Summary
God of War Ragnarok’sValhallaDLC surprised fans with a mind-blowing roguelike expansion that not only offered awesome new combat encounters, but set the stage for the next chapter in the franchise. Fromfinally getting to fight Tyrto seeing Kratos let go of his past,Valhallaheld a lot of important weight for a DLC, but there are still many questions left unanswered.
AlthoughValhallawas branded as a roguelike DLC, the free expansion also added some great moments to the franchise’s story following the events ofRagnarok. It feels as thoughValhallais a sneak peek atwhat’s to come forGod of War, and one of the best movesValhallamakes is not answering some lingering questions left behind at the end ofRagnarok.
Ragnarok’s Unanswered Questions Can Wait
FollowingGod of War Ragnarok, there are still a lot of stories left to be told in the franchise. Not only is the planned release for the nextGod of Wara mystery, but the narrative itself is filled with unanswered question that were left unaddressed inValhalla. Although some fans may have hoped that there would be some answers about how Atreus' hunt for the Giants is going or where Sindri is, leaving these story threads loose inValhallafor the nextGod of Warto tie them up was a smart move on Santa Monica Studios' part.
Valhalla Lets Players Revel in The Norse Saga
WithGod of War Ragnarokbeing only a little over a year old, jumping into a new setting and possibly leaving the Norse saga behind may have felt rushed. There are theories suggesting that thenextGod of Warmay feature multiple pantheonsor at least venture into a new setting other than the Norse realm. The events ofRagnarokmade it feel like the Norse storyline is starting to come to an end, but it’s also a smart choice to not move the story forward too soon.
A Smooth Transition Between Games
Valhallafeels as though the DLC is meant to be a bridge between chapters in the franchise’s story, and it does so gracefully. Despite speculation aboutValhallateasing the next main settingforGod of War, the DLC allows fans to just focus on the here and now when it comes to the Norse realm and its place in the story. Transitioning between stories and settings too quickly would make the franchise feel rushed, and insuring that transition feels smooth and natural builds more excitement for future games.
When looking atValhallaas a bridge between chapters, the main narrative ofthe DLC is setting Kratos up for something big, but it also makes it clear that the next phase in Kratos' life can wait for the time being, as players get to just enjoy and revel in sweat-inducing fights with Tyr and various enemies.
For now, the extra hours of storyValhallaadds to the overall narrative of the Norse saga is a great way to start gently pushing the franchise forward while still allowing players to enjoy new parts of the Norse realm that were left unexplored by its predecessors.Valhalladrops a few potential clues aboutthe nextGod of War, but it also feels firmly planted within the confines of the realm, making the DLC not seem overwhelming. More importantly, the unanswered questions and mysteries that are left to be addressed in the franchise make the wait for the nextGod of Warentry that much more exciting.
