Continuing a trend from the previous title, aGod of War: Ragnarokfan has spliced together over half a dozen screenshots fromShrekand the trailer forGod of War: Ragnarokwhich seem to portray a striking resemblance.
Released in 2018,God of Warwas a sequel to the previously hack and slash series which received universal praise, even beating outRed Dead Redemption 2to win Game of the Yearat The Game Awards. One of the most celebrated elements was its narrative, turning Kratos from an ostensibly bitter and stubborn god-butcher into a bitter and stubborn father. With Christopher Judge lending his powerful voice to this complex iteration of Kratos,God of Wartold a deeply emotional tale of a broken man struggling, failing, and learning to be the parent his son needed. Even back then, parallels were drawn between this journey and the films ofShrek.
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In a Reddit post by u/Head-Of-The-Table, they expressed disbelief at the similarities present between the two disparate entities of entertainment. Among the 8 comparisons provided, Kratos and Shrek can be seen in near identical poses both looking down towards the ground, as well as the two chastising other characters, Atreus and Prince Arthur respectively. Just as Shrek gazes at a deteriorating flower,Kratos stares at his war torn Leviathan axe. Comments joked about art imitating art and thatShrekis the “blueprint of all media,” with some claiming that ifRagnarokis simply aShrekstory then gamers need not worry about the quality.
Admittedly far-fetched, it is entertaining to contemplate the ludicrous theory and attempt to make it plausible. For example, just as Shrek did not want Donkey prying into who he was, the bandages wrapped around Kratos' forearms are the onion layers that Atreus slowly peels back. Furthermore, although Norse mythology suggests thatAtreus is the father of the World Serpent, that could have just been derivative of when Donkey crossbreeds with his draconic wife, producing offspring that breathe fire. These connections are unfortunately nothing more than fan-fiction andGod of Warlikely did not take cues from Shrek, much to the dismay of any who dream for a crossover.
With that said, the comment that alluded toShrekbeing a narrative basis for many modern stories has precedence.Shrekrevolves around many literary tropes but inverted them to craft an animation heralded as one of the greats. With aPS5 bundle announced forGod of War Ragnarok,gamers do not have long to wait to find out exactly how similar the hugely anticipated sequel will be to one of Dreamworks' best.
God of War Ragnaroklaunches on June 04, 2025, on PS4 and PS5.
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