God of War Ragnarok’s DLC is a Trend the Next Game Should Continue

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The game God of War Ragnarok is an impressive accomplishment by Santa Monica Studio, effectively continuing the narrative begun in the 2018 reboot of God of War. By enhancing its already high-quality production, intricate storytelling, and intense combat, Ragnarok sets a strong foundation as a compelling sequel, leaving players eagerly anticipating what’s to come next.

To many’s astonishment, the story of God of War Ragnarok was concluded with the release of the free DLC expansion called Valhalla, which came out in December 2023, more than a year after the base game debuted. Despite having no cost and being announced only a few days before its availability, Valhalla didn’t generate much excitement: most considered it a pleasant addition rather than a must-play. However, this opinion was far from accurate, as players soon discovered that Valhalla not only provided a fresh take on the combat mechanics in the God of War series but also functioned as a kind of epilogue, neatly wrapping up Kratos’ character development in a thoughtful and fulfilling way. In truth, no experience with God of War Ragnarok is complete without playing Valhalla, and future games in the series might want to adopt a similar approach.

Why Future God of War Games Should Have Their Own ‘Valhalla’ DLC

God of War Ragnarok Is Vastly Improved Through Valhalla

In the years following the events of God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarok, Kratos carries an indelible, profound impact. Once a man consumed by bloodlust and revenge, Kratos opted for a tranquil existence in the Norse realms with Laufey and Atreus. However, he could not fully escape his past demons. In a manner that resonates with many, he endeavored to deal with his remorse and sorrow by suppressing it, feigning ignorance about its presence.

Through facing the truth of his past deeds and having the freedom to decide his future path, he can embark on a journey towards self-understanding and personal growth. These ideas of transformation and understanding are subtly introduced in the 2018 game, develop in Ragnarok, and reach full maturity in the Valhalla DLC expansion. Since players had roughly a year to ponder Kratos’ journey before Valhalla was launched, the focus on these storyline elements in the expansion can have an even more powerful effect. In summary, Valhalla doesn’t present anything fundamentally new to the narrative. Instead, it deepens the themes established by the main game, making it more profound as it progresses further away from Ragnarok’s central plot.

It’s worth noting that Valhalla primarily focuses on Kratos, while there is a bit of character growth for Mimir. However, unlike the main game, the DLC doesn’t have Kratos and Atreus sharing the limelight equally.

How Future God of War Games Could Apply the Valhalla Principle

When contemplating how the God of War series might maintain the quality demonstrated by Valhalla, it’s not enough to merely propose that future games introduce a roguelike mode after release. While this could potentially apply in specific scenarios, the main focus of the Valhalla DLC lies less on gameplay innovations and more on its substantial narrative impact.

If the upcoming God of War game emphasizes Atreus’ journey into maturity, a subsequent DLC could provide thoughtful reflections on the transition from childhood to adulthood. Through an optional quest or storyline, Atreus might gain deeper understanding about accepting responsibility, learning from mistakes, and evolving into a stronger individual. To clarify, God of War can utilize expansions similar to Valhalla to underscore each game’s primary themes, giving players the opportunity to draw their own conclusions before releasing post-game content. Making it free would certainly be an appealing aspect as well.

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2025-01-06 21:34