In March 2005, Santa Monica Studio launched a title that would become one of the most successful video games of the decade: God of War. The game captivated millions with its violent capture on Greek mythology, introducing Kratos, a relentless figure seeking retribution against the gods of Olympus. Now, over two decades later, the studio is revisiting its roots.
The original story centers on Kratos’s quest to end Ares’s reign, a journey that required him to obtain the powers held within Pandora’s Box, located in the temple carried on the back of the Titan Cronos. Players ultimately defeat Cronos in the third installment of the saga, though the original concept for his ending was notably different.
Completing the game on the highest difficulty setting unlocked a secret ending. In this extended scene, narrated by Gaia, listeners learn that Cronos continued to wander for another 1,000 years, still burdened by the structure on his back, eventually perishing in a desolate plain, his gigantic skeleton exposed.
Interestingly, Santa Monica Studio initially envisioned a scenario where the events of God of War unfolded within a realistic timeline. This concept involved a modern military force discovering the remnants of the ancient conflicts, claiming the vast treasures hidden within, and investigating the mysteries of the challenges Kratos overcame.
This idea, described as a “fantasy” by the team led by David Jaffe, was ultimately discarded. The franchise’s early stages were less defined, with many initial concepts remaining fluid. As the studio approaches the 20th anniversary of the original game, fans are now anticipating whether the upcoming trilogy of remakes will include a nod to this intriguing detail. The resurgence of interest in classic gaming franchises highlights the enduring appeal of established intellectual property in the entertainment industry.
Almost all of the weapons Kratos has used in the God of War series have been forgotten.
One of the most exciting moments of God of War Ragnarök had a secret in the heart of a fetus.
