The next God of War should give Atreus his own death and a Logger Scene

The God of War the franchise has gradually become more introspective and darker in its modern incarnations. While the original hack-and-slash God of War the games are among the best on the PlayStation and are still excellent in terms of writing, definitely focusing more on the inherent spectacle of divine warfare than the emotional family dramas covered in many ancient religions.




God of War's reboot 2018, together Ragnaroktakes steps in a different direction. Kratos is now wiser and shrunken, having already lost his previous family to a bloody conflict, and although he begins the game in 2018 as somewhat cold and emotionally withdrawn, he wants nothing more than peace for his last son. Of course, fate has other plans, launching him into a new adventure full of danger and threatening to end his life in accordance with this ever-present ghoul prophecy. What follows in Ragnarok is a fight against fate itself, as Kratos is not afraid of death, but he is not ready to submit to it. On top of all that, he is tired, weary and exhausted and doesn't want any more strife. These different qualities are emphasized through the story of Death and the Lumberjack, one of the game's many cosmic allegory, full of meaning.

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Future God of War needs Atreus' version of Death and the Logger


The story of Death and the Lumberjack carries a lot of weight in God of War Ragnarok

At one point during Ragnarokwhen Atreus has trouble falling asleep, Kratos regales him with an old story about an aging woodcutter who carries wood to his village day after day. Eventually, he becomes too tired to continue, and when he gets rid of his wood, he calls out for Death to take it. Kratos cuts the story short here, but it's already obvious how it relates God of War Ragnarok's story: the entire game builds up to the moment of Kratos' death, as predicted at the end of the previous post.

Kratos's personality also has quite a bit in common with Logger's, as he has lived a life defined by struggle and is certainly tempted by the possibility of respite.


Ultimately, the story has an uplifting ending, as towards the end of the game it is revealed that the Logger has decided after his encounter with Death that he wants to move on with life. He asks for help to carry his logs, lighten his burden and allow him to move forward. This unexpected ending gives Kratos' character arc across the two games a good punchline as he rejects death and prophecy through community, friendship, and trust. It is one of many examples of multi-layered storytelling Ragnarokand future games should iterate and evolve this narrative device.

Why Atreus Should Have His Own “Death and the Lumberjack”

The God of War the franchise, before and after the reboot, depends on its connection to mythology. In the real world, stories of pious pantheons and celestial battles have long served to teach some lesson or illuminate one aspect of the human psyche: Narcissus drowning chasing his own reflection teaches the dangers of self-obsession, the story of Sisyphus. punishment conveys the danger of betrayal, and so on.

That is, similarly simple stories that connect to more subtle, modernized stories God of War the games themselves fit into the mythological background of the series, making it easier to believe that the events of the games are actually part of some larger mystical world.


How such stories might be applied to Atreus' legendary solo adventure will depend on his character and journey. Stories about finding yourself, overcoming new and terrifying challenges, or coming to terms with a complicated past could all be potentially strong inclusions in the future. God of War a title that helps shape Atreus as he enters young adulthood and arguably much greater danger.

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