Director Eric Williams of God of War Ragnarok has explained why Kratos cannot hold Thor’s renowned weapon, Mjolnir, in the game. God of War Ragnarok has wowed gamers with its hard-hitting gameplay and weapons since its release earlier this month. While watching Kratos slaughter adversaries with the famed weapon would have been impressive, Williams gives a compelling rationale.
God of War Ragnarok’s release has proven to be another tremendous success for developer Sony Santa Monica, and it more than meets up to the expectations set by its predecessor for many players. The narrative of Kratos and his son Atreus continues as they embark on an amazing adventure across the nine realms in quest of answers before Ragnarok. Kratos returns with his trusted Leviathan Axe and the Blades of Chaos, as well as a third weapon obtained in the game’s final act.
Williams discussed the decision-making process behind Kratos’ array of Norse weaponry in an interview with IGN’s Beyond podcast. The confrontation between Kratos and Thor was prominently hinted in God of War, and Mjolnir is one of the most well-known features of Norse mythology. Williams, on the other hand, desired a weapon that would defy preconceptions and show Kratos’ rank as a general, which is why they chose the Draupnir Spear.
The weapon is also intended to be compared to Thor’s Mjolnir, with Williams referring to them as “good and evil weapons.” Williams went on to say that the weaponry mirrored the two characters’ personalities. Thor slays Frost Giants with Mjolnir in a fit of rage, but Kratos’ Draupnir Spear necessitates accuracy and shows “his will as a general with a thinking attitude.” Williams ultimately felt that Mjolnir was too obvious a weapon for Kratos and that the Draupnir Spear better represented the character in his “end of everything campaign.”
God of War’s fighting is superb, and while Mjolnir may have been a welcome addition to Kratos’ arsenal, according to William’s rationale, it wouldn’t match the character’s storyline. Kratos has been changed from a cruel and murderous anti-hero to a protagonist with great depth thanks to the Norse Saga. Equipping the Spartan with Mjolnir could have been a setback, but it demonstrates Sony Santa Monica’s passion and care for the series by incorporating a subtle storyline into gameplay elements.
God of War Ragnarok is currently available on PS4 and PS5.
