Dive deep into the brutal and captivating world of the God of War series with this collection of 100 interesting and rare facts. From the origins of the Ghost of Sparta on PlayStation 2 to his epic journey through Norse mythology, uncover hidden details, development secrets, fascinating trivia, and little-known insights that even the most dedicated fans might have missed. Whether you’re a long-time follower of Kratos’s saga or new to the franchise, prepare to expand your knowledge and see the legendary series in a whole new light. A must-read for any true God of War enthusiast!
God of War Facts
Early Kratos Design Inspiration: Early concept art for Kratos showed him with a full beard, a much more subdued appearance, and even a helmet, looking more like a traditional Spartan warrior before his iconic bald, ash-covered look was settled upon.
The “Ghost of Sparta” Origin: Kratos’s ashen skin is a direct result of the oracle’s curse, binding the ashes of his dead wife and child to his body, forever marking him as the “Ghost of Sparta.” This wasn’t just a design choice but integral to his lore.
Athena’s Changing Allegiance: In the original God of War, Athena is a benevolent guide. Her increasingly manipulative and cold nature throughout the series, culminating in her antagonistic role in God of War III, was a deliberate narrative arc to show the corruption of power even among the gods.
The Cut Hercules Boss Battle in GoW1: Originally, Hercules was planned as a boss battle in the first God of War, but the developers felt they didn’t have enough time to do him justice and saved him for a later installment.
Voice Actor Longevity: Terrence C. Carson (T.C. Carson) voiced Kratos from the very first God of War up until the 2018 game. Christopher Judge took over the role for God of War (2018) onwards, largely due to the new game’s more mature and less rage-fueled portrayal of Kratos.
The Hydra’s True Scale: While impressive in GoW1, the in-game Hydra battle is actually a scaled-down representation of its true mythological size, which was even more gargantuan. The PS2’s technical limitations required some creative shrinking.
The “Fear Chain” Mechanic: The Blades of Chaos’s ability to chain enemies together was an early and defining gameplay mechanic, designed to make Kratos feel like a whirlwind of destruction, unlike other action games of the time.
Musical Easter Egg in God of War II: If you listen closely in the Temple of Fates, you can sometimes hear a very faint, distorted version of the God of War I theme, a subtle nod to the previous game.
The “Sister of Fate” Who Never Was: There were initially plans for a fourth Sister of Fate in God of War II, but she was cut to streamline the narrative and boss encounters.
Icarus’s Wing Mechanics: The unique flight mechanics during the Icarus encounter in God of War II were a technical challenge for the developers, involving dynamic wind currents and air pressure that were quite advanced for the PS2.
The Origin of the Golden Fleece: The Golden Fleece’s appearance in God of War II was carefully integrated into the lore, tying it to Perseus’s story and making it a key defensive item for Kratos.
The “Gaia” Voice Actress: Linda Hunt, known for her distinctive voice, portrayed Gaia in God of War II and III. Her commanding presence was specifically chosen to evoke the ancient and powerful nature of the Earth Mother.
Zeus’s True Intentions: Zeus’s fear of Kratos wasn’t just about his power, but a recurring theme of gods fearing their children overthrowing them, mirroring Kronos’s actions against Uranus and Zeus’s against Kronos.
The Helios Head Rip: The brutal ripping of Helios’s head in God of War III was one of the first “over the top” finishing moves conceptualized for the game, setting the tone for its extreme violence.
Hades’s Soul Rip Mechanics: The “Soul Rip” mechanic of Hades’s Claws in God of War III was inspired by a desire to give players a powerful, unique weapon that directly reflected the god it came from.
Poseidon’s Original Design: Poseidon’s initial concept in GoWIII was much more human-like before settling on his monstrous, water-elemental form, emphasizing his control over the oceans.
The Oracle of Delphi’s Absence: The Oracle of Delphi, a prominent figure in Greek mythology, is notably absent from the games, allowing the developers more freedom with their own prophetic elements (like the Oracle of Athens).
The Blades of Exile’s Significance: The Blades of Exile in GoWIII are not just a new weapon; they symbolize Kratos’s complete severing of ties with the Olympian gods after his initial blades were taken by Zeus.
The Heart of Tartarus: The Heart of Tartarus, a massive, grotesque organ, was designed to be one of the most visually disturbing and challenging environmental puzzles in God of War III.
Aphrodite’s Unconventional Scene: Aphrodite’s appearance and the interactive “minigame” in GoWIII were highly controversial but were included to showcase the gods’ decadence and Kratos’s utter disregard for their status.
Hermes’s Disgusting Death: Hermes’s slow, agonizing death and Kratos’s subsequent use of his boots were designed to highlight Kratos’s depravity and the grim reality of the plague he was unleashing.
The Leviathan Axe’s Unique Design: The Leviathan Axe in God of War (2018) was designed to be visually distinct from the Blades of Chaos, reflecting the colder, more Nordic environment and Kratos’s changed demeanor.
Mimir’s Head: A Nod to Irish Mythology: While firmly rooted in Norse mythology, Mimir’s talking head has parallels to the Celtic myth of Bran the Blessed’s talking head, offering guidance even after death.
Atreus’s Archery Mechanics: The development team spent a significant amount of time perfecting Atreus’s AI and archery mechanics to make him a helpful companion without being a burden.
The Midgard Serpent’s Voice: The booming, guttural voice of the Midgard Serpent, Jörmungandr, was achieved through a combination of human vocalizations and animalistic growls, heavily processed.
Faye’s Unseen Influence: Kratos’s second wife, Faye, though deceased, is a central figure in God of War (2018), her influence subtly guiding Kratos and Atreus throughout their journey.
Brok and Sindri’s Feud: The strained relationship between Brok and Sindri, the dwarven smiths, is rooted in a past disagreement about the creation of the Leviathan Axe, adding depth to their characters.
The Realm Travel Mechanism: The Realm Travel Tree in God of War (2018) was designed to be an organic and visually impressive way to transition between the nine realms, unlike simple loading screens.
Baldur’s Immunity’s Origin: Baldur’s immunity to all threats, except mistletoe, is a direct adaptation of his mythological vulnerability, providing a key plot point for his defeat.
The Valkyries’ Challenging Fights: The Valkyrie boss battles in God of War (2018) were intentionally designed to be some of the most difficult optional content, rewarding mastery of the combat system.
Sindri’s Germaphobia: Sindri’s extreme germaphobia is a humorous character quirk that was developed early in his design to make him more memorable and distinct from Brok.
The “Boy” Nickname: Kratos’s constant use of “boy” for Atreus was a deliberate choice to show his emotional distance and struggle with fatherhood, a journey he slowly overcomes.
The “Living Ship” in God of War II: The Kraken battle in God of War II takes place on a “living ship,” a unique environmental boss arena that was a technical marvel for the PS2.
The Scrapped Multiplayer Mode: Before God of War III, there were discussions about implementing a multiplayer mode, but it was ultimately scrapped to focus all resources on the single-player experience.
The “Rage of the Titans” Inspiration: The “Rage of the Titans” mode in God of War II was a direct evolution of the “Rage of the Gods” from the first game, designed to feel more powerful and destructive.
The Chains of Balance: The Chains of Balance that hold the Gorgons in God of War I were designed to emphasize the precarious state of the world Kratos inhabits and the potential for chaos.
The “Heart of Pandora” Mechanism: The puzzles involving the Heart of Pandora in God of War I were intentionally complex, requiring players to think outside the box and manipulate the environment.
The Architect’s Role in GoW1: The Architect, an unseen character, is responsible for building Pandora’s Temple, adding a layer of tragic irony to its ultimate destruction by Kratos.
The Medusa Head’s Functionality: The Medusa Head in GoW1 was one of the earliest examples of a successful “utility weapon” that was both offensive and puzzle-solving.
The Barbarian King’s Backstory: The Barbarian King Kratos fights in GoW1 has a deeper backstory in the lore, hinting at a past encounter where Kratos defeated his army.
The Challenge of the Titans: The “Challenge of the Titans” in God of War II was created to test players’ mastery of all of Kratos’s abilities, offering a true endgame challenge.
The “Ares” Cut Content: Several aspects of Ares’s character and his relationship with Kratos were cut from the first game for pacing reasons, focusing more on his immediate threat.
The River Styx’s Visuals: The visual representation of the River Styx in God of War III, with its ghostly figures and swirling souls, was a painstaking artistic achievement for the PS3.
The Chains of Hades: The breaking of the Chains of Hades in GoWIII was a pivotal moment, symbolizing Kratos’s defiance of the underworld and his relentless pursuit of Zeus.
The Hyperion Gate: The Hyperion Gate, a massive and imposing structure in GoWIII, was designed to convey the sheer scale of the gods’ power and the journey Kratos was undertaking.
The Daedalus Key’s Role: The Daedalus Key in GoWIII was a clever puzzle mechanic that required players to understand the physics of the environment to progress.
The “Fear Kratos” Skin: The “Fear Kratos” skin in God of War III, unlocked through gameplay, was a visual representation of Kratos’s raw, unbridled rage and fear-inducing presence.
The Blades of Chaos’s Evolving Look: The Blades of Chaos subtly change in appearance and glow throughout the series, reflecting Kratos’s evolving power and his connection to them.
The Bifrost’s True Purpose: The Bifrost in God of War (2018) is not just a rainbow bridge; it’s a conduit of immense power, carefully guarded by Heimdall in mythology.
The Huldra Brothers’ Smithy: Brok and Sindri’s smithy is a “pocket dimension,” allowing for quick travel and access to their services, a creative way to handle in-game shops.
Kratos’s Reluctance to Teach Atreus: Kratos’s initial reluctance to teach Atreus about his past or his true nature was a deliberate character choice, highlighting his desire to protect his son from his own cursed legacy.
More Facts
Kratos was originally blue – In early concept art, he had blue skin with tribal markings, but this changed to red to avoid similarities with Barbarian from Diablo.
David Jaffe wanted a Greek “Clash of the Titans” vibe – The original idea behind the game was a modern take on Greek mythology with brutal action.
Kratos’ name means “strength” or “power” in Greek, and he is also a real figure in mythology – a minor god of strength.
The Blades of Chaos were inspired by chain weapons like kusarigama and flails.
Kratos’ voice actor in the original games, Terrence C. Carson, also voiced Mace Windu in the Star Wars: Clone Wars animated series.
Christopher Judge, the voice of Kratos in the 2018 reboot, almost didn’t take the role because he thought it was a full mocap movie.
The developers studied Greek art and sculptures to model enemies and architecture authentically.
God of War (2005) took 3 years to develop, with over 100 developers working on it.
Kratos was once planned to have a son in early concepts of GoW II, but the idea was shelved until the 2018 reboot.
In Greek mythology, Kratos actually serves Zeus as a loyal enforcer—opposite of his role in the games.
God of War II ends with a cliffhanger, but the PS2 couldn’t support the sequel’s vision, leading to God of War III on PS3.
The Hydra boss in GoW 1 took over a year to perfect.
The 2018 reboot was inspired by The Last of Us in tone and storytelling style.
The Leviathan Axe was inspired by Thor’s Mjölnir, but made to be more tactical with its throw-and-recall mechanic.
God of War: Ascension introduced multiplayer, a first (and only) in the series.
Kratos never jumps in GoW 2018, breaking a long-running mechanic in favor of realism and weight.
A God of War movie has been in development hell for over a decade, with directors like Brett Ratner once attached.
Kratos’ design was partially inspired by Edward Norton’s character in American History X for his rage-filled look.
The series has won over 100 Game of the Year awards.
The 2018 game was the first in the series not scored by Gerard Marino, instead using Bear McCreary (Walking Dead, Battlestar Galactica).
Cory Barlog, director of GoW2 and GoW 2018, is the son of a writer for Babe: Pig in the City.
Kratos was originally meant to be silent, but the devs decided his anger should be vocalized.
God of War III’s budget exceeded $40 million, making it one of the most expensive PS3 games.
The 2018 reboot was almost set in Egyptian mythology, but Norse was chosen for its thematic richness.
Kratos is canonically only 7 ft tall, not a giant—though he feels massive due to camera angles and design.
The original GoW was inspired by Devil May Cry and ICO.
Mimir in GoW 2018 is a brand-new character, not based on any previous game.
GoW: Chains of Olympus (PSP) received higher ratings than some mainline PS3 titles.
The fight with Baldur was designed to mimic classic WWE choreography, especially the first battle.
In Norse mythology, Baldur is invulnerable to everything except mistletoe – used accurately in the game.
Athena’s ghost appears in GoW 2018 if you get the true ending.
There’s a secret message in GoW II’s “Urn of Gaia” bonus video, teasing GoW III.
The developers hired a real father-son duo to capture the emotional depth of Kratos and Atreus’ scenes.
The world serpent, Jörmungandr, speaks in real Old Norse.
Kratos was added to Mortal Kombat 9 as a PS3-exclusive fighter.
Kratos’ ashes are from his wife and child, which is why his skin is white—referred to as “Ashen Skin.”
There’s a hidden room in GoW 2018 with a mural showing Ragnarok and potential future events.
In Greek mythology, Kratos had siblings: Bia (force), Nike (victory), and Zelus (zeal).
Kratos has appeared in Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny.
God of War (2018) uses a single, unbroken camera shot throughout the whole game.
There is a secret ending in GoW 2018 where Thor visits Kratos.
You can hear Atreus being called “Loki” in ancient murals—hinting at his true identity.
Kratos’ boat tales in 2018 were written to reflect his slow transition into fatherhood and reflection.
Atreus was originally more powerful in combat, but this was scaled back to enhance progression.
God of War Ragnarok was delayed partially due to Christopher Judge’s health issues.
Odin was inspired by mob bosses and cult leaders, rather than traditional god archetypes.
There’s a nod to Greek mythology in Tyr’s temple with Greek vases showing Kratos.
God of War Ragnarok hints at a possible Egyptian or Japanese pantheon in the future.
The axe throw mechanic was tested with real-life axe throwing events among devs.
Fans discovered Kratos’ tattoos may align with constellations tied to Greek myths.
