God of War is exactly what fans needed in the video game industry. This year has been off to a moderately good start, but this game has set the fandom in motion. What better way to start off the summer than with a throwback to a significant Playstation mascot that brought hack-and-slash to the masses? However, while we are used to seeing Kratos sarcastically insult enemies as he slashes them with his Blades of Chaos, this time the antihero is a father looking to fulfill his dead wife’s last wish. Somehow, he can convey his sternness and concern through the looks of his eyes as he tries to guide Atreus to the mountain. He is trying to steer his son to be a fierce warrior, but Atreus has some lessons of his own to teach his father. In the midst of all this seriousness, there are some awesome secrets that fans have still missed as they have walked through the various realms of the game. Some of these secrets are hilarious Easter Eggs, while other’s can give players a leg-up on gameplay and combat.
This game requires players to ensure they take their time, walk off the beaten path, and explore as much of the map as possible. This is where players will get all the XP, Hacksilver, Runes, and other items they need to make a difference in how they play the game truly. So, relax, sit back, and join us for 25 awesome hidden secrets many fans still have not found in God of War.
25 Face The Valkyries
Most of the time, when we hear the word “overachiever,” it is related to someone in the work or school setting, but if you are a gamer, you have heard of these people in our community as well. They are the people who have to have 100 percent completion on every game. They make a practice of retracing their steps, taking days to spend time on side quests alone, and brag about their achievements to everyone else. These people can be annoying, but we cannot deny their commitment to gaming. So, this entry is probably for them but if others feel up to it, feel free to check it out.
These mighty Valkyries are not to be messed with in the game, but if players want to go above and beyond, then there is a tool they can use to do it. Once players gain the Magic Chisel, they can go back and break down walls to get to these insane enemies. It is hard to think that there would not be a reward for going after the powerful Valkyries, so it is likely worthwhile for players to take the time to do it. Have fun with the challenge!
24 Load Up On Hacksilver
While XP will get you the moves, Hacksilver will get you the armor, enchantments, and talisman to complement the skill. So, it is obviously an essential thing players should collect. Hacksilver can be found in a lot of places: chests, pots, boxes, and loot after taking out enemies. This may seem pretty plentiful, but what if there were other places to capture this crucial currency? There is a great feature for players to “get paid.” First, gamers need to take their time going through the Lake of Nine. Don’t be in a rush to get to the next milestone, really take some time to float through this passage as there are some rewards players can really use.
There is no rush, it's not like you are playing the first Prince of Persia or something.
If players navigate through the Lake of Nine and glide through the barrels and corpses, they can collect Aegir’s Gold and a good amount of Hacksilver as many times as they want. So, take some time to go back through the lake, and even hit some of the ships. There are some worthwhile rewards that players can grab. Again, this game rewards those who take their time to walk off the beaten path and explore locations that can yield some nice treasures.
23 Help The Wayward Souls
One of the exciting things about this game is seeing Kratos and Atreus’ evolution throughout the game. Kratos is hardened, but through Atreus’ curiosity and desire to help others, Kratos softens his stance a bit to offer aid (for a price of course). Atreus learns that all people are not honest and good and that it is okay to ask for something in return for good work. These guys are learning from one another while also teaching each other at the same time. This is what makes this game so awesome. It isn’t just about making it to the next battle, but it also promotes the messages of learning something of value along the way.
Kratos has an aversion to helping people, but Atreus softens his attitude about it and for a good reason. If players take the time to help the Wayward spirits in the Lake of Nine, they will not only receive XP, but they will also get the Versatile’s Warrior Handle an ax pommel that will increase strength, defense, and luck. The more time that players spend helping others in this game, the more they start to receive. Again, take some time to explore and offer a helping hand, it can pay dividends.
22 Own The Infinity Gauntlet
We have covered some pretty serious topics during this list: father and son relationships, painful memories, terrible enemies, but at the same time the developers still find some time to put in some callbacks to other franchises. The developers clearly have a thing for Marvel, and with Atreus being revealed as Loki, and the presence of Thor later on in the game, it would seem like a natural connection. An Easter egg that is the talk of the town is the game’s nod to the latest Avengers movie. Thanos is not the only one who has access to an Infinity Gauntlet, Kratos was able to grab his own.
Thanos may have a worthy adversary.
Gamers can wield the power of Marvel’s “Infinity Gauntlet,” by capturing the “Shattered Gauntlet of Ages.” Players will have to find six stones that fit into the gauntlet after fully upgrading it to realize its full power. It is a nice nod to the Avengers franchise. We hope that this nod will lead to an impressive Marvel-based Easter egg that connects to this game. How cool would it be to see Kratos rear his head in the next movie? Considering the ending of this film, they need to give the fans something to be exciting for.
21 Access Secret Realms
Everything in this land is not as it seems. There are so many secret caves, compartments, underground lairs, and other locations that many players still have not found. Again, this game indeed requires players to take their time to hunt around the areas. However, there are a lot of locations players cannot yet go until the level up or receive specific items. Some locations can only be accessed if players collect specific items, and if players grab the Muspelheim and Nifilim ciphers, then new realms are open to players. A lot of amazing things can be accessed within Muspelheim and Nifilim.
However, players need to access the languages of these areas to find some of the better equipment and goodies that are awaiting players. Once this happens, players can then go to this area, fight 50 enemies and then acquire the “Fire and Brimstone” trophy. From what we are hearing, these two locations are where it’s at, so take some time to search all the chests and places for these languages and ciphers to access these areas. Once Baldur has been beaten for the final time, many of the game’s coolest moments have yet to be found. So, do not hang up the controller once you finish him.
20 Get The Ancient Armor Set
Ever heard of a throwback jersey or those old-school Converse shoes? There is something about retro fashion that breathes quality. Even more annoyingly, do you remember how your parents used to talk about how awesome things were in the “good old days?” Movies, music, fashion, and especially cloths were lauded as the best thing since sliced bread. While it can be a chore to hear these same stories over and over again, it can be true that quality does come with vintage items. There are many times where it was crafted with better care and made with better materials. So, your parents could totally have a point about this.
In this case, ancient is better.
According to the developers, the same holds true for battle armor. Players should make a point to grab the Ancient Armor Set. If Kratos collects all three Ancient Hearts and 16 Ancient Rubble items, Kratos can unlock a labor called “Hearts of Stone,” they can bring that back to the shopkeeper and collect Ancient Armor. Not only is it good quality, but it looks amazing on an already amazing warrior. Plus, you can take awesome photos and brag to your friends about how much of an “overachiever,” you are. Everyone wins!
19 Look Like A Knight
All right, so we are going to be a little transparent here. One thing that always used to make us nervous about the previous games was the lack of armor. There is something unsettling about watching a person fight with absolutely no protection from hits or blows. Kratos always looked as if he was one hit away striking out. However, this could also reveal how truly “out of his mind,” he was to take on some of the most powerful beings in the land without any protection. Clearly, this guy did not care. He wasn’t worried about the consequences.
Well, it in seems this go around, Kratos has a bit more armor at his disposal. At the beginning of the game, Kratos is basically walking about the freezing lands without any protection. However, he soon finds some cheaply made armor. There are upgrades, but we were more interested in some heavy-duty protection from enemies. This is where the traveler's armor comes into play. If Kratos eliminates six or seven knights, then he can craft the armor to get the traveler armor. He will look like a knight himself. It is a bit odd to see Kratos covered up, but the protection definitely makes us feel better.
18 Watch Out While Giving
This is more of a tip than a secret, but it relates. Earlier on this list, we mention the benefits of helping wayward souls and spirits in the game. They can give out some really nice goodies. However, we also want to warn of supporting these guys. When you approach the location, you will find a stone tablet with bright blue writing etched into it. For those who are encountering this for the first time, it may seem the task is straightforward. Yet, players need to be ready for a battle. Once Atreus reads off the runes of this tablet, enemies will swarm the player. They are those who were responsible for the deaths of the wayward spirits.
Sweet vengeance...Kratos knows a lot about this.
Depending on the difficulty level players have chosen, these guys can be on the easier side or a straight terror to deal with. Either way, they are a force to be reckoned with, so it is something gamers need to be prepared for when helping this crew. The cool part about this is the amount of XP and loot that players can lift from these enemies once they are defeated. Again, the Lake of Nine has a lot of opportunities for players to gain more XP or other goodies, so it is worth sticking around in this area a lot longer.
17 Kratos Has Someone To Answer To
When players first heard that this game would be set in the Norse mythological universe, many probably immediately thought of Odin and Thor. Like Zeus and Athena, these guys play a major role in this universe’s happenings. Odin is mentioned throughout the game, and Thor a bit as well, but these guys are never really seen. This is likely a bummer to those who were hoping to see some battles with these guys. However, the developers do not want players to forget that this story is about Kratos and his son. The choice to add these characters as major players would have taken the focus right off these major characters.
Yet, all hope is not lost. If players make a little trip at the end of the game, they can see someone who might make life difficult for the two main characters in another installment. At the end of the game, if Kratos goes back to the house, he will trigger a secret ending that will put he and Atreus face-to-face with Thor, and he doesn’t look thrilled. Atreus is responsible for the killings of Thor’s sons, so this guy is likely looking for some retribution.
16 Kratos’ End?
Kratos has cheated death so many times. This guy has taken spears to the stomach, and even tried to end his own life while jumping off a cliff. It seems that either death favors him, or that he is such a fierce warrior the entity does not want to deal with him. In the past, Kratos’ brushes with death felt hallow, but this next foreshadowing may reveal a heartwrenching fate for everyone’s favorite Spartan. During a prophecy, Atreus can be seen holding a dead Kratos and screaming out in anguish.
And the vicious cycle of death and tragedy continues...
Is this foretelling Atreus to take Kratos’ place of death and anguish? Some have even thought this could show Atreus betraying his father and doing the same thing to him that Kratos did to Zeus. In the game, Atreus does ask Kratos if killing one’s father is a common thing among gods. The hope was that Kratos could break this seeming curse by doing things different with Atreus. However, this prophecy leads us to believe he may have failed. Either way, Kratos is skilled at getting out of situations like these and rewriting history, so we shouldn’t be too alarmed. Yet, one has to wonder if it is time for Kratos to hang up his ax and blades.
15 Kratos Fits Into Norse Lore
Okay, so the previous entry emphasized Kratos’ tie to Greece. It is one that will never break, and if the series continues, this trend will likely rear its head again. However, Kratos is between two worlds as he is shown to be a part of Norse Lore. This game has done a masterful job to connect the new and old world to Kratos. Under normal circumstances, something like this would come off as chaotic, confusing, and overwhelming, but the developers did an awesome job in making Greece and Norse mythology complement one another.
So, like Kratos is a part of Greece mythology, he is also seen to play a major role in Norse lore. In the game, some runes reveal Kratos’ real name to be Farbauti, a character who marries Fae and is also the father of Loki. This game is almost a blow-by-blow portrayal of Norse literature. This game reveals a lot of backstory and actual mythology in the runes that players walk through. This does not have a lot to do with gameplay, but it does help immerse the player in the world. It shows the developers took the time to make this game as compelling as the previous installments.
14 Fear Of Heights? Don’t Try This One
Every video game has an iconic moment that players can never forget. A moment that almost defines the whole game in itself. It is a moment that starts the conflict or causes a character to reflect on their journey truly. Some may argue about what this moment is for God of War, but the first game sets in motion the trauma of Kratos perfectly. He is in anguish about the death of his family and the ultimate betrayal. He feels that he has nothing else to live for, so he decides that he doesn’t want to live in this world anymore. This is pretty powerful and dark for a first game.
This franchise sure does know how to put a damper on things.
Even though it was a hack and slash adventure, everyone can understand the pain this guy is in. Well, players can relive this iconic moment in the newest game. If players go through the fast-track zone and go off the beaten path, they will go to the edge of the cliff with Atreus. They can then jump off and reenact a scene where Kratos jumps off a cliff after feeling he had nothing left to live for in the original God of War. In a way, it brings Kratos’ journey full circle.
13 This Guy Is In Every Game
In a way, God of War has become a bit of a “Where’s Waldo.” There are so many old school God of War references that it is easy to miss some of the coolest ones. For those who were afraid that this game would not incorporate the personality and flavor of the games that came before it, need not worry. From Kratos’ quips, his son’s observations, prophecies, and story dialogue, there are so many call outs to the past games. While the setting is not in Greece, the echoes of Kratos’ previous life are not too far behind. This game carries on a trend of earlier titles concerning a famed Boat Captain.
In the first game, Kratos has to fight a Hydra and then take keys from a boat captain. In some way, this guy has been involved in every game since this event. Players probably did not think this title would be able to work this guy since this game is happening in a different land. The developers, fortunately, respected this tradition. The boat captain is referred to in this chapter in a treasure map that Atreus requires toward the beginning of the game.
12 Carole King Fan?
Who would have thought that God of War would include a reference to a famous song from the 1970s? What makes this reference hilarious is that the song is so light-hearted to the point that no one would ever think it could be a part of a game like this. We are wondering who on the development team even knew this song, and chose why to include it. Either way, the inclusion is a bit sweet since it involves a tender moment between Atreus and his mother. Maybe the developers of this game are fans of old-school tunes, but there is a reference to the song “You’ve Got a Friend In Me,” by Carole King.
Awww...seriously? Just awww! This game does have a heart
When Atreus is reading the seasons during a puzzle, he reads the lyrics “Winter Spring Summer Autumn.” Kratos asks Atreus why he would since the seasons in this order, and he replies that this is the order of the seasons his mother sang to him, which matches the song by Carole King. This is a nice moment to break up the serious and grittiness of the game to reveal that Atreus is still just a kid missing his mom. Even the hardest gamer couldn’t help but “Awww,” at this.
11 A Nod To Judge’s Old Day Job
We are not going to lie; we were a little bummed out when we heard T.C. Carson would be missing from this installment. This guy helped to form Kratos’ personality through his expert voicing of the character. The rage, tenacity, and true disgust that graced the character came out loud and clear through Carson’s portrayal. However, Christopher Judge has more than proven himself in this role. The subdued yet slow-build angry nature blended with a concerned father who wants to protect his son fits Judge’s voice perfectly. While this will likely be Judges’ most popular voice role, he has spent a lot of time on the small screen.
Christopher Judge was an actor in Stargate SG-1 who had a penchant for saying “Indeed,” a lot on the show. So, he had a chance to say his famous line as Kratos in this game. On Mountain’s Base, when Atreus says “I can see why mom wanted us to bring her here.” He replies with his signature and deep “Indeed.” It is so quick, it is possible to miss it, but this move is a subtle nod to Judge’s other major project. Are we ready for more Judge in future installments? Indeed!
10 How Awkward…
You know those moments when you are out with kids, and someone says something that you know you are going to have to explain later? It can be embarrassing or something so complicated that you know you don't want to have a conversation about. Kids are inquisitive, and Atreus is no different. People know his father and have an idea of the things he used to do before he left his Greek ways behind. However, this moment comes from an unwitting comment by a deceased pirate. A hilarious and ironic scene comes up in the game as Kratos, and his son goes to retrieve a dagger from a dead pirate.
Kratos has a lot of explaining to do.
The pirate remarks that his son tried to kill him, and that he did the same thing to his father. Atreus then hears the story and asks Kratos if this is a common thing for sons to do to their fathers. Kratos had a considerable change of expression at this admission when Atreus expressed disbelief at any one doing this. This moment is a direct nod to Zeus’ and Kratos’ run-in in God of War 3. On a more serious note, it can also be a foreshadowing of a prophecy that will come up later on this list.
9 The Sheer Level Of Detail In This Game
For years, we have heard about the new age of amazing gaming graphics. Every major game looked as if it was meant to usher in the new era of beautiful graphics that gamers could not even tell were fake. Well, we are still a bit of ways from that, but the developers of God of War did their best job to immerse players into this world. God of War makes players feel like they are controlling actual people. The level of intelligence these characters have outside of being controlled by human hands is remarkable.
While Kratos is walking in snow, his footsteps reveal the ground underneath, when passing a fire Atreus will automatically sit down next to it to warm himself, and if the players are discussing a story and it is interrupted, then they will resume where they started once they are on the boat. Not only is the AI of the enemies on point, but the characters themselves respond realistically. If there is any game of 2018 that brings gamers into a new world of gaming graphics and design, it is God of War. Even without 4K, this game is still stunning to look at.
8 This “Puny” Avengers Reference
No one can say that God of War does not incorporate a little comedy into their game. Many thought this game would drip with seriousness, and for a good reason. A dad is trying to connect with his son, but cannot seem to overcome his pride enough to make a real bond. Atreus just lost his mother, the only person who probably showed him some tenderness as a young boy. They are fighting against a lot of forces that are not cool with their presence, and there is some dude named Baldur looking to eliminate them completely.
Can these guys have it even rougher?
Where can comedy be found in this? Well, the developers found some way to throw in some lighthearted comedy with a funny reference to bring fans back to a happy place. During a part of the game, once Kratos beats a troll, Atreus remarks “puny trolls.” Since we know Atreus is Loki, this could be a nod to the first Avengers movie when the Hulk violently beat up Loki and called him a “Puny god.” Okay, so the only way to follow this up is to have Atreus low-key insult Loki’s signature helmet from the movies. That thing looked straight goofy.
7 Freeze Them Out
So, this game comes with a lot of options for taking down enemies. Some are better than others, but one thing is for sure: Kratos makes them all look amazing. His hulking build and aggressiveness could make a basic roundhouse kick look good. This guy can do enough damage just with his bare hands, but give him a shield and an ax and this guy is straight invincible. He never misses a beat, even though he looks as if he is getting up there in age. Another awesome part of this game is the developers gave him combat and defense moves that make sense for his personality and build.
Nothing seems out of the ordinary when he is fighting enemies. You almost feel every single hit in this game. Well, you have no shortage of tactics to use to take down enemies. There are so many combat techniques in God of War that it is difficult to choose one. But something that players may have looked over that they should take another look at is the Permafrost Skill. Get in quick hits without sustaining any damage with the Leviathan Ax. It is a great way to quickly stun and take down enemies before they get their footing.
6 Memories Better Left Behind
You know those moments in your life that you would rather forget? Whether it be sad, embarrassing, or depressing, we all have events in our lives that we wish we could throw away (or alter greatly). Well, imagine a group of people who did everything in their power to make your life miserable, and in some way, their name comes up years later. Yeah, not so cool. Well, for Kratos those people would be The Fates. A group of women who tortured this guy in his past life. It would make sense for this guy not to want to remember moments with these awful influencers.
Kratos should pull an Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind here.
Atreus is involved in a lot of moments in this game where he unwittingly brings up a painful moment from Kratos’ past, and this time is no different. After Kratos finishes his first battle with the troll, he can go over to a nearby area to capture loot from a Rune chest. Atreus reads the chest that mentions “The Fates,” Kratos has an apparent unfavorable reaction to this as the Fates in previous games were a part of his misery. Kratos is obviously in need of some serious therapy. This guy has been through a lot.