One of the God of War franchise's greatest strengths is how it integrates mythology into its action and narrative. Every second of the original God of War Greek Saga is steeped in real-world mythology, from Kratos' dramatic fight against the Hydra, to the countless Greek gods and goddesses standing between Kratos and his bloody revenge, to Athena and Ares' rivalry that fuels much of Kratos' origin.
That strong integration of mythology carried through to God of War's Norse Saga, where figures like Baldur, Odin, Thor, and Freya all play key roles in Kratos and Atreus' journey throughout the Nine Realms. The most memorable of these characters are those who pop up throughout the story, reinforcing their unique personality and motivations with each appearance. Such is the case with God of War Ragnarok's Heimdall, one of the series' best villains that fans love to hate, and an archetype that needs to carry over to the next God of War entry.
The Next God of War Series Should Have Its Own Version of Heimdall
God of War Ragnarok's Heimdall Excelled At His Job
Ripped right from mythology, God of War Ragnarok's Heimdall has been given the gift of foresight, along with mastery over the Bifrost. Heimdall uses these gifts to mock his adversaries relentlessly.
In God of War Ragnarok, players first meet Heimdall as Atreus is climbing the walls surrounding Asgard. Heimdall mocks Atreus and even attempts to push him to his death, but Atreus manages to hold on and convince Heimdall to let him up, stating Odin wouldn't be pleased if he killed his guest of honor. Though Heimdall agrees to take Atreus to Odin, he instead leads him into an ambush where he sends his Einherjar soldiers to attack the boy.
Throughout the fight, Heimdall teases Atreus. Once the Einherjar have been defeated, he turns to physically bullying Atreus, using his mastery of the Bifrost and his powers of foresight to dodge all of the half-giant's attacks. Heimdall's assault only comes to an end when Thor and Odin appear.
This lengthy introduction to Heimdall does a great job of building a natural rivalry between the player and the Asgardian, with Heimdall's arrogance and brutality encouraging players to want to take revenge. So, later on in God of War Ragnarok's story when Kratos and Freya set out to kill Heimdall, players should be enthusiastically on board. And when players finally manage to land a hit on the god, and see his arrogant facade crumble into frustration and fear, it's incredibly satisfying.
How The Next God of War Series Could Improve Upon Heimdall's Blueprint
Heimdall's continued antagonization of the player throughout the first two-thirds of God of War Ragnarok makes his ultimate defeat feel all the more rewarding, and if the next God of War wanted to up the ante with its own version of the character archetype, it could extend that period of antagonization. ]
Rather than have the new villain pop up for just the first two-thirds of the next game, they could appear throughout the next God of War saga, taunting Kratos and co. And retreating before their taunts can be stopped for good. By the time players finally get to silence the antagonist, the confrontation could have several games' worth of build-up, leading to a very climactic, cathartic duel.
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
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
