Summary
TheGod of Warfranchise has had a great bunch of characters, and Ratatoskr’s entry set the stage for his true personality. The immortal squirrel that guards Yggdrasil, the World Tree, became a fan-favorite soon after his proper appearance inGod of War Ragnarok.
Ratatoskr did not serve as a one-off minor-league character, either. His role in Norse mythology and the game’s overall lore is quite fundamental, especially since he gives players Yggdrasil Seeds to travel between thenine realms inGod of War Ragnarok. The impact that Ratatoskr has had on the title’s story and gameplay may seem minor at first glance, but that’s not so. Given this point, one fact becomes quite clear — the nextGod of Wargame needs its own Ratatoskr.
God of War Ragnarok Sequel Needs a Side Character to Offset Somber Tones
How Ratatoskr Enriched God of War Ragnarok
Ratatoskr’s role inGod of War Ragnarokmay seem minor or even trivial to many, but those who have been a part of the franchise for a long time know what he represents. The immortal squirrel added a very well-intentioned emotional aspect to the game. Kratos' journey sinceGod of War2018 has been one of fatherhood and redemption, sprinkled with some humor in places, and this is what Ratatoskr not only mirrored but also built on.
Ratatoskr also sends players on a series of side quests: the one fetching Lindwyrms showed his caring and paternal nature towardsNidhogg’s brood inGod of War Ragnarokwhile collecting the Stags of Four Seasons showed how seriously he took his upkeep of Yggdrasil, the World Tree.
Ratatoskr split his emotions into spectral units to keep himself sane and stay up to date on what was happening inYggdrasil and the Nine Realms inGod of War. These emotions also mirrored those of Kratos and Atreus'. But they went much further; Ratatoskr and his spectral units injected levity during many somber moments in the game by being present or with their stellar dialogues.
Why God of War Raganarok’s Sequel Needs Its Own Ratatoskr
Currently, there is no information available on what the nextGod of Wargame may entail. There is a possibility that it may haveAtreus as the primary protagonist rather than Kratos, as he did set off on a much bigger quest at the end ofGod of War Ragnarok. This adds to the possibility that Kratos, Mimir, and Freya may either have a smaller role or join forces with the young god a few hours into the story. Yet, this is where the journey may get even darker.
Whatever the case may be, the third installment toGod of War’sNorse saga is undeniably in play. It thus seems highly unlikely that the next game will not have a side character/companion that brings humor. This may beRatatoskr once again, guarding Yggdrasil, but perhaps it’s time for another new character to take their place on the big stage. They could act just like the World Tree’s “landlord” did, send players on side missions, reward them with resources and XP, and shed more light on the wider story. They could also go beyond this and become actual full-time companions.
It falls upon Santa Monica to decide just how deeply the character is involved, but the fact remains that players will need someone to offset the game’s somber tones and show hope no matter what. In doing so, the developer could benefit if thenextGod of Wargame finds a sweet spot between the Greek and Norse mythologies.
God of War Ragnarok
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting goFrom Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.
