Developer Santa Monica Studios has revealed plenty about combat upgrades for Kratos in God of War Ragnarok have been unveiled, too, but upgrades for Atreus have been suspiciously absent.
God of War Ragnarok combat will build upon the foundation laid by its 2018 predecessor. Kratos will once again rush into battle with the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos, and both iconic weapons have been given significant upgrades. Players will be able to use Weapon Signature Moves to imbue the axe with frosty magic or enhance the chained blades with Greek fire. God of War Ragnarok will also feature multiple new shields, with each focusing on a different playstyle. The Blades of Chaos will also grant Kratos enhanced mobility, with the Ghost of Sparta quickly grappling around battlefields using the chains. While God of War Ragnarok combat will definitely be more engaging for Kratos, marketing has kept Atreus' abilities under wraps.
Atreus played a crucial role in 2018's God of War, with Kratos' son serving as a powerful companion in both exploration and combat. Players can have Atreus fire at enemies with his Talon Bow, with magical and electrical arrows having distinct effects in combat. Atreus also has powerful Runic Summons, which let the young demigod unleash a spectral animal ally onto the battlefield. Unfortunately, few new abilities for the boy have been unveiled for God of War Ragnarok. One gameplay showcase does mention Sonic arrows, while another trailer sees him ride a brand-new Runic Summon, but it seems suspect that Kratos' new moves have received far more attention than Atreus'.
God of War Ragnarok: New Abilities Make Playable Atreus Seem Likely
The air of mystery surrounding Atreus' new abilities may be concealing a playable Atreus in God of War Ragnarok. Considering that Kratos and Atreus share the spotlight in the series' Norse saga, many fans have expressed interest in directly controlling the young adventurer in Ragnarok. Perhaps the sequel fails to grant Atreus many new abilities as Kratos' companion, instead letting players control the demigod warrior with his own extensive moveset. While controlling Atreus players could instead issue commands to Kratos during combat, which would make the Ghost of Sparta freeze an enemy with Leviathan or set them ablaze with the Blades of Chaos. Players could switch between Kratos and Atreus during certain segments, or maybe players could freely switch between the two protagonists at any time.
An impressive God of War PC mod lets players control Atreus in the 2018 game, but God of War Ragnarok can officially deliver this fantasy. The sequel will portray an older Atreus, and this maturity should make the masterful archer worthy of becoming a full-fledged hero rather than a mere companion. Little has been shown of Atreus' new skills in God of War Ragnarok, and that could mean that Santa Monica is hiding something massive.