Be It A Spin-Off or a Sequel, The Next God of War Game Needs to Go Back For One Last Boss Fight In The Norse Realm

God of War is arguably the most popular and famous first-party franchise under the PlayStation Studios umbrella alongside The Last of Us, Horizon, Uncharted, and many more. The franchise has been around for the past few years, and the game developers of Santa Monica Studio dedicated their time to expanding the series and exploring different mythologies, from the Olympian Gods of Greece to the conflicts between the Aesir and Vanir Gods of the Nine Realms.

The franchise received a significant overhaul from gameplay to a narrative perspective through the Norse Saga that began in 2018. Kratos has lived in isolation after his previous crimes against his humanity for laying waste to his fellow Greek Gods in the Greek Saga and has changed since then. However, old habits die hard and fans would have loved to see the retired God fight a massive creature that served as a backdrop in Helheim.

The Gaming Community Would Have Appreciated Fighting the Giant Bird in Helheim in God of War

The game developers of Santa Monica Studio were proud of the work they have achieved with the Norse Saga of God of War. Albeit it is much shorter than most would have expected, the soft reboot propelled the series to new heights. Kratos and Atreus permanently ended Odin and the Aesir God’s reign of tyranny across the Nine Realms, and it would seem that there are no more stories left to tell, especially with the father-son duo going their separate ways. However, some fans have caught wind of throwaway lines and a few loose ends worth exploring in a spinoff game set within the Nine Realms.

The original trilogy had no shortage of large boss battles. Kratos feared no creature, especially since his rage and determination were much more ferocious than the size of his enemies. This is one area where the Norse Saga fell short and the developers acknowledged the feedback and criticism from the gaming community. There were not a lot of large boss battles in God of War 2018 and lacked enemy variety which was greatly improved in Ragnarok, and fans have been waiting for the chance to return to Helheim to face Hræsvelgr, the ruler of the realm.

Kratos ventured into the depths of Hel to acquire the Gate Keeper’s heart in 2018 to remedy Atreus’s recurring sickness and players were expecting to fight Hræsvelgr. The giant bird was a missed opportunity and made a brief cameo in the sequel; however, the creature was not hostile, and there was no reason to fight it. Nevertheless, it would have been an epic boss battle that could bring back flashes of the old God of War from his glory days in Greece.

The father-son duo returned to the realm during Ragnarok and fought something else instead. Garm was known as the hound of Hel and can open Realm Tears. Hræsvelgr stood idly as it watched Kratos and Atreus remedy this mistake and some fans claim that this brief section was the best part of the Norse Saga. Perhaps the game developers can revisit the realm in a future installment or a spinoff adventure that would pit players against the giant bird and give them what they have been asking for.

God of War Fans Miss the Days of Fighting Powerful Bosses and Turn It Into a Massive Spectacle

The first part of the Norse Saga lacked enemy variety. Most boss battles felt repetitive, apart from the few gods Kratos and Atreus have faced, God of War Ragnarok improved significantly. The opening battle with Thor gave the gaming community a glimpse of this new godly adventure and showed that the God of Thunder is no pushover. Players were taken aback by how the sequel had dialed everything up to an eleven and put the metal to the pedal.

Hræsvelgr doesn’t seem interested in Kratos or Atreus during their visits to its realm. However, it does not mean that the giant bird is not a threat to a world of pain for the pair of gods. This could be changed, especially when Atreus has a knack for making enemies unintentionally and is prone to make mistakes given his godlike youth and his need to prove himself. It is evident that Santa Monica Studio has grand plans for the character and could potentially star in a solo adventure without his father’s looming shadow.

On the other hand, Kratos has taken on a much more active role and fulfilled his godlike duties after the events of the Valhalla DLC. Initially reluctant to interfere in the affairs of others in the first two games, Kratos has forgiven himself for his past transgressions and is given a second chance to wield his powers for the betterment of others. Perhaps the next major saga will still center around him and Santa Monica Studio could flesh out his growth and redemption arc beyond the Norse Saga.

Santa Monica Studio must have anticipated the gaming community’s initial reaction after seeing Hræsvelgr in God of War 2018 for the first time, and their first thought was the need to fight it. Hopefully, future installments will allow players to fight the massive bird. Kratos no longer seeks conflict but is willing to end it by any means necessary.

Would you like to revisit Helheim in a future God of War spinoff? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!