Kratos is not exactly known for his humor in the God of War series. Being predominantly solemn in the recent Norse sagas, owing to his terse responses and serious demeanor, the games could have been a lot darker if not for the supporting characters injecting levity and comic relief. In God of War Ragnarok, the squirrel Ratatoskr dwelling in Yggdrasil brings much-needed laughter on Kratos' and Atreus' odyssey across the Nine Realms.
Initially facing exclusion from the game, Ratatoskr's inclusion sets a significant precedent for future releases: entertaining, humorous characters can be integrated into the God of War universe. Moreover, Ratatoskr's presence opens the door for the incorporation of the more outlandish aspects of mythology into the series. Norse mythology particularly boasts some peculiar and even silly tales that could be explored further thanks to Ratatoskr paving the way.
Delving into the Almost Exclusion of Ratatoskr in God of War Ragnarok
According to Ragnarok director Eric Williams, there was initial resistance to including Ratatoskr. The game's music director was perplexed about how to approach this cheeky, talkative squirrel interacting with the somber Kratos. Nevertheless, Williams advocated for Ratatoskr's presence, voiced by YouTube personality SungWon "ProZD" Cho. Although certain scenes, like a rap battle in the Norse flyting style, were scrapped for not aligning with the usual tone of God of War, Ratatoskr was eventually embraced and enjoyed by many players.
Amidst the prevalent themes of death and havoc in God of War Ragnarok, Ratatoskr plays a pivotal role in averting some of this chaos and tidying up after its inevitable occurrence. His amiable and humorous nature helps cushion the impact of the narrative's otherwise devastating blows. Ultimately, the knowledge of Ratatoskr's presence to care for and protect Yggdrasil reassures players that the World Tree won't collapse, sparing the Nine Realms from calamity.
Embracing Bizarre Norse Tales in God of War
Norse mythology, amid its tragic narratives, also harbors comedic elements. Some stories are even more peculiar than a chatty squirrel scampering up and down the World Tree. In the original Norse myths, Ratatoskr was somewhat of a troublemaker, ferrying insults between the eagles atop Yggdrasil and the dragon Nidhogg residing in its roots. He fueled their feud to the extent that Nidhogg began gnawing on the World Tree's roots in fury.
With Ratatoskr now ingrained in the game's lore, the path is paved for even more eccentric tales, such as Thor's brief stint as a blushing bride. In ancient stories, Thor's hammer Mjolnir was stolen by a giant who demanded to marry the formidable Freya. Loki disguised Thor as Freya and took him to the wedding, nearly carrying out the ceremony before Thor revealed himself, reclaimed Mjolnir, and proceeded to vanquish the entire wedding party.
Myths from other cultures are equally abundant with bizarre yet age-old anecdotes. Since transitioning from Greek to Norse mythology in the series, fans speculate about Kratos potentially venturing into another mythological realm.
The future for Kratos and Atreus remains uncertain. Speculations abound regarding a third installment in the modern series and a potential semi-sequel, but until Santa Monica Studio provides official confirmation, fans eagerly await the prospect of indulging in Ratatoskr's banter once more and experiencing the fresh tone he brings to the games.