In September 2021, about a year before God of War Ragnarok's release, Santa Monica's Cory Balrog mentioned in an interview that the team wanted Kratos and Atreus' Norse journey to reach a satisfying conclusion by the end of the saga's second game, believing that any further extensions would dilute the story and character relationships too much. God of War Ragnarok did just that, tying up most of the plot threads set up in God of War 2018, while leaving room for the continuation of certain character stories. God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla then acts as a brief epilogue to Kratos' story, bridging the gap between the Norse saga and whatever comes next.
For years, fans have wanted Kratos to face off against the gods and goddesses of the ancient Egyptian pantheon, and that remains a really strong concept given the pantheon's continued popularity in modern media. But that continued popularity might also put the next God of War in an awkward spot when it comes to the portrayal of one specific Egyptian god.
God of War Ragnarok on PS Plus Could Be The Calm Before the Storm
God of War Ragnarok finally coming to PS Plus is a great way for Sony to kick off the year, but it could hold an even deeper meaning.
God of War's Version of Khonshu Would Have a Lot To Live Up To
Marvel's Khonshu Has Become a Popular Character in Recent Years
The ancient Egyptian god of the moon, Khonshu (also spelled Khonsu or Chonsu) is intrinsically tied to Marvel's Moon Knight character. Making his debut in 1980's Moon Knight #1, Khonshu resurrects mercenary Marc Spector, essentially forcing him to become his earthly champion. Though Marc's willingness to be "The Fist of Khonshu" waxes and wanes from comic to comic, like the phases of the moon, at least one of his dissociative identities is usually happy to suit up as Moon Knight and dish out some of Khonshu's "justice."
While Khonshu has been an important part of the Marvel universe for over four decades, he didn't become a household name until just a few years ago. Like most Marvel entities, Khonshu entered the mainstream public consciousness due to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though it didn't review particularly well, 2022's Moon Knight Disney+ miniseries was still incredibly popular, beating out Hawkeye's decent viewership numbers.
This sudden influx of new Moon Knight fans has led many to check out his extensive back-catalog of comics, which in turn paints an even clearer picture of Khonshu's role in the Marvel universe. The recently released Marvel Rivals also gives Moon Knight plenty of time in the spotlight, with him arguably being one of the game's best Duelists, and Khonshu gets plenty of mentions during Moon Knight's pre-match dialogue.
God of War's Khonshu Would Now Be Compared to Marvel's
A few years ago, God of War could have presented its own version of Khonshu and many players wouldn't bat an eye. But given Moon Knight's fast rise to fame, any version of Khonshu in other media is bound to draw comparisons with Marvel's version of the Egyptian god of the moon.
A recent rumor from @DanielRPK claims that Sony is currently casting "Middle Eastern" actors for an upcoming AAA game, which is rumored to be a God of War game set in Egypt.
These comparisons wouldn't necessarily be an issue for the next God of War, but they can lead to some fans having certain expectations of how the character should behave and look. The perfect example of this is God of War Ragnarok's version of Thor. When Ragnarok's Thor design was first revealed, some took issue with how the Norse god looked, with many being used to more traditionally muscular portrayals shown in media like the MCU. Upon playing God of War Ragnarok, many players found its version of Thor to be surprisingly complex and refreshing, and the distinct character design tied in perfectly with the narrative Santa Monica was telling.
Though God of War has proven it can overcome comparisons to the MCU, it's still an obstacle that would likely be inevitable if the next game included a version of Khonshu. Of course, an easy fix would be to simply not include him.
God of War Ragnarok
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- November 9, 2022
- ESRB
- M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting go
From Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Franchise
- God of War
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- September 19, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- November 9, 2022
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
