Warning: Spoilers for God Of War Ragnarok’s Opening Sequence
With the highly anticipated sequel toGod Of War(2018)that claimed the game of the year award,God Of War Ragnarokappears to have outdone its predecessors. Many fans will know ofGod Of War’s(2018) breathtaking opening after the reveal of Kratos along with his son Atreus eventually coming up against Baldur. This helped the title kickstart and introduce a fast-paced story, that evolved after every quest.
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This time around,Santa Monica Studiohas not only emulated its previous levels of success, but has created an opening sequence that will certainly last long in the memories of many fans, and stands as one of the best prologues in video gaming history.
5Instant Chase Sequence
Following the events of the closing chapter in the main story ofGod Of War(2018), Freya swore to hunt down Kratos with everything she had untilshe could kill him after he took Baldur’s life to save hers.God Of War Ragnarokdoes not waste any time to illustrate Freya’s relentless nature in her pursuit of what she views as vengeance, as the first thing players must do is fend her off alongside a grown-up Atreus.
This entire sequence was just the tip of the iceberg of what was yet to come and was the perfect introduction to an epic and thrilling adventure. Fans will know how quickly this scenario captured their attention, and with the help of theGod Of War(2018) recap available in the main menu before starting the game, it is all appropriate to put players right where they left off without skipping any beats.
4Fast-Pace
Many fans may have expected the speed to take a gradual and steady pace after successfully escaping Freya’s wrath, but the pacing not only maintains but gradually increases. Right after Atreus says his goodbyes to Fenrir and Kratos dreams of Faye, the action and combat sequence quickly take form as Kratos searches for his lost son. This opened the door to the first sequence in which players can experience thenew combat system and features Ragnarok has to offer, and after multiple face-offs with enemies, the first boss fight occurs.
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Unbeknownst to players, this itself contained its own surprises in the aspect of experiencing combat so early on in the game, along with finding out that the bear Kratos is fighting is actually Atreus, which opened the door to many questions and incentives for a search to answers. This is all taking place within 15 to 20 minutes of theprologue, already capturing the attention and intrigue of players, and this is incredibly impressive given the number of hours required to even get to the open-world sections of the game.
3Showcase Of Atreus And Kratos' Relationship
With the first game showcasing the evolution of Kratos and Atreus' relationship as father and son,Ragnarokis quick to illustrate this within the first few minutes with a lack of words too. Players will know from Kratos' expressions, mannerisms, and body language towards Atreus, evoke the sense that he is aware of his son’s growth and maturity whilst also hinting at the idea that Atreus may be capable of holding his own.
Whilst there are still cases of disagreements and frustrations between the two, the difference between this andGod Of War(2018) is clear to see. It appears as though Santa Monica has the intention to include a heavy focus on thetwo characters and their emotional journeys, and this opening sequence is the suitable segway into the remainder of the game.
2Similar Opening To Its Predecessor
God Of War Ragnaroksticks to the motto of not fixing what is not broken and manages to excel ten times more while doing so. In the first game, after hunting and spending time with Atreus, players stumble upon Baldur who forces Kratos out of his home for a fight. The same sequence plays out here, but rather than the fight starting quickly, things take an unexpected turn with Thor sitting and chatting with Kratos along with Odin.
This entire cutscene is a tension-filled engagement between all three characters, and after disagreements are clear, the epic first fight with Thor begins. Just as 2018’s title gained its plaudits for its abrupt yet engaging opening, Santa Monica implemented this here once again and managed to do this with much greater quality.
1Highly Anticipated Fights
Kratos coming up against Thor was one of themost anticipated fightsamong fans ever since the ending ofGod Of War’s (2018) ending and the announcement ofRagnarok. After the experience of the multiple fights with Baldur in the first game, the expectation from many was thatRagnarokwould double down and produce even better ones, and the opening of the game contains one of them.
From the epic combinations amid gameplay and the transitions toward cutscenes for further showcases of beatdowns between the pair, Ragnarok manages to eclipse its predecessor’s opening in every single way and is the best possible way to open up a broad and expansive world for fans to indulge in.
