After God of War Ragnarok Kratos has faced both the Three Fates of Greek mythology and the Norns of Norse mythology, and each trio of prescient figures is portrayed very differently. The God of War saga started out as an adaptation of Greek legends, until the series' 2018 entry brought Kratos on a Norse adventure with his son Atreus. Destiny is a major theme in Greek and Norse mythology, so the God of War franchise has naturally featured multiple versions of the Fates.
[Warning: the following article contains spoilers for God of War Ragnarok.]
When analyzing how God of War 2 compares to Ragnarok, fans will find many common elements between the two beloved sequels. The 2007 sequel built upon its predecessor by delivering many more climactic boss fights against iconic figures like Perseus, Theseus and Zeus. God of War Ragnarok similarly focuses on boss variety, with Kratos and his allies facing legendary enemies like Thor, Nidhogg and Odin. There are also parallels between the plots of God of War 2 and Ragnarok, with both sequels taking Kratos to war against the Greek and Norse pantheons of gods. The inclusion of the Fates in both stories only serves to strengthen these comparisons.
God Of War Ragnarok Mirrors GoW 2's Quest For The Fates
The quest to find the Norns in God of War Ragnarok draws comparisons between God of War's Norse saga and Greek mythology games. Kratos' reasons for visiting the Sisters of Fate in God of War 2 and the Norns in Ragnarok is the same, with the Ghost of Sparta attempting to avoid his own destined death. Reaching each mythic trio is also very difficult, with the journey to the Island of Creation taking up all of God of War 2 while locating the Norns is a substantial quest in Ragnarok. Conversations between Kratos and his companions in Ragnarok directly compare the two situations, though the Greek and Norse Fates are incredibly different.
God Of War's Nornir Are Very Different From The Greek Fates
While Kratos' purposes for hunting the Norse and Greek Fates is similar, the two God of War trios are distinct. Like nearly every Greek god Kratos meets, the Sisters of Fate Lahkesis, Atropos, and Clotho serve as powerful bosses that Kratos kills to change his destiny. Lahkesis and Atropos are depicted as beautiful warriors, while Clotho is a grotesque monster. Meanwhile, God of War Ragnarok depicts the Norns Urdr, Verdandi and Skuld as peaceful beings who appear only during a fascinating cutscene. The difference between the Greek and Norse Fates reflects the evolution of the God of War series, which now places narrative over action set-pieces.
God of War 2 and God of War Ragnarok both see Kratos pay a visit to the personifications of Fate, but each meeting goes very differently. The 2007 title takes the Ghost of Sparta on a massive adventure to the Island of Creation, where he kills the Sisters of Fate to prevent his own death. Kratos left Greek mythology in God of War, but in Ragnarok he once again attempts to change his fate by having a fascinating conversation with the elusive Norns of Norse legend. By changing the Fates from monstrous bosses to knowledgeable seers, God of War Ragnarok demonstrates how Kratos and the series have matured.
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