36:26 I just realised that Kratos is facing the literal shadow of his past when he recognizes he needs the blades. Cinematography, man. Gotta love it.

[@jaycub8547]

The line that made me sad, during the scene at Freyas house with Atreus being unconscious, his line "I did this." HURTS because he's worried atreus could die from his illness, and Kratos is terrified he might be the cause of another of his children's deaths

[@iambuhlockay8007]

Similar to the scene in Ragnarok when the bear turns back to Atreus. You can see the sheer panic in his face when he realizes he might’ve killed another child by accident.

[@MrOrcshaman]

The conflict between Kratos and Atreus, the tragedy being Faye was the in-between that gave both Kratos comfort, and her son a loving parental figure that knew how to look after both of them. Without her, both were forced into a situation outside their comfort zone, Atreus needing to grow up quickly, and Kratos learning what it really means to raise a child

[@RickyUzumaki993]

Compelling, isn’t it?

[@brianw6831]

I got halfway through and was looking forward to watching the rest yesterday. I’m glad you reuploaded this. You’re amazing at what you do.

[@Chargingrage]

Every time I see it, there's something I enjoy so much about it when Atreus falls ill after his own anger overwhelms him. When Kratos is done with his punch, the fight's over and danger's passed, he's still in his Spartan Rage until he touches Atreus to pick him up. Only once he touches his son that anger immediately dies because he's got something even stronger than his own rage - the love for his son.

[@RickyUzumaki993]

I know, right? Such good story writing

[@TheDownrankTrain]

24:00 One thing I really love about this scene, you see Kratos realize that his son values life, and his realization that THIS IS A GOOD THING. Afterwards he pauses and seems to take a moment to reflect, perhaps on how many things could have turned out differently if such values hadn't been crushed out of him at a young age by sparta.

[@RickyUzumaki993]

Agreed

[@fallenangeldraco3778]

So the reason why kratos ultimately let Pandora go is because zeus was taunting him, telling kratos not to fail Pandora quote "like you failed your family" which understandably causes kratos to snap This was such a missed opportunity to point out that the greek gods couldn't even let kratos be merciful to one person without turning it into a backhanded comment on the death of his family like he had any control over it

[@jackblack9605]

Nope, the choice ultimately was still with Kratos, not Zeus. Playing the Valhalla DLC and seeing Kratos own up to his actions is really cathartic. Yeah, Zeus and the Greek gods were assholes, but Kratos himself chose. Even at that moment, being taunted by Zeus. Kratos sill had the choice to be better. You can't keep blaming others for the choices you willingly make. You have to take accountability if you want to move on and be better.

[@Christopher_TG]

FattBrett: I would rather see Kratos grappling with the killing of innocent lives. Santa Monica Studios: Say no more *releases God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla

[@blacknerdtalks7921]

10:36 I always love this scene because of how Kratos tries to hide his shame from Atreus, and then that scene at the end of the game where he lets go of his bandages at the mountain and says "I have nothing to hide anymore". What adds to it, is Atreus' childish innocence to that powerful act of his father letting go of his bandages. What a game....👏🏿👏🏿

[@Comicbroe405]

Sad that the video got taken down but glad to see it's back up. One of my favorite analyses I've seen on Kratos. There's so much depth to him. Excited for Pt. 2!

[@Theonemx22]

These 2 games made me cry in many moments. The father and son relationship expressed is so beautiful and complex

[@CHRB-nn6qp]

Ragnarok is one of the few games I have cried at. It is an incredible work of art that perfectly brings Kratos' story to a close, and leaves an open end for Atreus' story to continue

[@LHC47]

52:28 I've always interpreted this exchange as having a double meaning: Atreus being able to turn in to a literal animal like in the video; and turning into an "animal", as in a ruthless, violent person, with Kratos saying no believing, or wishing to believe, that Atreus won't become an animal like he has in the past.

[@AlimonyJ]

I was always hoping Athena would play more of a role in the the new games. I was convinced she was going to be the mysterious force "whispering" to Odin to peer into the tear. Alas that is not the case as of yet. Still great though.

[@tanders4444]

I think you can tell where they had to cut to get the Norse saga down to 2 games, and that always felt like the intention to me and I will be forever bummed it didn’t pan out to the game.

[@FallenOne669]

​@@tanders4444I'm guessing that future mythologies will be two games from now on.

[@TheRogueCommand]

​@tanders4444 I respect their decision to end at a duology ((I can't imagine how much energy it takes to make a monster of a game like this)) but I'm always going to be disappointed because I would have loved to see more of their version of the Norse Myths. Like imagine getting more Loki and Thor misadventures but with atreus, see more norse gods who don't get much attention from modern media.

[@FallenOne669]

@@TheRogueCommand I still think they were going to give Atreus a new weapon forged by melting down the Blades of Chaos and the Leviathan Axe. There is a story Mimir tells about the beginning of the Nine Realms, and this part always stuck out to me after finishing God of War 4. "There was Fire, and there was Ice. And in the middle, they met and produced--" "Water?" "Not just Water, but the Primordial lifeblood of something entirely new!" Kratos is the Fire. Faye is the Ice. And Atreus/Loki is something entirely new, a Jotnar with the blood of a Greek God, not just a Norse God. I still hope this happens in the next game.

[@CHRB-nn6qp]

​@@FallenOne669 Yes! I'm not sure how Kratos' character could develop any further after Ragnarok, but I can see that Atreus could still have some potential for a great story left in him

[@Kreau]

You want an example of Kratos being cruel? Look up the ship captain, Referenced in multiple games. There's also the Spartan general from the second game, that genuinely infuriated kratos.

[@TheSSBBfan666]

infuriate how?

[@Kreau]

​@@TheSSBBfan666Kratos was trying to change his fate ended up accidentally killing a general he knew, and that general told him about zues destroying Sparta. So they have taken his family and now his home and his people

[@TheSSBBfan666]

@@Kreau oh ok

[@mortemtyrannus8813]

​@@Kreau Man, don't cut off the full story of the Last Spartan like that. He was the only survivor of the Battle of Rhodes, where Zeus betrayed and killed Kratos. When Kratos clawed his way out of the Underworld, he told Kratos what happened, and was ordered by his god to gather any survivors and protect Sparta. Then later in the game, Kratos kills him (semi-accidental, neither realised who they were fighting), where he tells Kratos that Zeus wiped Sparta off the map, and this one surviving general was taking the exact same path as Kratos to try and turn back time.

[@lordnemo6401]

Awesome what you mentioned is what they displayed in Valhalla

[@irispierce4238]

It’s a small thing but I really appreciate how much weight Kratos re-wrapping his arms at the beginning of the game is given as if the bandages were still those old heavy chains, you can see he follows each movement with his whole chest. Then as another symbol of his healing and growth when he finally removes his bandages later he says “I have nothing more to hide” and the bandages are shown to be lighter as he slips them off his arms and they flow away in the wind. Just like his wounds Internally and the pieces of who he used to be Kratos has healed and he sees he can let the people he loves, like Atreus, in again and really see him for who he’s trying to be as well as who he used to be.

[@maximillianoorosco-randhaw9336]

I think the reason Kratos was so callous, unhinged and ragefull to everyone around him both good and bad is because he finally snapped at that point of the series. He was not only enslaved by Ares, with the god in question tricked him into unknowingly killing his wife and daughter but basically by almost the rest of Olympians as well, he was promised by the gods that they would erase him memories of his family’s death if he did what they wanted but they broke their promise, and tricked him into becoming the God of War, has died no once but twice with the second death caused by Zeus’s paranoia and betrayal as well as Athena’s manipulation and interference and betrayal, etc. I think the reason why he was the way he was in GOW 3 was because all of these terrible things went all piled up and broke him, making him snap, which I believe that that was what the writers were trying to portray in the story, that Kratos is utterly broken, which is why I don’t believe that the original trilogy was juvenile when it came to Kratos’s characterization in those three games.

[@bfranciscop]

Considering how he really is, the fact that his first question upon learning of his godhood was 'can I turn into an animal?' is both hilarious and adorable.

[@Pillzpop]

And a clever bit of foreshadowing for the next game.

[@WorldWeave]

I really like that Kratos aggressively chopping down the tree isn’t past Greek-era anger coming out…chopping down this final tree for her pyre makes his wife’s death final, and he can’t accept that yet, so he slips and lashes out…I agree with your analysis of that moment

[@theshadygamer844]

I’m really glad you posted the story of Atreus the spartan at the end. Really was the cherry on top of a masterpiece of a game

[@thequietestlilbucket8402]

The Poseidon's "princess" scene was so hard to watch for me, and my friend who grew up with the original trilogy told me he always saw it as the developers wanting that sequence to be horrifying and disgusting, and as Kratos being monstrous. It definitely was interesting to go from that section through the rest of three, and then to GoW 2018 the next day

[@tybailey2105]

In college I took a Greek Mythology elective, and we were taught that to the Greeks one of, if not the worst, things a person could do is spill the blood of their family. You can see this in stories like Heracles and Oedipus. So I guess with that context Kratos would struggle with his actions towards Zeus a little more than people would assume.

[@tyrantravealpha]

You know that feeling when you experience something that is truly magnificent, damn near perfect? The portion of Kratos rushing back to Freya and then having to re-equip the blades of chaos, is just.....perfection.

[@EmeraldCrocodil]

Another couple of details I've noticed. 1. When Kratos scolds Atreus in Helheim, he uses his own authority as the parent only to make his son listen to him. But to seal his spech, and make the boy actually *obey* the order, - for that Kratos refers to someone else: "...You will *_honor your mother_* and abandon this path you have chosen. It is not too late..." The wording here in not accidental: at that moment Kratos doesn't think it's his place to tell his son "to be better". From his perspective, from the way he views himself, he can only lead the boy to become worse - to "pass on his cruelty and rage", as Freya put it. I think it was for the same reason that Kratos stayed relatively quiet during Atreus's "little sh*t" phase. Not only doesn't Kratos _know_ how to stop godhood from corrupting the boy - he _does not consider himself capable_ of putting his son on the right path. 2. in the cutscene, while Kratos says: "...We will be the gods we choose to be, - not those who have been. Who I was is not who you will be. We must be better..." - listen to the music. It's not his own theme playing in the background. It's Faye's. The cycle of tragedy and death that has been the gods' existence - it was Faye who taught Kratos the way out of it. _We are not our failures. We must be better._ Really, Kratos owes the people around him his entire character arc. With Faye, Atreus, Freya, Mimir, Brok and Sindri, - with them in his life, even a man like Kratos can change.

[@tonts5329]

Talking about the violence of God of War III, Kratos definitely feels at his most brutal there. Especially compared to earlier and later titles in the timeline. It's not like Kratos hasn't done heartless stuff before, like how he killed King Midas, Sacrificed the Greek Prisoner to reach Pandora's Box, allowed the Barbarian ship captain to die or Destroyed Atlantis. It feels more in your face in the third mainline game though. I was definitely cringing and felt uncomfortable with some of those violent sequences, like ripping off Helios's head instead of cleanly and quickly decapitating him? Or when he gouged out Poseidon's eyes?

[@CHRB-nn6qp]

I feel like God of War III was when the developers started to realise that they could've developed Kratos' character much more than they did, but by that point it was too late to make any significant changes, although you can tell that they did try. They saved that depth for the new games, and it turned out great :)

[@VitorHugoOliveiraSousa]

@@CHRB-nn6qp wrong, the games always had depth. He extreme excesses are intentional in 3. The developers intended to make you uncomfortable and had you as Kratos question what point was to much, what was the point of that much bloodshed and destruction and how far are Kratos and the player willing to go for revenge, how much they will sacrifice from their humanity? The murder of Poseidon concubine is the point when the developers intended for the most bloodthirsty play to stop to morally support Kratos and few uncomfortable on this journey. And soon after you rescue Pandora and they build the bond between the too to make the player and Kratos consider another path and give up the vengeance. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHfQm4ihgNhqbJo

[@essential67]

And the ship captain. He got done horrible

[@angeljimenez2112]

Can't wait for the next transformation of this character on your next analysis of Kratos in Ragnarok. Expertly done.

[@angelicasolis9105]

Kratos is hands down top 3 best video game characters ever made I mean if you're a true fan you really feel he can beat anyone the stronger the more entertaining but I never doubted my guy against Thor Odin any of them

[@lordhorg999]

Dont be sorry be better is one of the greatest lines ever written and what a story about the name of where atreus name came from jesus still gives me goosebumps.

[@KenshiImmortalWolf]

Christoper judge was an inspired choice for this new Era of Kratos. The stoic warrior who's history is something they strive to make amens for is the type he is legendary for and he fits it so well.

[@ericc2129]

Another great video man. Kratos was so blinded by vengeance in the trilogy he never gave a second thought taking out whoever got in his way. And that way of thinking only got worse after he murdered his wife and daughter.

[@Lusius8879]

as this is are-upload, here is my re-posted comment: my favourite detail is still the use of 1 very specific phrase in both the beginning and the finale. When Atreus in the beginning fails the deer hunt, Kratos yells at him "BE BETTER". When Kratos in the end tells the truth to Atreus. he calmly says "we must be better" These 2 words... "be better"... They carry the story and the growth. This little change is so masive. When this phrase first gets used, Kratos only focusses on Atreus. The emotions used here are purely fear and anger. Kratos, at this point, conciders himself a lost cause because he already is a god and doesn't yet know any good gods. So he doesn't concider himself at fault here. He purely focusses on Atreus. Not only telling him to be better at huntin, but in general just being better than a god. He is trying to protect Atreus from becoming that which he himself is. He is projecting his anger and fear on Atreus, while being blind to himself. Yet when the phrase "be better" is used in the end, Kratos states "we". He has learned that he himself can indeed also become better. He realized he is not a lost cause. He includes himself, but also still directs it at Atreus. However, unlike with the first use... there is no anger here. His voice no longer holds fear. It now holds hope. It holds strength. He is being calm, because he know it is possible to be better.

[@siriusshabazz7746]

I think the devs would greatly appreciate this.

[@XorsosedutoX]

I love that Atreus asks if he can turn into an animal and fight.. and we now know he can, since he is who is in the nordic pantheon. I also like to think that he got that power as a mix of his father's rage power and his grandfather zeus's well.. infamous animal trasformations

[@SageOfLimitlessHands]

I believe in the first trilogy the idea was to put you in the shoes of Kratos, a tragic tale of a man who would do everything to get revenge. I believe the careless killing of innocents was to set the tone of Kratos becoming a god and treating everyone else the same and thus not evolving as a character. By the end he definitely realized he never wanted to destroy everything in his wake but it was too late to change.

[@johnquach8821]

I'm glad at how far Kratos has developed since God of War III. Maybe that game was more beloved than I thought it was, but it's still impressive how much Kratos changed for the better.

[@cool96785]

Can we just take the time to shoutout FatBrett, just incredible and detailed analysis on some characters I thought I already knew so well, major props to you and one of my fav subscriptions on youtube

[@fallenangeldraco3778]

I just kinda wish he used more than just bare minimum context for some parts of these analysis videos but other than that he's great

[@jai6347]

Small detail I noticed n this is prolly a very old detail but when Kratos was retrieving his blades of chaos we can see his old loincloth (I don't know what it's actually called) cover the blades and I believe that's a really cool example of attention to detail.

[@Corny-pe8ut]

Rewatching this and sharing to my whole friend group to share the love after the first vid got taken down. Always love your stuff, Brett! And I'm gonna shoot my shot again to pitch the Yakuza/Like A Dragon/Judgment series for you because the essays and enjoyment I think you'd get from it would be something else. It meets kind of a similar tone as Metal Gear Rising with how ridiculous it can be, but have a great base in good character writing. The cast is complex and interesting, the antagonists especially are multifaceted. Majima has as much love and insanity packed in him as was put into Baldur and I'd love to see your take on him

[@theevilgood]

Given how much he likes tales about fatherhood, I'd honestly love to see him do a video on Masumi Arakawa. Especially given the reveal at the end of the game that Ichiban actually WAS his son since he grabbed the wrong baby from the lockers. Even lacking that knowledge, Arakawa always treated Ichiban like a son. Likewise for Ichi treating Ryo Aoki as a brother. And the utter failure of fatherhood that was Sawashiro. Man I love that game. I hope I can become a hero at 40

[@jimmymacreator]

Crazy how spot-on this analysis was, given what we learn in Valhalla. Excellent video

[@RickyUzumaki993]

I know, right?

[@hiromitsumoonblossom8682]

When kratos said "the truth..." I love how he sounded like he had just realized he was looking for his car keys for a month straight and realized it was in his hand the whole time, I love how it was a how did I not realize that it was so simple the whole time.

[@danih.5675]

Kratos has become one of my favorite character studies. Such beautiful exploration of a broken man who despite everything learned to become compassionate and understanding

[@FusashiYuraka]

Not gonna lie. The end talk of Atreus' namesake really hit hard as someone who played through the three original GoWs. With the end of 3 being that even Hope can slay gods, its perfectly replicated here in that he gave Loki his cover name of Atreus. He gave him a name that gives hope, reminded him of his humanity. He gave him a name that accurately describes Kratos' desires for his son and his future. Hope that he will be better then he was, just like the original Atreus.

[@ChaseGallagher-mo4pd]

I like how Atreus asks if he can turn into a animal and in the next game it’s a ability

[@manhuntre]

the 'can i turn into an animal?' line gets me EVERY time. Easily the best comedic moment in the whole game but it also serves such an amazing purpose in its placement. its such a delightful moment of levity after all of the stress and tension building up to that point, like a huge sigh of relief washes over me. that single question immediately confirms that Kratos' decision to tell the truth was the correct choice. there is no doubt, no worry that the truth was the wrong choice. and it's such a great character moment for Atreus and adorable enough to make us root for him to succeed.

[@marcopohl4875]

What I think is important about that scene where Atreus berates Sindri is that he's right. Not about "little peoples little problems" of course, but "do something about it or shut up already" was something Sindri definitly needed to hear. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, I guess.

[@morningstarred]

i adore the scene where kratos regains the blades of chaos. i wasn't a fan of the series before i watched a playthrough of gow 2018, i knew hardly anything about it, but even someone as uninitiated as i could feel the weight of him retrieving them. the ambience and tone of the scene is impeccable, and the way his voice is so raw, almost breaking, when he says "i know" in response to athena declaring him a monster.... it hits so hard.

[@lethalityrush105]

one of the best character arcs in video game history, maybe even movie/digital history

[@randomaccountwithmusic4206]

I did love how, even with his resentment to godhood and his fear for Atreus to turn out like himself. The thing he could not bear out of everything was for Atreus to think he was not wanted, not loved.

[@RaraPremium]

Great video. Just wanted to add that Kratos does have experience with raising a kid that wasn't his own childhood experience... His daughter. He doesn't have experience with raising a son besides his own. But he does have experience with raising a kid and one that he would have to empathize and be patient with

[@GrapeCheckerBoard]

But Kratos wasn’t a single parent. His wife was around to help him, may have even done most of the work if Kratos was too busy to stay home and help raise Calliope.

[@RaraPremium]

@@GrapeCheckerBoard it is a possibility that Kratos barely help raise his daughter. But from what we are shown in the series he and his daughter were close to each other. And for his son we know Kratos was distant due to not wanting to raise atreus as a spartan. Mom's definitely did most of the work with bonding with atreus there, Since it's actually implied.

[@obesus787]

For your question about how the developers wanted the audience to react to the violence In the first two games (especially the first) it was a power fantasy, Kratos was clearly the “victim” of the gods’ schemes, and only sought retribution. The violence is more a necessity rather than indulgence, and overkill is not out of sadism/enjoyment, but rather uncontrollable rage. In GoW III you are meant to be disturbed from the first instance of excessive violence. Gouging out Poseidons eyes, and in the first person no less, was made to be so over the top violent (and eye gouging is something most people genuinely hate to see in movies/video games/etc) was a conscious choice to make The player immediately be uncomfortable with the excessive violence. The reason is that the earlier two games kind of desensitized players to the violence because it was “justified”, so we get to see Kratos be an absolute monster, almost indulge in and enjoy the carnage. The game is frontloaded with excessive brutality in order to tell us “Kratos is out of line here”. And our initial impression stays with us to the end. The ending of the game, with Kratos feeling genuine guilt and shame for what his actions have wrought (mostly in regards to Pandora, but also Greece) and he tries to fix his mistake by releasing the power of hope into Greece, even if it kills him in the process. GoW III is kind of the ultimate Greek tragedy, and as with many Greek tragedies no god is actually good, there are only mortal victims. We are not meant to root for Kratos anymore, he is no longer our stand in. His victims are.

[@ErikDayne]

Watching this makes me realize how many callbacks and payoffs they had in the sequel. Kratos starting this game telling Atreus he’s not ready, and ending the sequel by telling him that he is ready. Athena in this game telling Kratos that he will always be a monster and he cannot change, and Kratos telling Thor in the sequel that they aren’t just destroyers and they can change. It goes to show that not only did the writers do a good job in each game, but they also paid attention to tying them together in satisfying ways.

[@fist-of-doom487]

I’ve been hoping for a while to have the original trilogy be remade with modern graphics. Not only would it be cool but it would give newer fans a closer look at who he was since I know older graphics are kinda tough for people who aren’t used to it

[@Thevillagebrother]

I was waiting for this analysis. I love the growth that Kratos has in the current game.

[@Tibo-f8s]

You are a literal genius in potraying Kratos and his complex character development. Awesome description. Even after witnessing Kratos character during God Of War Ragnarok, I feel like it is a sequel to this video

[@stevencowan37]

1:02:00 Kratos discovered the parenting power of "I'm not angry, I'm disappointed."

[@nightlasher]

Parents would say that but in reality they are feeling both anger and disappointment

[@moldock40k]

I'll never understand why I can watch a full game play video with all the uncensored stuff and KZbin dosen't care but try to watch it in a lore video or something like it and KZbin kills it

[@connorkinsman3164]

Likelihood of those streams going as viral as something as digestible as this could perhaps?

[@lilolemilo]

Kratos is my absolute #1 favorite video game character. and i love what they’ve done with the story and his character. ❤

[@Editor_Brad]

Another video that talks about the games themes and parallels of the real myths. He says something along the lines of "and when they make it to hell, Kratos doesnt tell Atreus off for falling short of Kratos, but being too much like him" sent chills because I didnt see it at first.

[@ethinwhite3454]

Got to see the original before it was taken down. I appreciate your commitment to your videos. We all appreciate it. Keep em coming.

[@nuyabuisness7526]

It's honestly such a good story that we get to watch Kratos learn to be a good, almost aspirational father. He's still far from perfect, but each step in his journey throughout both games shows him learning to not pass on all the hurt he's gotten over the years.

[@Ze_N00B]

I love that you actually acknowledged the effort and work the original trilogy did to build Kratos. I hate how people keep thinking that they have to bash it just to compliment the new duology.

[@Jason-wp7ed]

When I first saw this I moaned “Ugh an hour, that’s too long” but by the end I was like “Wait that’s it? It’s already over?” 😢 What a great breakdown of not only Kratos, but the Art of Redeeming oneself. It’s never too late to change for the better. Bravo 👏🏾

[@Nealous1]

For the Greeks, patricide was a worse sin than the murder of some random passerby. The sinner would have vengeance wrought upon them by the Furies, whom even the gods feared. Maybe that is why it haunts Kratos so much.

[@FoxRants]

52:42 is honestly one of my favorite voice acting lines EVER delivered! You can hear the smile in Judge's voice as he says it.

[@Guteranimus]

Listening to this today again for the 10th time. I am a Marine, my Dad only ever thought of me as a mistake. I joined the Marines in spite of him. When I became a dad, I only knew the Marine Corps and how my dad treated me. Never heard a compliment come from him so I distanced myself from my son; big issue. I soon found myself realizing that this was a mistake and needed to teach him to be a good person and made a point to not treat him the ways that I only knew. I started asking for advice and trying my best to follow it. Now he’s 17 and about to join the Marines himself. I’m so proud of him and what he’s become. This game series reminds me so much of him and I and I appreciate the synopsis that you did on it.

[@ghostofqueenelizabethii]

Can we just appreciate how well bear writes music for this game?

[@Sunseyki]

This essay's writing is almost on-par with the quality of GoW4 & Ragnarök. You have earned a sub, Sir.

[@kristym7149]

I'm so glad you were able to put this video back up! I got like 20ish mins through yesterday and was eagerly waiting. Your videos are some of the most interesting I watch on here

[@The_Nuttman]

I'm excited for the video on the violence and how it'd supposed to make you feel! I feel like what they did with kratos' story is perfect

[@UNDRWOODMedia]

This is by far one of the by-God greatest videos I’ve ever watched! The best unpacking of Kratos I’ve ever seen!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Bravo Brett!💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

[@sergiosalcedo5111]

Great analysis, as always. I wish David Yaffe could see Kratos this way

[@reun1clus]

Rewatching this like I do for all other vids… your voice is amazing

[@chuckled125]

can't wait for next episode where Kratos is a literal paragon hero, always striving to do good to such a degree that it inspires positive growth in everyone around him

[@GrapeCheckerBoard]

Villainous antihero to paragon who inspires others to do good would be a wild character arc. It reminds me of my second DnD character, a paladin who used to be a mob enforcer.

[@twinphalanx4465]

As a parent as a father you really are your family's shield much moreso for a spartan, and for kratos when Atreus falls it's his entire world crashing down around him screaming in his mind that HE FAILED TO PROTECT THEM. The item alone genuinely makes me cry

[@YoungSweezy]

In Ragnarok flashbacks we can see Faye having huge impact on his change. It was not only his grief, but someone who showed him hope. I think without her and later without Atreus and rest of the cast he would be stuck in rage relapses and grief. Anyway, this only shows the genius of writing of whole series (mainly last two games) that lets us discuss a videogame character on psychological level. Kratos is the most human videogame character i ever experienced.

[@seiferwolfhart1144]

After watching this video, I now realize why God of War 2018 won game of the year against RDR2. The masterful storytelling hits on a more personal level which a lot of people can actually relate to. Great video by the way!

[@wutmagna7222]

lol, GoW 3 being so violent it destroyed the first video is such an ironic way to prove the point of the video, how Kratos was WAY too violent and then grew past that in the new games.

[@CManning009]

I got through 3/4 of the first video that they released it before I fell asleep. I'm glad you re-up loaded the rest it's a great video as always.

[@kirstenwyatt9675]

Love your analysis vids! Only got halfway through it before it got taken down. Glad I get to finish it!