PRESS RELEASE
PlayStation Australia invites players to relive the epic story of God of War (2018) ahead of the launch of God of War Ragnarök on Playstation on November 9. Ahead of the release, the amazing Felicia Day and the Smartest Man Alive, Mimir, tell the story of Kratos and Atreus so far in the “Myths of Midgard”.
Before you watch, beware – there are spoilers ahead! Check out the trailer below.
God of War (2018) Story Recap
God of War began with the funeral of Faye, mother to Atreus and wife of Kratos. Her last request begins this epic journey, to have her ashes scattered on the highest peak in all the realms. Kratos, still haunted by his bloody past as the Ghost of Sparta, must now cope with the death of his wife while learning how to be the father his son needs. Atreus is a young boy dealing with the sudden loss of his mother and a cold, distant father. He wants nothing more than to fulfil his mother’s final wish and prove he is strong to his father.
Baldur, a mysterious stranger who feels no pain, is sent by Odin to investigate Kratos and Atreus, leading to an earth-rending battle. It seems that a pantheon of gods knows more about Kratos than his own son. Kratos and Atreus begin their journey to what they think is the tallest mountain in their realm, and meet legendary dwarven blacksmiths Brok and Sindri. They also encounter the mysterious Witch of the Woods, who shows them how to use the Bifröst to travel between the Nine Realms. The Witch is later revealed to be Freya, mother of Baldur and exiled wife of Odin.
As father and son reach the mountains’ peak they meet Mimir, self-titled Smartest Man Alive, who reveals to Atreus and Kratos that the highest peak in the Realms is in the inaccessible realm of Jötunheim, meaning their journey is only just beginning. With a newly released Mimir (or at least his head) in tow, Kratos and Atreus are ambushed by Thor’s sons, Magni and Modi, on their journey toward Jötunheim. Kratos overcomes Magni but Modi later returns and subdues Kratos, triggering Atreus’ unfound Spartan Rage ability.
Kratos takes an unconscious and sick Atreus to Freya in the hope she can wake him. Freya reveals Atreus’ sickness is caused by the conflict between his nature as a god and his ignorance of that fact. To save his son, Kratos must return to his past home and retrieve the Blades of Chaos, thereby acknowledging his past as the God of War. After saving Atreus with Freya’s help, Kratos reveals to the boy his true nature as a god.
Having gathered the tools to make a portal to Jötunheim, Kratos, Atreus, and Mimir return once again to the peak of Midgard to travel to the realm of the Giants. As they arrive, they are ambushed by Baldur, leading to an epic, realm-jumping battle where Baldur learns that his invulnerability comes from a spell cast by his mother to protect him from a prophesied murder.
As Kratos and Atreus attempt to enter Jötunheim on Mimir’s guidance they are again ambushed by Baldur, but this time Freya intervenes. Working together in perfect unison, Kratos and Atreus destroy the spell giving Baldur invulnerability and eventually best Baldur. Kratos spares Baldur’s life, knowing the pain Freya will feel over losing her child. But, as payment for his years of torment, Baldur uses his last strength to strangle Freya. Kratos, seeing his own bloody mistakes about to be repeated by Baldur, steps in to save Freya’s life by killing her son. Unable to accept his death, Freya cradles the dead body of Baldur while swearing vengeance upon Kratos for taking away her only child, even if it meant that she would live.
Finally able to make the journey to Jötunheim with the help of Mimir’s Bifröst eyes, Kratos and Atreus reach a Giant temple – one that has their entire journey carved into the walls. Atreus finally uncovers the full truth of his heritage, that he is not only part god and part mortal, he is part Giant as well. His mother Faye was a giant herself. Atreus had two names, one was given to him by his father and the other, his mother. The name Faye had bestowed upon him was Loki.
As they return home to Midgard, Mimir warns them that the death of Baldur means that the first event said to mark the arrival of Ragnarök has come to pass. Kratos and Atreus now find themselves at the centre of a prophecy that has foretold the complete upheaval of the Nine Realms and a battle so great it results in the deaths of many Aesir gods including Odin and Thor.
For more information on God of War head to the PlayStation Blog