God of War has seen quite the resurgence, with the soft reboot in 2018 and its sequel God of War: Ragnarok becoming instant classics. Interestingly enough, Amazon has decided to greenlight a live-action God of War series based on the most recent games, seemingly ignoring the series’ PS2 and PS3 foundations.
On paper, it makes sense; the 2018 soft reboot was able to act as an introduction to Kratos while also referencing his past through exposition. However, we feel some of the reveals mean more for players that experienced the older titles or are at least familiar with them.
Hopefully, Kratos’ past in Olympus is referenced in the Amazon God of War series. They might not have a choice in that regard since a lot of his character‘s modern actions stem from his past. We just hope they do the right thing, while also not rushing through his story.
Reading the show’s summary provided by The Hollywood Reporter, it seems to be a direct adaptation of God of War (2018). Though his past in Greece is mentioned, it seems like this will focus more on his relationship with Atreus and the journey they’re currently on.
“When his beloved wife dies, Kratos sets off on a dangerous journey with his estranged son to spread her ashes from the highest peak — his wife’s final wish,” reads the summary. “Kratos soon realizes the journey is an epic quest in disguise, one which will test the bonds between father and son, and force Kratos to battle new gods and monsters for the fate of the world.”
Personally, we hope that his past with Zeus in the PS2 games is referenced heavily through flashbacks or even episodes set in the past. The context of Kratos being a crazed killer is needed to admire his growth in the newer games, where he tries to be a good example for his son.
Although the older God of War games are more known for their gameplay, some of the stories told in that era were well done. The original 2005 God of War is a simple enough revenge story that is elevated through the game’s awesome set-pieces. God of War: Ghost of Sparta on the PSP also has a good story, detailing Kratos’ past with his brother Deimos, who is a victim of a prophecy gone wrong (or right).
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Mixing up the stories between Midgard and Greece/Olympus is probably the best route to take with the God of War live-action series. Let’s just hope they don’t completely ignore Kratos' past, which is crucial in making his arc an emotional one.