One of the biggest and most memorable announcements in the recently-concluded E3 2016 was the reveal of the latest installment in the long-running and extremely successful God of War franchise, God of War 4. The upcoming game features a number of changes from the previous titles in the series, such as the exploration of Norse mythology and the introduction of Kratos' son.

With the change in setting and the inclusion of the protagonist's son alone, God of War 4 has already managed to breach new territory. While the previous games in the franchise followed a storyline which mostly featured Kratos' rage against the Greek gods and his brutal quest for revenge, the upcoming title seems to be attempting to focus on something new. That is, Kratos' humanity.

These changes, of course, would definitively alter the themes and style of the game. In an interview, the game's director, Cory Barlog, even liked Kratos' upcoming adventure with one of Marvel's most iconic superheroes, the raging Hulk. According to the director, if the previous games in the franchise were the story of the Hulk, the upcoming story would be a tale about Bruce Banner.

This means that, in a way, God of War 4 would explore the idea of Kratos trying to teach his son to be a god, while his son teaches him to be human again. These alterations in his character translate into the very mechanics of the game itself too, as speculations are abounding that God of War 4 would feature a new level-up system that allows players to build Kratos up according to their own preference.

Indeed, this is something that has never been done in the God of War series, as Kratos has always been the very personification of vengeful rage. Thus, by changing the nature of the game, his character would definitively change as well. As much as a change in Kratos' motivations and personality could be considered as a step forward for the upcoming game, however, the alterations also risk removing the very essence of his character.

Over the years and through the span of numerous games, Kratos has become synonymous with the spirit of violent fury and unquenchable vengeance. While such characteristics did make him quite one-dimensional, it is these aspects that also made Kratos into the icon that he is today.

The change in Kratos's character would most probably divide fans of the franchise, with some preferring his unstoppable, wrath-filled character of the past and other preferring the upcoming game's more human take on the character.

Nevertheless, God of War 4 will almost certainly be a hit once it comes out. The classic character of Kratos has made sure of that, at least. 

Tags: god of war god of war 4 god of war 4 release date god of war 4 news kratos