God of War fans are getting another look at characters from the iconic series soon, but not exactly in the way they might have expected. While a proper, new entry in the franchise is sure to rear its head before too long, Kratos, perhaps joined by a few friends, will appear in a PlayStation-centric episode of Amazon's upcoming Secret Level series, an anthology show from the creators of Love, Death, and Robots designed around existing video game IP.
Whether this is only a cameo or a more substantial role remains to be seen, but the fact that Kratos and possibly other God of War characters will be cropping up in Secret Level seems significant, for better or worse. Based on the limited information from the Secret Level reveal, Kratos will appear in an episode alongside other proprietary PlayStation characters, including Ghost of Tsushima's Jin Sakai. Most puzzling about this upcoming appearance is the fact that Kratos is shown in an ostensibly modern, urban setting, suggesting that some time travel or multiverse shenanigans are afoot here, raising questions about how the show will tie into the broader God of War narrative.
Secret Level Could Shine Some Light On God of War's Future
Kratos' Role In Secret Level
God of War is just one of many IPs featured in Secret Level, but the nature of his appearance is different from the likes of Mega Man and Pac-Man, who star in stand-alone episodes. Naturally, the fact that Kratos will share the spotlight with other PlayStation IP distinguishes his role in the series from these aforementioned iconic gaming mascots, but it's not the only unique element at play here.
Much like New World: Aeternum and Exodus—two other franchises showing up in Secret Level—God of War's story is still very much ongoing. It's obvious that there will be a sequel to God of War Ragnarok due to how that game ended and where the series as a whole seems to be heading, so Kratos showing up alongside his PlayStation compatriots could have implications for his story. Worth noting is Kratos' outfit: he is clearly dressed in armor from the Norse saga, suggesting that Secret Level is adhering to the current God of War timeline.
To get even more granular, it would appear that Kratos is wearing his fur cloak from God of War Ragnarok, positioning the events of Secret Level at some point after God of War 2018.
It's Not Clear If Secret Level Will Be Considered Canon
The question on many gamers' minds about Secret Level is whether the show will be considered canon. For now-defunct games like Concord, this matters little, and the same can be said for more sprawling IP like Armored Core, which is more about grand concepts than intimate character-building. But for the likes of God of War, where every moment seemingly has meaning, it's an issue worth thinking about.
If Kratos is headed to a real-world city and possibly interacting with characters like Jin Sakai, and this is established as canon, then it will call into question the entirety of the God of War story as it exists right now. Again, Kratos is in his Norse saga clothing, which would mean that the PlayStation episode takes place around the events of Ragnarok, and it's only logical to wonder how this strange narrative premise could impact God of War's story moving forward.
Crossover content is getting a bit stale for audiences, with many arguing that it can feel manipulative and somewhat cheap to simply throw different characters together for the sake of brand recognition. If PlayStation's Secret Level episode is simply a tongue-in-cheek homage to Sony IP, then it could work, but if it signals a broader shift into MCU-style multiverse stories, then there could be clouds on the horizon for the likes of God of War. Here's hoping it's the former.
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
