Before we step into the shoes of Kratos and fight Gods, monsters, and mortals let’s talk about historical and mythological accuracy.

One of the first franchises to achieve that is the “God of War”; a series of games that blends history and mythology into a legendary saga of redemption and revenge, spanning 7 games. Pandora’s box is an allegory about gifts that turn out to be a curse after all. A blessing in disguise. After Atreus kills another of Odin's ravens, he remarks that he can usually hear the thoughts of birds, but Odin's ones are always dead silent, He also add that he "can't wait" to fight another Asgardian god. Atreus also notes how after they came home, Kratos started using his blades more often- with the rise of so many Hel-Walkers, they don't have a choice. The monster appears in the 12 Labors of Hercules but there are many references to a similar beast in Sumerian and Babylonian mythologies. One of the things I appreciated most about this book was how it shed light on some of the more obscure aspects of the games. For example, there's a chapter on the Valkyries that not only explains their role in Norse mythology but also provides a detailed walkthrough of how to defeat them in the game. It's this attention to detail that sets "God of War: Lore and Legends" apart from other video game companion books.

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In reality, the Greek God of War is Ares. The son of Zeus and Hera, he represents the spirit of battle. He is the personification of bloodlust and the brutal aspects of war. Atreus notices that there are often strange shapes in the edge of the darkness, new foes that slip away whenever they try to come closer. And when they tried to go out to Veithurgard Pass to explore for a while, a huge, freezing cold blizzard swept in from nowhere. They had to camp out in a hall for six days, and when they came out, everything was frozen and covered in snow. Even the Lake of Nine was filled with large chunks of floating ice. They were a warrior culture, seeking to perfect their physical strength and mental toughness so they were always prepared for the harshness of the battlefield.

Our protagonist is a Herculian anti-hero. A pawn of the Gods, an instrument of war, used to fulfil the capriciousness of a twisted, divine game.

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The Homeric Cyclopes are uncivilized, simple-minded creatures. Polyphemus appears in Odyssey as a savage, one-eyed, man-eating giant. During one of his raids, Ares hides the (anti)hero’s family in a village, hoping that once he had no ties, he’d become the ultimate instrument of war. In this blog post, we’re going to analyze the myths and legends behind “God of War”, the franchise’s titular instalment that set the tone for the rest of the series. God of War: Lore and Legends" is an absolutely phenomenal book that provides an in-depth look at the mythology and lore behind the God of War video game series. The book is divided into several chapters, each of which focuses on a different character, creature, or event from the games.

Atreus puts together a timeline with the help of Mimir, Brok, Sindri, and Kratos. From it, the journey has taken place one year before Atreus poured himself into his journal.He presented Pandora, a mortal woman, to his brother Epimetheus. She was also given a box to guard but she ended up opening it, Atreus noticed that his mother was acting differently one night. While she was usually animated, this time she seemed withdrawn and sad. Atreus tried to reach out to her using her special ability, and it worked, but she sensed the intrusion. It made her smile, and she told him the story of Ymir as he went to sleep. Soon after, Mother started leaving home for days at a time, while his father stayed at home in her place. Atreus wondered what she was going and what she was doing out there. Unfortunately my excitement was never really fulfilled. I never really understood the purpose of this book, its intended audience or even its purpose. Atreus includes descriptors on locations in Midgard and other realms from Mimir, Brok and Sindri. Freya particularly has a descriptor for Muspelheim. As I’ve mentioned, the four siblings represent the authoritative regime of the all-mighty Olympian. Yet, this time Nike and Zelus (Victory and Zeal) are absent, highlighting the oppressive side of the tyrannical Zeus; excessive violence.

The God of War agrees and gives him the Blades of Chaos. Equipped with these powerful weapons, Kratos manages to extend the bloodshed. Spartans were infamous for their military prowess and intense training. They valued disciplined and domination, placing their young in “Agoge”; a rigorous program that lasted more than 20 years. We first encounter Kratos in Theogony but he’s most famous for his appearance in the tragedy Prometheus Bound :

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The Three Cyclopes, Brontes, Steropes, and Arges, sons of Gaia and Uranus. They forged Zeus’ light bolts. They appear in Hesiod’s Theogony.