However, in the game this narrative is pushed a few steps further by making Odin angry at Freyja, stripping her of her warrior spirit (likely the chariot drawn by the old relatives of Norwegian forest cats as well) and condemning her to imprisonment within Midgard. In legend, Freyja is married to Odin in Asgard as part of a peace agreement between both the Aesir and Vanir families. Of course, once it’s revealed that she’s a goddess of nature, the game takes a remarkable turn. Initially introduced as a woodland witch, it’s quickly established that she has great sway over the creatures in Midgard, and watches over them as some sort of protector. Not to be confused with Frey, her brother, Freyja is one of the few Vanir gods that Kratos meets along his journey. Image: Santa Monica Studios Freyja & Friggįreyja is an instrumental character in God of War, with Kratos and Atreus often turning to her for wisdom throughout the story. Given how important this is, the next game has quite the stage set for it. Same as in the mythology, Baldur’s death hails the arrival of Fimbulwinter, and is one of the events that lead to the death of the gods in Ragnarok. It’s an interesting change, but with the same catch.īaldur is ultimately slain by a sprig of mistletoe, the one thing that can harm him. In keeping with the lore, the game’s Baldur is immune to harm because his mother used her keen understanding of Vanir magic to render him numb to sensation.
Arrows shot at him would curve out of the way, blades would not cut him, and no animal would attack him in passing. Contrast this with the gritty, dull-spoken version in God of War, and you’ll quickly see why the writers made some twists and turns along the way.īaldur in legend wasn’t immortal or invincible as he is in-game instead, it was simply that his mother, Freyja (or Frigg), spoke to every animal, person, plant, and creature in all the realms and asked them to never harm him. He was supposed to have been so radiant that people who looked upon him would weep, for they couldn’t contain themselves with the light that surrounded his fair head. Secondborn of Allfather Odin and most beautiful man alive, Baldur’s counterpart in God of War is a far cry from the man he is in legend. It was also intriguing to see how the studio interpreted or re-imagined certain gods and characters already established within the Poetic and Prose Edda (where most of Norse mythology hails from), especially given how some act in this title.īaldur, introduced as The Stranger, is slow-spoken, thoroughly intimidating shirtless warrior that walks onto Kratos’ front lawn with a fight on his mind. The stories have always held a place in my heart, so to see this world brought to stunning life in one of my favourite game series was nothing short of a dream come true. (That and the fact that Marvel took Thor’s name as one of their Avengers, which can likely be attributed to why Norse culture is currently experiencing a revival in the Western world.) The stories are timeless because of this constant theme of parallels between us as mortals and the ageless Aesir, the gods of the Nine Realms. Recounting the tales of magnificent gods, stupid wagers, and cunning plans, much of Norse mythology reflects the flaws we see within ourselves. Despite this, God of War treats Norse mythology and its stories with the utmost respect as it takes inspiration from some, and bends others to fit the narrative. Usually, when a work by another person is either rewritten or reworked, some sort of magic that the original had is lost along the way. Transforming traditional folklore and stories faithfully isn’t an easy task, though the writing team at SIE Santa Monico Studio makes it look flawlessly smooth and frustratingly easy.
Please be warned reader that this article contains MAJOR spoilers for the story of ‘God of War.’
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