Unclear Reference to "History‘s Greatest Musician God of War"
From Spartan Warrior to Greek God to Norse Father
The mighty Kratos, deuteragonist of the best-selling God of War franchise, can lay claim to being history’s most legendary game character to bear the title of "God of War." His conquests across multiple mythologies in acclaimed PlayStation releases cements his status – with a lyrical flourish – as a true “musician” of war.
As gamers eagerly dive into the recently launched God of War Ragnarök, which recorded the highest sales ever for a PlayStation Studios launch title, Kratos’ gruff but evolving persona makes him gaming’s most relatable god.
From Mortal to God to Dad of Boy
Kratos began his journey as a mortal Spartan general driven by rage and ambition. But after slaying the former God of War Ares, Kratos took his place upon Mount Olympus. His godly abilities and signature chained Blades of Chaos made Kratos a divine force of destruction.
After devastating the Greek pantheon in his violent quest for revenge, Kratos sought redemption. He unexpectedly became a father figure to his son Atreus after the passing of his second wife Faye.
Faye’s profound impact and connection to both Kratos and Norse culture has made her a uniquely important character in God of War’s shifted mythos. The depth she brings, referenced even beyond the grave, cements franchise director Cory Barlog’s belief that she is “the single greatest character never seen.”
Now finally at peace in the Norse wilds, Kratos must master the rage that once defined him to protect and guide young Atreus in the lad’s emerging godhood. Their emotional journey has resonated with fans and critics for adding compelling new dimension.
Atreus, still innocent, bestows his father with the playful moniker “Boy.” Yet despite occasional frustration, Kratos sees more and more of Faye in the boy’s curiosity, temperament, and free-spirited outlook. Their tests only grow greater as threats old and new roil the realms.
From Hydra to Baldur – Why All Fear the Ghost of Sparta
Across his storied campaigns against/alongside the Greek and Norse gods, fantastical creatures, and other fabled figures, Kratos has demonstrated astonishing battle prowess worthwe of song. He bested myriad once-mythical monsters like the multi-headed Hydra, the giant Kronos, and the massive Colossus of Rhodes via his savagery, strength, and smarts. From the wily trickster god Loki to Thor himself, the norse deities also know better than to provoke the ashen-skinned antihero now known as the Ghost of Sparta.
| Foe Vanquished | Method |
|---|---|
| Ares | Chained blades embedded into chest after prolonged battle, claiming God of War title |
| Zeus | Beaten mercilessly by bare hands for revenge and patricide |
| Baldur | After repeated failed attempts, finally forced arm lock with son Atreus until the invulnerable Aesir‘s vulnerable mistletoe weak point was exposed |
In one notable and gruesome instance burned into gaming memory, a defiant but clearly overmatched Hercules chided Kratos: “You? A Spartan? Ha! Dripping with the blood of your enemies, yet you fear that which awaits you in the Underworld. Pathetic!” For his hubris, Kratos brutally bludgeoned the demigod to death using his own severed legs as the savage beating continued long after Hercules expired.
God of War’s Continued Dominance
Since first revolutionizing the third-person action-adventure genre in 2005 on PlayStation 2, the God of War franchise has both captivated legions of hardcore devotees and also managed unlikely mass appeal across casual and mainstream gamers. Strong characters, epic set pieces, novel weaponry and gameplay enhancements with each entry, help explain universal acclaim for the series’ sustained excellence across multiple console generations.
Lifetime sales for the franchise now exceed 32 million copies worldwide across various PlayStation platforms and a Windows PC port. The enduring popularity means God of War now ranks as one of Sony’s biggest first-party franchises alongside series behemoths like Uncharted and The Last of Us.
The 2018 re-imagining, simply titled God of War, earned particular plaudits as a Game of the Year winner for its fresh take. The semi-reboot introduced beloved characters like Atreus and Mimir while pitting Kratos against Norse figures and new threats like Modi and Baldur with the same trademark viciousness.
And just-released sequel God of War Ragnarök may have reached greater heights still, with pundits placing it in the conversation for 2022’s Game of the Year.
God of War Ragnarök is the complete package. Its combat retains the fine-tuned weight of the 2018 entry while expanding the possibilities even further.
The latest epic’s enormous early commercial and critical success proves players simply can’t get enough of Kratos, his ever-evolving characterization, and enthralling escapades.
The Musician Who Conducts Cacophonous War
How exactly does the fierce personification of combat known as Kratos embody the poetic metaphor of a musical maestro or “musician god of war”?
The lyric likely refers to ingrained public conceptions of warfare involving loud, repetitive percussion drums, blaring horns, and other instruments utilized to rally troops or intimidate enemies throughout history. Kratos has orchestrated his own unique brutal symphonies on the battlefield for decades.
- The savage tandem killing strikes from his chained Blades of Chaos almost sing as they slice the air
- His barbaric blows land with the heavy thud of timpani drums bludgeoning the misfortunate
- The wailing laments of fallen foes build his movements into a dark cacophonous orchestra
And the Ghost of Sparta’s peerless fighting prowess combined with his inner fury makes Kratos the ultimate conductor, able to command the chaotic violence like none other.
Plus who can forget the actual uses of music and instruments in several God of War titles to enhance gameplay or solve melodic puzzles? Magic imbued flutes, special ocarinas, and custom liutes all enable player progression.
Atreus himself took up a dwarven horn bugle to aid navigation and even utilized the mystical language of the giants as a special whistling power. The creative integration of music and instrumentation as game mechanics offer another angle linking the franchise – including Kratos as the central avatar – to musical themes.
So while not a literal musician by trade, when poetically considered, Kratos has composed some of history’s bloodiest battle music as the iconic God of War. And the latest notes penned in his complex saga may be the sweetest sounding yet for longtime supporters.
