God Of War: Kratos' Biggest Regrets

Key Takeaways

Kratos regrets killing gods like Helios and Athena due to his older, wiser perspective.
His remorse for murdering Hephaestus is evident as he understands the blacksmith’s love for Pandora.
As he reflects on his past violence, Kratos regrets his ruthless deeds and the destruction of Olympus.

As a gamer who has witnessed Kratos’ transformation from a ruthless Spartan warrior to a tormented father, I must say that the character development in God of War (2018) was nothing short of extraordinary. The way Kratos grapples with his past actions, particularly those involving his family, is a testament to the depth and complexity that Santa Monica Studios has brought to this iconic character.

In the God of War series, Kratos is infamous not just for being extremely difficult to defeat, but also for his ruthless and merciless behavior towards the gods and anyone else unlucky enough to encounter him. Whether they were ordinary people, colossal Titans from antiquity, or even gods merely goading him from afar, Kratos always had a reservoir of anger ready for all of them.

2018’s reboot introduced fans to a new version of Kratos, who had once again found family after centuries of grief following the loss of his wife and daughter, and had also evolved into a more sagacious warrior with a steadier demeanor. Over time, Kratos has developed a sense of remorse over many of his past actions. Here are some of regrets that weigh heavily on Kratos.

6 Killing Helios

Kratos Apologizes To Him, Even Though He’s Just A Manifestation Of His Own Mind

Kratos’ mind manifests Helios to mess with his head
He acknowledges he could have treated Helios differently

In the Valhalla DLC of God of War Ragnarök, Kratos, who typically doesn’t reflect on the gods he’s killed, showed a hint of regret for slaying Helios. This wasn’t a constant burden on his conscience, but it was an action that, in his later life, would have been uncharacteristic of him.

In God of War 3, I had to take Helios’ life to move forward, but it doesn’t diminish the fact that I inflicted a brutal end on the Sun god. His death was unjustifiable, something I was well aware of during the gameplay.

5 Killing Athena

A Sad Outcome From A Rash Decision

Kratos immediately regrets killing Athena
She died trying to save Olympus and stop Kratos from killing Zeus

In the initial trilogy, Kratos had a single, relentless objective – to eliminate his father Zeus, who had caused him immense suffering. Although other gods he eliminated along the way were also on his hit-list, they held little significance for him. Athena was one of the rare deities that Kratos felt some affection towards or didn’t loathe, which is why unintentionally wounding her with the Blade of Olympus during the finale of God of War 2 remains one of his greatest regrets.

In the heat of battle against Zeus, Kratos was driven by an uncontrollable fury and the thrill that his long odyssey was coming to a close, making him reckless in his actions. At the climax of their epic duel, he unfortunately stabbed Athena with the Blade of Olympus, thereby dooming her. In the subsequent scene, Kratos’ remorse is palpable; not only does his expression convey sorrow, but also a change in his tone and behavior.

4 Killing Hephaestus

While Doing So Was Self Defense, Kratos Understands Hephaestus’ Actions

Kratos regrets killing Hephaestus the way he did
With age, Kratos understood Hephaestus’ actions were an act of love towards Pandora

Though Kratos wasn’t famous for creating deep connections, there was a unique camaraderie between him and the Olympian blacksmith. Exiled from Olympus due to his unconventional looks and other imperfections, Hephaestus harbored strong resentment towards the gods, much like Kratos. For most of the game’s duration, it seemed that he aimed to aid the Ghost of Sparta in his missions.

Regrettably, at some stage in God of War 3, Kratos turns against Hephaestus, attempting to prevent him from utilizing Pandora to open Pandora’s Box. This confrontation ends with Kratos slaying Hephaestus within his own domain. Although Kratos has seldom reflected on his past actions, he mentions Hephaestus in the reboot series, and there’s a clear sense of remorse in his tone. With time, Kratos came to realize that Hephaestus cherished Pandora as his daughter, and he would have gone to great lengths to shield her.

Despite attempting to slay Kratos, it’s important to note that the blacksmith’s actions were driven by affection, rather than anger or a thirst for vengeance.

3 His Murderous Rampage

After Centuries Of Reflection, He Understands It Brought Him No Relief

Kratos tells Atreus about his former life and how much he regrets having done what he did, as it brought him no satisfaction
The gods of Olympus were his family, and he still decided to murder them

Among the reasons players find Kratos captivating is his relentless brutality and unyielding thirst for retribution, which seems fitting given its just rewards. There’s a certain grandeur in observing such a potent demigod confront gods who, until then, seemed invincible and impervious to harm.

Back in the day, I was all about the bloodshed and chaos, but the older me has swapped out my rage-fueled battles for quieter, more thoughtful ones. You see, during the epic tale of God of War (2018), I sat down with Atreus, my boy, and spilled the beans about my past. I told him everything – who I was, what I did, and how my actions shaped this world we live in.

It’s easy to forget, that, even though he was fairly justified in killing the gods of Olympus, many of them never did anything to Kratos, and even worse, they were his family.

2 Killing The Boat Captain

An Innocent Man Kratos Thinks Of Frequently

Kratos let the boat captain die, and he also kicked him into the river Styx
The older Kratos from Valhalla reminisces on the event and tells Mimir the story with regret

Prior to the addition of the Valhalla DLC, the boat captain from the initial God of War game was merely a humorous Easter egg scattered throughout. Longtime players might recall an instance during the Hydra battle where it appeared Kratos returned to rescue the boat captain before he was devoured by the beast. However, as Kratos himself admitted, his return was not to save the man but rather to retrieve his key. Regrettably, even in death, the boat captain could not escape Kratos’ grasp, as they crossed paths once more when Kratos approached the river Styx.

In the Valhalla DLC, Kratos recounts the captain’s tale to Mimir from his older self’s point of view. He expresses deep remorse for how he treated the captain and other innocent civilians who were merely caught in his path. Using his own words, Kratos admits, “He was a man scared for his life, attacked by a beast he couldn’t defeat. But the Hydra was just an animal. I demonstrated what a real monster looks like.

1 Killing His Family

The Event That Caused The Demise Of Olympus

Kratos killing his family is a turning point in the series and the character
His regret around this event resulted in the destruction of Olympus

The pivotal moment in the God of War series lies in Ares deceiving Kratos into slaying his wife and daughter, an act that fueled Kratos’s fury against the gods. Although Kratos did not intend to harm his family, he was controlled by Ares and had unwillingly made a pact with him. Despite this lack of control, Kratos carries a heavy burden of guilt for the tragedy that unfolded.

Should there be any uncertainty about Kratos’ remorse for these events, players only need to gaze upon the ravaged remains of Olympus to see it clearly reflected.

2024-09-20 21:43

God Of War: Kratos’ Biggest Regrets