Why Does Kratos Look Norse?
The Gods of War is an action-adventure game franchise developed by SIE Santa Monica Studio that has garnered a massive fan base worldwide. The protagonist of the series, Kratos, is the main attraction, and with his revamped appearance in recent games, fans have often wondered Why does Kratos look Norse?
Direct Answer
One of the primary reasons Kratos appears so Norse-like is because, after the events of God of War III (2007), Kratos moved out of his Greek roots to explore other mythologies and cultures, including the North European Viking culture. [1] This transition set the stage for his departure from his Greek heritage.
Timeline of Events
Early Life – Kratos, the son of Zeus and a mortal named Lysandra, fought his way through Greek myths and deities, losing his entire family and facing the gods themselves. God of War trilogy (2005-2007).
Greek Years – Kratos clashed with various Greek Gods, ultimately bringing about the downfall of Olympian deities and resulting in Kratos’ escape from Greece at the end of God of War III (2007).
Journey to Norse Realms – Kratos entered the Nine Realms of Nordic mythology, specifically Midgard (Scandinavia), where he gave birth to a son and learned new combat techniques alongside his fellow gods.
Kratos’ Physical Revamp
As Kratos transitioned away from Greek mythology, game developers noticed a change in his appearance. He appears bolder, greyer, and more Nordic-inspired in his features (Fig. 1)
| Characteristic | Differences |
|---|---|
| Hair | Initially, dark brown hair later transformed to grey hair emphasizing his shift in cultures. |
| Beards | Growled to symbolize power and Nordic influence. |
Fig. 1: Comparison of Kratos’ pre-and-post transition looks. Left: As the God of War he is at the beginning Right: After the transfer to the Norse realm