As a professional gamer and content creator, I‘ve played through my fair share of highly-anticipated game endings over the years. But very few rival the emotional weight and narrative brilliance achieved in God of War Ragnarök‘s epic conclusion of Kratos and Atreus‘ journey across the Nine Realms.
Even after rolling credits multiple times now, I‘m still processing the profound impact of iconic moments like the bittersweet father-son farewell, Kratos discovering his commemorative mural or Odin‘s ultimate betrayal-filled demise. Everything about the ending feels expertly crafted to satisfy fans who‘ve invested deeply into this reimagined God of War universe.
In this analysis, I‘ll break down the most pivotal concluding scenes while evaluating how this finale compares against other hall-of-fame gaming endings. As a professional gamer quite literally paid to play titles at an expert level, I believe examining Ragnarök‘s ending offers great insight into the mastery of Santa Monica Studio‘s storytelling prowess.
Hard-Won Victory Against a Broken Allfather
As Atreus fulfills his role ushering in the prophesied apocalypse, Kratos stands firmly amidst the crumbling ruins of Asgard having finally defeated the maddened Allfather Odin. On the surface, this long-teased matchup delivered exactly what fans hoped for – an incredibly cinematic battle packing massive set-piece moments.
Yet looking deeper, my favorite part was seeing Odin‘s emotional downfall reflected through the combat. Gone was the legendary general masterminding conquests between the realms. In his place stood a shell of broken determination, whose overarching efforts to cheat fate had utterly consumed him.
The Odin boss fight stretched my reflexes and combat abilities more than any previous God of War encounter due to his unrelenting onslaught of attacks. But because his motivations felt more emotionally-grounded than earlier villains, defeating Odin proved profoundly more satisfying. Through only his unhinged body language and fighting style, you clearly witnessed this once distinguished king rendered to little more than a vicious animal futilely fighting against his destiny.
An Unexpected Betrayal Foreshadowing the End
Amidst the rubble of Asgard, Odin surveys Kratos, Atreus, Freya and stands defiant. But rather than engage them directly, he suddenly murders Thor – his own son – in cold blood. This shocking betrayal took me completely by surprise even after closely analyzing the prophetic visions shown throughout the game.
Not even Mimir‘s comprehensive wisdom could foresee Odin crossing this line. It reinforced how his all-consuming quest to avoid Ragnarök had utterly stripped Odin of all reason or family loyalty. He sacrificed his last worthy defender just as ruthlessly as any nameless foot soldier. To Odin, preventing his foreseen death was literally the only priority left, no matter the cost.
As a franchise veteran, this scene reminded me of Kratos‘ original tragic path losing everything in hissingle-minded pursuit of vengeance. This dark narrative parallel made me realize just how alone Odin had become. It masterfully foreshadowed how the Allfather‘s destiny would only end one way: stripped of power and purpose beside only the dead for comfort.
Atreus‘ Emotional Evolution Culminates
Much has changed since Atreus timidly left his forest home three years ago on the journey to spread his mother‘s ashes. He faced struggles understanding his godhood and giant heritage while trying not to be swept away in anger and arrogance. But by Ragnarök‘s conclusion, the boy fully transitions into Loki, a confident leader ready to nurture the legacy of giants rather than destroy it.
After using his unique abilities to seal Odin‘s savage spirit away forever, Atreus somberly expresses hope that the Allfather finds peace. This starkly contrasts what once seemed like destiny for Atreus to follow his father‘s ruinous path blinded by vengeance. Instead, he breaks the cycle by opting for forgiveness over retribution – a profound emotional payoff to his arc.
Much credit belongs to the incredible performance captured by Sunny Suljic, who portrayed the sincere melancholy of burdening immense power at such a young age. Despite all he‘s endured, Atreus retains earnest compassion when Kratos would have once ruthlessly ripped out an enemy‘s throat. This elevated emotional intelligence beyond his years is why so many fans feel connected to Atreus as he comes into his own.
A Heartfelt Goodbye (For Now)
With the threat of apocalypse averted, Atreus tells Kratos of his plans to depart solo seeking giants who may have survived Ragnarök‘s destruction. The sadness in his voice conveys that the young trickster god knows things will never be the same once he steps out of his father‘s shadow for the first time.
Kratos stoically bids his son to venture forth without fear, reaffirming his belief that Atreus has long been ready to prove himself on his own. Their tender yet understated farewell brought a swell of emotion I‘ve rarely experienced in decades playing games. Both characters convey the immense sadness of parting ways, along with pride towards how far they‘ve come together.
This Bittersweet tone made the scene feel believable and earned. After long establishing the unbreakable bond between this family, Santa Monica Studio leveraged our emotional investment masterfully. Atreus‘ departure draws sympathy and excitement for his personal adventures to come. Meanwhile, fading rays of sunlight engulf Kratos ominously alluding that the Ghost of Sparta‘s time too nears its end.
An Unexpected Parting Gift for Kratos
In the original God of War, Kratos sought to murder the mysterious prophetess Byte in Sparta upon learning only she could foresee his future. The cruel irony is that the Ghost of Sparta ended his days in the Norse realms finding comfort from a mysterious shrine granting closure few myths foretold.
Atreus‘ departure leaves his father alone to uncover one final hidden chamber within the realms – this one depicting carved murals of Kratos‘ entire astonishing life journey. From his early days warring for Greece to his legendary struggles across Scandinavia, this shrine memorializes the enormous impact of his mythic saga. The smiling Nordic people carved into the shrine‘s final panel indicates that despite such a savage trail of violence, Kratos finally found belonging as a revered warrior god in his adopted northern homeland.
After countless cynical betrayals and losses, this glimmer of lasting purpose and acceptance brings solace. Under volcanic skies splitting open Asgard, Kratos studies his incredible legacy with satisfaction rather than the usual anguish over past sins. Through the lens of his wistful eyes, I glimpsed the long-detested Ghost of Sparta finally finding a semblance of hard-won peace after ages of torment…fading to the frozen north as the the sun sets on his mythic saga.
An Emotionally-Resonant Final Note
Looking at the breathtaking sum of Ragnarök‘s ambitious conclusion, I‘m confident calling it one of the pinnacles of video game storytelling yet achieved. Moments like Atreus‘ frost giant farewell or Odin‘s tragic mental unravelling stuck with me long after the credits rolled. Suitably, this memorable ending to Kratos‘ epic Nordic journey can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other landmark game endings like Metal Gear Solid 3 or The Last of Us in terms emotionally resonating sendoffs.
Through raw technical achievements combined with layered, charismatic performances, God of War Ragnarök lands an intensely bittersweet finale befitting the legendary pedigree. It sets a bold new benchmark that the best way to craft an impactful conclusion is not necessarily to tie up every thread neatly. Instead, focusing on showcasing how far cherished characters have come on their journey – then passing the torch to a new generation – allows fans to endlessly imagine all the grand adventures yet to come!
