Sony is gearing up to provide the PlayStation 5 with another healthy lineup of top-tier content. Aside fromHorizon: Forbidden Westlaunching in February, the other heavy hitter for next year is easilyGod of War: Ragnarok. The latest entry in Santa Monica’s critically acclaimed action-adventure franchise continues exactly where 2018’sGod of Warleft off, continuing the story of Kratos and Atreus. Information has been kept under lock, but the gameplay shown off so far teases a quest just as epic and bombastic as its predecessor.
This is hardly a surprise, however, as theGod of Warseries has always been known for its grand scale set pieces and larger-than-life characters. Another huge component to the series' success has been the spectacular boss battles. From the opening moments of the original game on the PS2 in 2005 to the climactic finish in 2018’sGod of War, the franchise has had no shortage of incredible boss fights.God of War: Ragnarokcertainly has a high bar to meet in terms of these clashes, based on the franchise’s pedigree for both deeply personal and absolutely huge confrontations.
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God of War Bosses - The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall
TheGod of Warfranchise, as mentioned above, is recognized for including a vast array of absolutely massive boss battles. Truly emphasizing the David and Goliath motif of a small protagonist against a colossal opponent, these boss fights pit players against insurmountable odds. From the beginning, the series wanted to capture the epic scale of Greek mythology, something made evident from the Hydra boss battle at the start of theoriginalGod of Waron the PS2.
From that point on, it had become almost a tradition for eachGod of Wargame to include at least a few of these monstrous enemies to face off against. Additionally, these epic clashes are often used as an opening sequence, to kick things off with a bang.God of War 2andGod of War 3similarly kick off in epic fashion, with the Colossus andPoseidonboss battles respectively. Even the PSP entries, despite the limited technology of being on a handheld, still begin with grand scale fights.
God of War Bosses - High Stakes
Sometimes these boss battles bring things back down to earth for a more close-quarters showdown. However, just because the fight has been reduced in terms of size and scope, doesn’t make it any less impactful and engaging. Return once again to the original PS2 adventure, as the main goal of the narrative sets up a deeply personal climax. To summarize,Kratosspends the entire game searching for an ancient power to face off against Ares, and because of how Ares had wronged him in the past, their inevitable battle is all the more emotionally epic.
Kratos has made other enemies over the course of the series as well, and all have faced the edge of his blades (not to mention the knuckles of his fists). Zeus, head honcho of theGreek gods, served as the main antagonist in bothGod of War 2andGod of War 3. Zeus is in fact the final boss battle inGod of War 2, as Kratos once again spends the entire game searching for a way to eliminate his enemy. However, this time around he does not succeed in killing his opponent, resulting in a second showdown at the end ofGod of War 3This creates more suspense and dramatic weight, something which spills over onto the player, making the battle just as thematically gripping as it is visually dazzling.
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God of War Bosses - Monsters and Myths
When not bringing down the Greek pantheon or ticking off theNorse gods, Kratos comes head to head against many of the most infamous creatures in ancient mythology. From Cerberus and Medusa to Trolls and Valkyries, Kratos has had no shortages of menacing monsters to contend with over the course of the series. Nothing gets in his way, however, allowing the player to take control of Kratos as he brutally tears apart these many barbaric foes.
While many of these monsters generally serve as mini-bosses to help pace out the experience, they are no less crucial to the overall series. In fact, many of these creatures can arguably be seen as some of the most memorable moments from each respective game in the franchise. Facing off against a Troll is one of the first big battles in2018’sGod of War, and serves as an opportunity for players to put together everything they have learned up to that point. Furthermore, the appearance of these creatures helps add to the world-building and immerse the players in these fantastic worlds.
This all looks set to continue withGod of War: Ragnarokin 2022. The mighty god of thunder, Thor, has already been teased to be a major player in the sequel. SeeingThor and Kratosthrow down is sure to be a sight to behold and a battle for the ages, but it is likely that Santa Monica has other surprises in store for the highly anticipated game. Time will tell what’s in store for players, but based on the franchise pedigree for incredible boss encounters, it is a safe bet to expect another relentless thrill ride.
God of War: Ragnarokwill release on the PS4 and PS5 in 2022.
