HomeNewsGod of War Ragnarok isn't just another 'dad game'

God of War Ragnarok isn’t just another ‘dad game’

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As younger creatives in leisure industries become older and have youngsters, extra tales about reluctant however caring fathers are popping up in mainstream media. On the movie and tv facet, motion pictures like Logan and exhibits like The Mandalorian and Obi-Wan match this mould. Sony has championed this sort of story on the online game entrance with 2013’s The Final of Us and 2018’s God of Conflict, each tales about difficult dads pressured to handle a baby (whether or not their actual child or a surrogate one). God of Conflict Ragnarok, then again, is greater than only a “dad recreation,” because it has a stable message that anybody can be taught from to enhance their private relationships.

As an alternative of glorifying a parent-child relationship with some abusive and manipulative tendencies, God of Conflict Ragnarok stresses how necessary it’s to respect, hearken to others, and provides individuals area after they want it. Even when you aren’t a dad, God of Conflict Ragnarok nonetheless has a poignant message about speaking that anybody can take to coronary heart.

This text incorporates gentle spoilers for God of Conflict Ragnarok.

Speaking the issue

The everyday dad narrative follows a set premise: A fierce warrior with a troubled previous should be taught to like one thing on his personal. By the top of their journey, they’ve shared some tender moments with their youngster, whether or not they be blood-related or discovered, and determine they’ll do no matter it takes to guard them. Whereas these tales may be emotional and entertaining, they usually have some unsavory undertones. These tales are inclined to herald characters who’re overprotective of these they’re near, however justify it by exhibiting that it comes from a spot of affection.

Consequently, a few of gaming’s worst dads may be over-glorified. The Final of Us’ Joel, for instance, ends the sport as a egocentric man keen to deprive the world of a remedy simply because he doesn’t wish to lose one other daughter. Nonetheless, he’s remembered as a hero throughout the sequence and its fandom, with one among his most misguided traces getting used to advertise HBO’s upcoming TV adaptation (“You don’t have any concept what loss is.”). These narratives nonetheless work on the entire; they simply aren’t shining examples of wholesome relationships.

You don’t have any concept what loss is. #TheLastofUs premieres January 15 on @HBO @hbomax #TLOU pic.twitter.com/qzxNH09vvK

— Naughty Canine (@Naughty_Dog) November 2, 2022

Sony video games have been getting extra considerate about this. Joel suffers severe penalties for his horrible actions in The Final of Us Half II. On the flip facet, God of Conflict Ragnarok permits Kratos to enhance as an individual, critiquing his extra ignorant actions and thematically providing classes that anybody can be taught from.

Though Kratos appeared to have a greater relationship together with his son by the top of God of Conflict, we see that he’s regressed again to being overprotective and restrictive to Atreus in Ragnarok. That conduct comes whilst Atreus is getting older and attempting to return to phrases together with his personal id. All through the sport’s opening, Atreus and Mimir continuously name out when he’s not speaking, with Atreus going additional and inspiring him to finish Fimbulwinter.

Kratos makes it clear that every one he cares about is Atreus’ survival and spending as a lot time with him as potential earlier than his prophesied demise. He shocks Atreus by going out of his manner to assist his son free a trapped creature in an early facet quest. Nonetheless, the primary a part of God of Conflict Ragnarok highlights how Kratos finally struggles to speak with Atreus, so his actions and feedback really feel spiteful and egocentric, even when he needs to be useful.

Kratos constantly pushes Atreus away at a number of factors within the recreation, and so he goes on his personal journeys. Kratos’ failure is now not due to inexperience; it’s a communication subject. All through God of Conflict Ragnarok, Kratos should be taught that he can nonetheless be a guiding hand for Atreus however should additionally hearken to his son and provides him area when he wants it. Whether or not you’re a mother or father or not, that’s mindset to use to any private relationship.

In-game comms 

The risks of an absence of communication additionally mirror in different components of the sport. Within the side-quest The Misplaced Treasure, Kratos encounters a father who died whereas trying to find treasure on his personal to forestall his son from being harm. Upon additional investigation, Kratos learns that the son additionally died as a result of he tried doing the identical factor with one other treasure and didn’t allow them to know. In an effort to guard one another, that father and son didn’t talk and suffered due to it. This in any other case insignificant side-quest thematically stands as a warning for the way Kratos and Atreus’ relationship may find yourself in the event that they proceed to be dysfunctional and never talk.

Kratos and Atreus do hit a tough patch earlier than issues get higher. Atreus finally defies Kratos on one among his adventures, assembly a personality that he shortly begins to see as a extra perfect father determine. He’s kinder and extra communicative — although it turns into clear that his feedback could have insidious ulterior motives. God of Conflict Ragnarok demonstrates that relationships can’t be constructive except everyone seems to be sincere and open with one another.

Kratos holds Atreus' face in God of War: Ragnarok.

Kratos learns from his earlier errors, making some late-game moments fairly emotionally poignant. When Atreus returns from that runaway phase and Kratos asks him, “What do I name you?” it demonstrates Kratos being rather more open about how a lot he respects his son than he’d ever been earlier than. Later, a heart-to-heart between Kratos and Atreus is without doubt one of the recreation’s finest moments. Kratos admits he’s all the time acted distrustful towards Atreus as a result of he wasn’t able to let him go, which finally pushed Atreus away, and says he’s sorry. In response, Atreus delivers the sport’s strongest line: “Don’t be sorry. Be higher.”

Each of them want one another to develop as individuals and work on themselves in the event that they’re going to have a wholesome dynamic. In any relationship, respect and listening go a great distance, and God of Conflict Ragnarok is without doubt one of the solely video games of its type to actually stress that, giving it a message much more ubiquitous than its predecessor. 

God of Conflict Ragnarok is obtainable now on PS4 and PS5.

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