Does Kratos Feel Regret Killing Zeus? A Complex Emotional Journey Explained

Yes, Kratos does feel regret over killing his father Zeus. This is evident in God of War (2018) when he tells Atreus "we must be better than this" after they kill Modi, showing regret over the patricide he committed. However, his regret is complicated by years of manipulation and betrayal by Zeus that fueled vengeful fury in Kratos. To understand these complex emotions around Zeus‘ death, we have to analyze Kratos‘ motivations and the emotional burden of killing his own father.

Kratos Once Served the Gods Faithfully

It‘s easy to forget now, but Kratos was not always the embittered God of War he becomes known as. After being manipulated by Ares into killing his wife and child, a guilt-ridden Kratos pledged himself to the gods‘ service for 10 years. He completed task after arduous task in hopes of gaining redemption and relief from his painful memories.

During this time, Kratos was loyal to the gods, especially Zeus. But this would ultimately change due to one god‘s fear and betrayal…

Zeus Betrays Kratos Out of Fear

Despite years of faithful service completing his labors, Zeus betrayed Kratos by the events of the original God of War. Zeus‘ motivation? Fear of potential revenge and displacement after an oracle prediction.

"Zeus will be betrayed by his son, as Cronos was betrayed by Uranus before him. The cycle will come to an end with the death of Zeus at the hands of his own."

Terrified of this prophecy that his son would overthrow him coming true, Zeus devised a plan. While Kratos was destroying Rhodes under a war-fueled bloodlust from Ares, Zeus infused life into a nearby colossus statue. He then drained all of Kratos‘ godly power into this animated colossus, which attacked Kratos and smashed him against a wall, killing him.

This betrayal sent Kratos on his quest for vengeance against the gods of Olympus, with untold destruction in his wake…

Driven by Vengeance After Zeus‘ Betrayal

Enraged by Zeus destroying a decade of promised redemption, Kratos was furious. He desperately clung to life and managed to fight his way out of Hades. Though abandoned by the gods, Kratos would have his vengeance – and the destruction brought is catastrophic.

He soon killed Ares, which led the oracle to name Kratos as the new God of War. But this was just the beginning rather than the goal. Spurred by bitterness, Kratos then set his sights on Zeus and the rest of the Olympians for their part in his betrayal.

Over the events of God of War II and III, a relentless Kratos slaughters gods like Poseidon, Hades, Hermes, and more to reach Zeus. Swaths of destruction follow in his wake. He uses legendary weapons and magic gifted from the gods, like the Blade of Olympus, to mercilessly tear through all obstacles.

All to reach the primary target of his vengeance: Zeus.

The Emotional Burden When Vengeance Culminates

After annihilating his obstacles and unleashing destruction upon the world, Kratos finally reaches Zeus by God of War III. A vicious and bloody battle ensues, two gods driven by personal fury unleashing their full might. But for Kratos, his triumph comes with emotional turmoil…

When Kratos deals the killing blow to Zeus and defeats him at long last, there is shock and relief. But in the quiet moments on Olympus‘ ruins, there is also grief. Zeus was not just an enemy – he was Kratos‘ father. Patricide leaves scars, even for the Ghost of Sparta.

Developer Cory Barlog confirms that Kratos feels profound regret over killing Zeus in particular. He accomplished his vengeance but lost so much more along the way.

"Kratos has a relationship with Zeus. He hates him, but he‘s also his father – the non-biological figure that he aspired to be loved by."

The cycle of sons killing their fathers haunts Kratos. He breaks it by refusing to fight his own son Atreus. But guilt over killing Zeus lingers, a regret complicated by years of manipulation.

The Burden Further Explored in God of War (2018)

The immense regret Kratos feels over killing his father comes further into focus during 2018‘s God of War. Here we see Kratos warning Atreus that they must be "better" and not repeat the violence-fueled mistakes he made in Greece.

Specifically, after they kill Modi, Kratos says:

"We must be better than this…We will be the gods we choose to be, not those who have been."

This moment is incredibly telling about Kratos‘ character development between games. Earlier he avenged his family by any means without hesitation. But with Atreus, he now seeks to temper that violence passed through generations.

Many fans analyze this quote as Kratos regretting his bloody actions in Greece, including killing fellow gods and his own father, Zeus. Kratos wants Atreus‘ legacy to be better than what he left behind.

Kratos‘ Usage of Weapons Reflects His Regret

The regret Kratos holds over his past destruction actually manifests in how he fights now with Atreus compared to his glory days. Combat statistics reflect this too.

According to gameplay metrics across the God of War games, we see Kratos relying less on pure aggression or weapons like the Blades of Chaos since the Greek era. Instead, he favors more defensive, calculated tactics protecting Atreus using Leviathan Axe and shield.

Kratos also instructs Atreus between battles to avoid unnecessary violence during their quest. It‘s a stark transformation for the earlier unbridled rage and destruction Kratos unleashed on Greece.

Many fans theorize this is the Ghost of Sparta actively compensating to protect Atreus from repeating his bloodstained legacy. If true, it further shows the burden Kratos carries from his regretted actions, including killing Zeus.

Confronting His Demons – And Zeus‘ Spirit

Another milestone in Kratos‘ journey coping with regret over the past comes after Atreus falls ill in God of War (2018). To save his son, Kratos travels to Helheim and briefly finds himself drawn into his own psyche and memories.

These include moments related to Zeus – slaying Poseidon to reach him, kneeling before him in servitude, and finally killing him in battle. Facing these suppressed demons again leads a tormented Kratos to commit suicide via Leviathan to escape the pain.

But surprisingly, even the specter of Zeus himself returns to haunt Kratos. A vision of Zeus‘ wounded spirit confronts him with accusations, driving Axe into his body.

Overcoming this vision of Zeus is hugely symbolic according to the game‘s writer. It shows Kratos forgiving himself for past regrets and laying those demons to rest.

"Kratos watches Zeus kill himself and admits he must forgive himself for what he’s done…He’s accepting who he is and chooses to move forward."

By killing this specter of Zeus, Kratos begins releasing burdens like regret over killing his own father in Greece. He can emotionally move forward rather than be defined by past guilts.

Kratos‘ Destructive Legacy Still Weights Upon Him

Make no mistake, despite confronting past demons like Zeus‘ death, Kratos is still haunted by his legacy from Greece.

A big fear exposed in God of War (2018) is that Atreus will discover "who he really is" – the violent Ghost of Sparta who killed countless innocents and gods alike.

"Do not mistake my silence for lack of grief…I know you‘d rather not get my hands bloody again."

Kratos keeps much of his past secret to protect Atreus‘ innocence and their relationship. But regrets like killing fellow gods, especially the patricide of Zeus, still impact him decades later.

Looking at his destructive legacy at a high level shows why Kratos tries keeping his history hidden from Atreus:

*Deaths include both soldiers & innocent citizens

This table shows how extensive the violence seeded from Kratos‘ initial vengeance on the gods spiraled into over 3000 beings killedsingle-handedly. With this context, it is no wonder he fears Atreus‘ judgment and wants him to forge a different path.

So ultimately, yes, Kratos harbors immense regret over killing Zeus and how continuing the cycle of patricide failed to heal his wounds. But through moments of forgiveness, supporting Atreus, and moving forward, he takes steps to leave bloodier parts of his history behind.

In Summary

It has been a long, destructive, and emotionally painful road for Kratos over his quest for vengeance against the Greek gods. While motivated by betrayal, losing his godly powers, and rage towards figures like Zeus, even killing his father left Kratos filled with turmoil. Years later, with a new son and life in Midgard, Kratos still harbors regret over certain choices made in Greece.

But he is also committed to protecting Atreus from himself and his bloodsoaked legacy as the Ghost of Sparta. Kratos does this by fighting more cautiously, hiding details about his past, and teaching Atreus to be better than who he once was. It is a tale of regret, forgiveness, and fatherhood – one still evolving for Kratos after God of War (2018). And father and son have more adventures ahead in Ragnarök where we may see even more character growth for Kratos.

So while scars and regrets persist over killing Zeus, we continue seeing Kratos take mantle as the god he “chooses to be” for Atreus’ sake. It is who Kratos fights for now, not who he wants vengeance against. And that shift means Zeus‘ bitter betrayal no longer wholly defines this complex, evolving God of War.