Summary
TheGod of Warfranchise has never truly been about gear pieces or dressing Kratos in an elaborate costume. This was true of theGod of Wargames in the Greek mythology due to him almost always being bare-chested with little regard for whatever clothing he was wearing, but it’s also true of the recentGod of Wargames in the Norse mythology, even now that gear pieces are a part of its action-adventure wheelhouse. Kratos’ selection of armor hasn’t quite been enthralling or memorable, whether he’s strapped on a leather pauldron, a golden cuirass, or a glinting crimson armor set.
There’s likely a gear set out there for anyone’s preference, though, with Kratos’ catalog being as eclectic as it is, particularly in terms of the unconventional colors they possess. Ultimately, they’re hardly what fans remember about the game when gear commonly has so little to do with anything else. Rather, while that may have been true aboutGod of Wargamesbefore,Ragnarokmade a subtle fashion choice that perhaps Santa Monica didn’t think fans would adore as much as they did.
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God of War’s Cloak of the Black Bear Caused Quite an Uproar
Before it was added toRagnarokas an actual cosmetic gear set, Kratos could only wear the cloak of black bear fur in the game’s opening cutscene before it is abandoned when he and Atreus flee from Freya. More intriguing and disappointing, though, was the fact that Kratos wears this fur not only in the main menu—which leads seamlessly into the game’s opening moments—but alsoRagnarok’s key art.
It’s true that key art isn’t always fully indicative of iconography seen in-game, but it traditionally is for marketing purposes.
Therefore, fans wouldn’t be criticized for having expected this cloak to play a much larger role, even if it wasn’t a gear piece they would care to wear for the entirety of the game, but even thenRagnarok’s transmog systemwould’ve allowed them to while enjoying the stats of another gear piece. One issue that was made apparent in the key art that may have posed an issue in gameplay is that Mimir was obscured by the fur, and yet Santa Monica was able to simply push it to the side to not have him covered.
God of War Ragnarok’s Cloak Update Showed Santa Monica Knows What Players Want
This is obviously not a concern fans have anymore seeing as howKratos’ Cloak of the Black Bearset was added post-launch, but it was an odd omission nonetheless when the game launched. The cloak is unique as a cosmetic due to its cloaking length of fur that no other gear piece has, and Santa Monica knowing how beloved it is might mean that similar gear pieces may be introduced inRagnarok’s sequel to supplement that demand.
Indeed, the New Game Plus update this cloak arrived in also introduced a skin for Kratos that leaves him completely shirtless, referring back to olden days in a nostalgic way. Moreover, Kratos now beginsNew Game Plus playthroughs ofRagnarokwith the cloak equipped as per the update. These two cosmetic options alone determine fairly important desires from fans in how they want their Kratos to look, and if a newGod of Wargame features Kratos as its protagonist again it would be excellent to see more inspired, simple looks such as these.
God of War Ragnarok
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting goFrom Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.
