How Did Kratos Get Shorter? A Look into the God of War’s Height
In the 2018 video game God of War, Kratos, the titular character, underwent a significant transformation. One of the most noticeable changes was his height. Gone was the towering figure of 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 meters), replaced by a more modest 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters). But why did this change occur? Let’s dive into the reasoning behind Kratos’ height adjustment.
The Original Height
Kratos’ height was first established in the early God of War games, where he was depicted as a towering figure with a height of 8 feet 6 inches. This height was likely chosen to emphasize Kratos’ strength and power, making him a formidable opponent.
The Change
Fast forward to the 2018 game, and the developers at Santa Monica Studio decided to make a significant change to Kratos’ character design. The change was motivated by a desire to make Kratos more relatable and humanized. The team wanted to focus on Kratos’ emotional journey and character development, rather than just his physical prowess.
Design Decisions
The team made several design decisions to achieve this goal. One of the most significant was changing Kratos’ height to 6 feet 6 inches. This change allowed the developers to create a more realistic and grounded world, with Kratos no longer towering over his opponents.
Comic Book Heights
It’s worth noting that Kratos’ comic book counterpart has a similar height to his video game counterpart. In the comic books, Kratos’ height is listed as 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters). This consistency across media adds to the character’s integrity and makes the change feel more intentional.
Relatability
The decision to make Kratos more relatable was a conscious one. The developers wanted to create a character that players could identify with and empathize with. By making Kratos more human-sized, the team was able to create a sense of vulnerability and mortality around the character.
Impact on Gameplay
The change in Kratos’ height also had an impact on the gameplay. With a smaller stature, Kratos’ movements and animations were modified to be more agile and nimble. This allowed for a more fluid and responsive gameplay experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kratos’ height was changed from 8 feet 6 inches to 6 feet 6 inches to make the character more relatable and humanized. The change was motivated by a desire to focus on Kratos’ emotional journey and character development, rather than just his physical prowess. The decision was driven by a combination of design decisions, comic book inspirations, and a desire to create a more realistic and grounded world.
Table: Kratos’ Height Across Media
| Media | Height |
|---|---|
| Early God of War Games | 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 meters) |
| Comic Books | 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters) |
| 2018 God of War Game | 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters) |
Key Points
- Kratos’ height was changed from 8 feet 6 inches to 6 feet 6 inches to make the character more relatable and humanized.
- The change was motivated by a desire to focus on Kratos’ emotional journey and character development.
- The decision was driven by design decisions, comic book inspirations, and a desire to create a more realistic and grounded world.
- The change had an impact on gameplay, with Kratos’ movements and animations being modified to be more agile and nimble.