The God of War franchise is known for its brilliant narratives, well-written characters, and, of course, its incredibly detailed world. This is especially evident in the 2018 God of War game, which gave players an expansive universe for Kratos and Atreus to explore.
There are a ton of small details in the game that shows just how much work the team from Santa Monica Studio put into the RPG. From animated maps to dynamic footprints, several of these tiny details can go completely unnoticed for players who are understandably more focused and immersed in the story during the first playthrough.
10 The Map Moves
To traverse the various locations in the Norse realms, players often have to use their trusty map to figure out exactly where they want to go. Whether they’re following the main storyline or completing one of God of War’s many rewarding side quests, chances are they’ll open this map hundreds of times.
Something fans may not discover about this map is just how dynamic it actually is. Zooming in on the Lake of Nine will show that the developers have taken the time to animate the waters, which ripple slowly across the map. Other locations, like the Volunder Mines and The Mountain, feature snow rushing through their crevices.
9 Kratos Can Interact With Wildlife
There’s no shortage of Draugr and trolls for players to defeat in God of War. However, these are not the only things players will be able to find in the environment around them. Frogs, salamanders, and birds are often present in more verdant areas. They fly or crawl away when players get too near.
One particularly interesting animal is the humble crab, which can be spotted near rivers. Players who pause to interact with the crabs may find out that they can actually kill them. Throwing the Leviathan Axe at the creatures will cause them to burst and die – they’re completely obliterated by the force of the weapon that they don’t even leave tiny corpses.
8 Conversations Continue When They’re Interrupted
One way some fans found out important information about God of War Ragnarök is through Mimir’s several stories in the prequel. The talking head keeps players entertained through what would otherwise be dull boat rides or tedious hikes.
Players may be hesitant to step off the boat or enter a new location when Mimir reaches an important point in a story, but he actually often pauses the conversation and resumes where he left off later on. Atreus will occasionally encourage him to continue his previous story by saying: “Mimir, you were in the middle of a story before.”
7 Voices Echo In Caves
Aside from its meticulous graphics, God of War’s sound design is also an impressive part of the game. Whether it’s Kratos, Atreus, or Mimir talking while players move around, their voices change when they enter enclosed areas like caves or caverns.
Atreus even comments on the reverb early in the game, jumping around and shouting in a cave in an attempt to hear echoes. These echoes are present even in normal interactions outside of cutscenes – players can row a boat towards a cavern and listen to the dramatic change in characters’ voices as they enter the space.
6 Atreus Warms Himself By The Fires
Atreus is one of the best things to happen to the franchise, and his popularity can, in large part, be attributed to his innocence and naivety, compared to some of God of War’s most tragic characters. The developers wanted to show his vulnerability in even the smallest details, which includes one specific action he does when he spots a fire.
There are several campfire-like spots scattered throughout the game and since Atreus often walks behind Kratos, players may not notice that he will usually stop at these areas. He’ll stand there and warm himself by the fire, rubbing his arms and holding his hands out. The boy doesn’t have the same thick skin his father has, after all.
5 The Axe Affects The Environment
Players likely only pay attention to their Leviathan Axe when it’s impaled on an enemy or when it’s getting upgraded at the shop. This is why it’s easy to miss how the environment reacts to the weapon, which changes depending on the weather and location.
Aside from taking out chunks of tree bark as it flies by, leaves and other plants are also whipped away by the breeze created by the Axe. If it spins near the sand, it leaves a visible line on the area, showing players how they’ve temporarily scraped the ground.
4 Masks Are Displayed After They’re Sold
Buying items from Sindri and Brok’s shop is a crucial part of the game, as it lets Kratos and Atreus upgrade their gear. Selling is equally important since the pair can’t carry around everything they find during their adventures – it’s also an easy way to make money.
It can be a bit painful to sell rare gear, especially when players worked so hard to find them. This is especially true for the Faces of Magic masks (which can be some of the hardest artifacts to find in Gods of War). Thankfully, the brothers seem to recognize that these masks are worth more than just a few hundred Hacksilver, as they proudly display any masks players find on their shops’ shelves.
3 Footprints Are Incredibly Detailed
Players likely didn’t spend a lot of time looking down or behind them during their first playthrough of God of War, which means they might have missed the unbelievably detailed footprints that characters leave on different terrains. Whether it’s sand, snow, or mud, Kratos and Atreus always leave these marks wherever they go, and the weather affects how quickly they disappear.
Snow is particularly fascinating to walk on in the game, as the graphics show how far down the ground is through the players’ footprints. Walking over snowy terrain often reveals the ground for a few seconds before it’s covered up again. On the other hand, traversing muddy ground will mean leaving footprints that take a bit longer to disappear.
2 Clothes Can Get Wet
Kratos isn’t exactly known as a skilled swimmer and he actually prefers using a boat to get around. Despite not having any underwater scenes, developers didn’t forget to include animations for the protagonist’s clothes in case they somehow get wet.
Standing under dripping water or jumping around a steady stream will cause Kratos’ armor to get soaked – any fur, leather, or cloth players are wearing will look visibly damp and darker. It only takes a few seconds for the clothes to dry up after Kratos moves away from the water.
1 Kratos’ Scar Is A Reference To His Sacrifice
Most players are likely already familiar with the several scars on Kratos’ body due to them being referenced in previous games. From his tattoos to his ash-covered body, each mark tells an important story about his past. However, some fans may not have noticed the new addition to his scars in the 2018 game, which is a reference to the last time players saw him in God of War 3.
The new abdominal scar has faded to match the color of his skin but is still visible thanks to how large it is. It’s a reminder of his final sacrifice in the prequel in an effort to release the power of hope to the universe, stabbing himself with the Sword of Olympus, yet somehow managing to escape to the Norse realms.
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